Asbestos is a tricky subject that is often misunderstood. But what is asbestos anyway? And why should you be concerned with it?

The simple fact is that asbestos is a very common component of many building materials from vinyl flooring to wallboard to roofing tar. When you embark on a project that will disturb these materials, extra care must be taken to prevent exposure to asbestos fibers.

Asbestos removal is probably not something you were hoping to deal with in your renovation project, but with a little education and planning, and the right contractor to assist, it is something that can be safely delt with.

A Brief History

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. It has a few properties that make it a very good ingredient for many building materials. Most notably, it is very strong and very heat resistant.

For these reasons, it has been used as a binder in many products such as joint compound, vinyl flooring, cement siding, roofing tars, caulks, etc. It is also commonly found in thermal insulation.

Asbestos was often referred to as the miracle mineral in the early 1900s. It was found in many products manufactured through the 1970s, and even into the ’80s and later.

As we became more aware of the health hazards associated with asbestos, it has significantly reduced in usage. Contrary to what many people believe, however, there is no blanket ban on asbestos and it can still be used in the manufacture of certain products today.

The Health Risk

I’m sure you have seen the Meselthelioma commercials. This is the most known disease associated with asbestos.

I’ll give a shot at greatly oversimplifying a complicates subject.

Asbestos is a mineral. It is tiny. It’s also long and skinny, kind of like a torpedo.

When you inhale asbestos fibers, they are drawn into your lungs but they are not able to escape. This leaves the tiny torpedo fibers in your lungs to bounce around. Since they cannot escape, they keep bouncing every time you breathe. Each time they hit your lung, they make a little bit of scar tissue.

Years and years of this action build up more and more scar tissue. This leads to lung disease called Asbestosis.

Mesothelioma is a similar cancerous disease caused by exposure to asbestos.

The Asbestos Exposure Risk

As we already discussed, asbestos is a very common component of building materials. You have most certainly come in contact with asbestos material many times throughout your life.

The buildings you live, work, and play in have asbestos in the floors, walls, and ceilings.

But… exposure is not that simple.

As you walk across a vinyl floor that contains asbestos, those fibers remain securely locked in the material. Remember that their strength is one of the attractive qualities of the mineral.

You can safely live in a home that has asbestos-containing joint compound for many years. The fact that asbestos fibers are present does not mean that you are being exposed.

The exposure risk comes when those materials degrade or are disturbed, causing fiber release.

How To Identify Asbestos

The only way to identify asbestos-containing materials is to take a sample and look at it under a microscope.

A professional asbestos inspector is trained to identify materials that are suspected to contain asbestos and collect the appropriate samples.

The best rule to follow is that all materials should be assumed to contain asbestos unless laboratory testing has shown they do not contain asbestos, or a professional inspector has determined that the material is not suspected to contain asbestos.

When To Remove Asbestos Containing Materials

In general, asbestos removal is not necessary just because a material is identified.

Rather, materials should be considered for asbestos removal if they meet the following criteria:

1. They are degraded, crumbling, or otherwise in a condition that could release fibers
2. They are scheduled for renovation or demolition
3. You have other specific concerns about the presence of asbestos-containing materials

How Asbestos Removal Works

In the state of Georgia, anyone removing asbestos must be licensed by the state. So, your first step is to contact an asbestos removal company.

From there, they will look at your specific case and develop an appropriate protocol for removing the asbestos.

While each scenario is different, they will all share some commonalities.

1. All work will be conducted by properly trained and certified workers
2. All work will be overseen by a properly trained and certified supervisor
3. Work will be conducted under proper containment and negative air pressure (excluding certain circumstances)
4. Workers will wear proper personal protective equipment
5. Workers will wear respiratory protection appropriate for the class of asbestos removal
6. Wet methods will be used to remove asbestos containing materials
7. Asbestos containing materials will be bagged and cleaned prior to being removed from the containment area
8. The work area will be cleaned and HEPA vacuumed prior to removing containment
9. Asbestos containing waste will be properly disposed of

Who To Call

When you are dealing with asbestos removal, it is important to choose a contractor that is a good fit. There are alot of people out there that will remove asbestos for your project. Some will do it well, some will do it cheaply, and some will be the perfect balance for what you need.

At Branch Environmental we believe that you should be an educated customer. We will take the time to break down your situation and lay out your options. When it comes to abatements, we take the trust you put into us seriously.

Our goal is to get the asbestos out so you can get on with your project. All the while, we take the utmost care to eliminate any health risk to future occupants or workers on the project.

You may think your popcorn ceiling is a bit dated… or you may think it’s downright ugly. Scraping popcorn ceilings is a common DIY project. I urge you to step back a minute and gather some information before you take this project on in your home.

While you may be inspired by that latest home improvement episode, or Pinterest has gotten the better of you… popcorn ceilings can contain hidden dangers that you do not want to expose your home and your family to.

Asbestos is a very common component of acoustic ceiling texture, more commonly known as popcorn ceilings. Simply DIY projects, or even contractor led renovations, can release asbestos fibers into your home if not handled properly.

So What is My Risk of Exposure?

As with most asbestos containing building materials, as long as it is in good shape you really don’t have a lot to worry about. You can safely live in a home with popcorn ceilings and face very little risk of asbestos exposure.

Your risk of exposure increases dramatically if the building material crumbles or becomes deteriorated. Unfortunately, popcorn ceilings are not the most durable and are prone to flaking and falling.

If you have a popcorn ceiling that is showing signs of deterioration, it’s a good idea to figure out if you are dealing with asbestos.

How do I Know if my Popcorn Ceiling Has Asbestos?

As with any other asbestos containing material, it must be analyzed in a laboratory.

You can either collect a sample yourself and drop it off at an environmental firm, or have a licensed asbestos inspector come to your home and collect the sample.

How Likely is it That My Popcorn Ceiling Has Asbestos?

As mentioned before, the only way to know for sure is to sample the material. Popcorn texture is a material that is suspect, and it commonly returns with positive results.

While older homes are more likely to have asbestos, it should be understood that even modern building materials may contain asbestos as well. There is no comprehensive ban on the use of asbestos in manufacturing, and the import of foreign materials is unmonitored.

All popcorn ceilings should be treated as potential asbestos containing material unless proven otherwise.

When Do I Need to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling?

There are two circumstances when an asbestos abatement makes sense:

1. When you are about to conduct a renovation that will impact the asbestos containing popcorn ceiling in any way.
2. When the material is deteriorating or damaged, potentially releasing fibers into the air.

How Do You Remove Asbestos Popcorn Ceilings?

Often the best solution is to remove the entire ceiling. This will take care of any and all texture, plus the joint compound that may be positive as well. As far as the abatement is concerned, the cost of removing the ceiling will be only marginally more expensive, though you will have to plan to put the ceiling back as well.

If you do not want to, or do not need to remove the entire ceiling, the asbestos abatement will consist of scraping the texture off. The impacted area will be set up as a containment zone, and all wall and floors will be lined with poly sheeting. The popcorn texture will then be wetted and scraped off.

Because popcorn texture can be difficult to match, it is advisable to go ahead and scrape the entire contiguous ceiling area even if the renovation will only impact a portion.

So What is my Next Step?

Your first step is to determine exactly what you are dealing with. Conducting an Asbestos Inspection will help you know with confidence if you do or do not have asbestos.

If you find that you do have asbestos, you will need a plan to either remove it, or manage it in place.

Managing it in place would mean adjusting your renovation plans to not disturb the material. Left untouched, a popcorn ceiling that contains asbestos will not pose a hazard to the occupants of the home.

If managing in place is not an option, work with an asbestos contractor to plan what type of abatement best meets your needs.

You have probably seen the class-action commercials on TV, but how much do you really know about asbestos? Your great-granddad may have been exposed to it on a Navy ship in World War II, or maybe you know someone suffering the effects of exposure after the World Trade Center collapsed. Chances are, you don’t stop to think about asbestos in your everyday life.

As a contractor, it is smart to educate yourself about the health risks of asbestos and the potential fines for improperly disturbing it. Asbestos is a fiber that is found in many common building materials and leads to lung diseases such as Mesothelioma. As these building materials are disturbed during renovation, workers and building occupants can be exposed to asbestos.

Here are five fast-facts every contractor should know about absestos.

1: Asbestos is regulated and enforced by the Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division

Even if your local building department does not ask for your proof of compliance with asbestos rules, as a contractor in Georgia you are still subject to state regulations and enforcement. It is wise to know what you are dealing with so you are ready if a state inspector stops by your job site.

2: All demolition and certain renovation projects are required to comply with asbestos notification requirements

If you are conducting a demolition or renovation activity you must:

• Obtain a site survey for asbestos from an accredited inspector.
• Submit a written notice of your intent to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division on this form. The notice must be submitted for all projects, even if asbestos was not discovered.

These requirements must be followed by any contractor doing any renovation or demolition work. Unlike lead laws, there is no age limit to houses that must be surveyed for asbestos.

3: If asbestos is discovered, a mandatory 10-day waiting period is enforced before demolition can begin

If your site survey reveals regulated asbestos material that will be disturbed during your renovation, you are required to conduct an asbestos abatement prior to beginning the project. In this case, a licensed abatement contractor will submit the notification to the state. A waiting period of 10 business days must pass between the notification and abatement.

If your site survey did not reveal asbestos, you must still submit notification to the GAEPD, but you are not subject to the 10 day waiting period or any fees.

4: Asbestos fibers are found in many common building materials

As a renovation contractor, you routinely disturb materials that may release asbestos fibers into the air. While older homes have a higher likelihood of containing asbestos, there is no cut-off year. There are no regulations that completely prohibit the use of asbestos in manufacturing so any home can potentially contain asbestos fibers.

Some of the most common building materials that contain asbestos are:

• Drywall and Joint Compound
• Wall and Ceiling Texture
• Floor Tiles and Vinyl Floor Coverings
• Mastics and Adhesives
• Pipe Insulation
• Roofing Tar
• Transite Siding
• Window Caulk and Glazing

5: Asbestos presents a true risk to you as a contractor, and occupants of the home you are working in

Regulations can often feel burdensome and frivolous. The truth is asbestos fibers produce a very real health hazard when they are released into the air and breathed. Asbestos is the sole cause of Mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lungs. It also is the source of Asbestosis, a chronic lung disease. According to the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety: “all levels of asbestos exposure studied to date have demonstrated asbestos-related disease”

During the course of a home renovation, tasks such and tearing out drywall can release large volumes of asbestos fibers into the air in the form of dust. The fibers can travel throughout the building and be sucked into HVAC systems. This presents a risk not only to the workers immediately breathing the fibers but to occupants that will return to live and work in the building.