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Abestos in The Home

By
Real Estate Agent with Five Star Real Estate 6501327660
Purchasing a home can be filled with excitement and anticipation for homeowners. It can also be a time where additional responsibilities are acquired. Having the assistance of a reliable and honest agent will make all the difference in when buying a home. One of the many things that can go unnoticed is taking precautions against obsolete and toxic building materials which may still be present in homes. Citizens of Grand Rapids are pushing for continued use of new green, eco-friendly technologies. Green construction brings together many techniques which aim to reduce or eliminate the impacts in which physical structures have on the environment and health, especially when remodeling or re mediating older homes. Asbestos Used throughout the 20th century to insulate pipes, boilers and in roofing, asbestos gained recognition due to its resistance to heat and electrical conductivity. Homes built before 1980 should be aware that older homes may still harbor asbestos materials. In most situations, asbestos appears in roof shingles, dry wall, attic insulation, popcorn ceilings, joint compounds and electrical wires. If asbestos is located, it must be left un-touched until a professional can provide a course of action. In many situations, the best action is no action. Asbestos that is disturbed or damaged due to age is known as “friable” asbestos. This is a concern because its toxic fibers can easily circulate and become inhaled. If asbestos removal is recommended, it should be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained in handling asbestos materials. They must wear protective equipment such as masks and gloves to avoid any exposure. Asbestos fibers are thin and strong, and when inhaled frequently, an individual can develop mesothelioma, a rare but severe lung ailment caused by asbestos exposure. Symptoms may not show up from 20 to 50 years after exposure. Manufacturers of asbestos obtained medical evidence of its corrosive qualities but continued shipping the substance anyways, leaving workers and homeowners exposed on a frequent basis. Thousands have fought this by attempting to receive mesothelioma compensation for their wrongful illness. Green building is the consequence of a design that will increase energy efficiency, water and have a direct impact on your health and the environment. Implementing green methods of building can have positive environmental, health and economic benefits. These include: Conservation of natural resources, enhancement of air quality, energy sustainability, increase property value, improve quality of life, improvement of pulmonary/cardiac health and reduction of waste. Green options such as cotton fiber, cellulose and lcynene should be given consideration as replacements to asbestos. Cotton fiber is quickly becoming a favorite for home builders and renovators. Made from recycled batted material, it is also treated to be fireproof. Research has demonstrated that the use of Eco-friendly insulation alternatives can reduce annual energy costs by 25 percent.
Posted by

Mary Kent

Five Star Real Estate

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Mary Jo Quay
H360homes.com - Minneapolis, MN
I Move You Home

Asbestos was considered the insulation of choice back in the day.  A few yeas ago I sold a building that had been an union hall.  It was being used by a church for their young adults program, and sold it to another church.  When they pulled up the carpet, there were broken asbestos tiles, and we found asbestos wrapping all plumbing.  It was $30,000 in asbestos abatement, no joking matter.

Nov 19, 2010 02:32 AM
Jane Wallace
HomeSmart Realty - Denver, CO
CRS | SRES, Denver Real Estate

Great Information Mary, Mesothelioma is awful and it takes years to show up

Nov 19, 2010 03:00 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

It’s interesting that there are still many places in today’s world where asbestos is used, just not in the home. But if it’s everywhere outside, what’s the difference? Most people spend at least as much time outside the home as inside it.

Feb 10, 2011 04:09 AM