Kelly's Healthy Home

Did you know that asbestos was only phased out in housing as of 1986? And could potentially have been used later?! I polled my instagram followers to see if they knew this and to my surprise, the majority did assume in the 80’s! (I made have made it a little too easy to guess…) Personally, it seems pretty wild as it was known to be dangerous decades before.

Asbestos, as it relates to your home, could be in a few different areas. It was used as building materials in roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, and cement products. As a Realtor, I see it in basement tiles, pipe insulation and as siding in homes throughout the Philadelphia area. Which is not surprising given the ages of homes and for the most part, it’s OK as long as it’s not damaged. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it kind of mentality.

However, with rise of natural disasters, houses are becoming damaged and as a result could be releasing those particles and fibers into the air. And that’s not good for anyone. Exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (number 1 cause!) and asbestosis, a serious progressive, long-term, non-cancer disease of the lungs.

So what if you have asbestos in your home? Or you are unsure? Don’t panic. If the item in question is not damaged, leave it alone.

If you think you do have asbestos and are planning to do some renovations, first hire a trained and accredited asbestos professional to evaluate and take samples. Don’t start scrapping off that popcorn ceiling or knocking through drywall if your home was built before 1980. If it’s positive, ensure you hire state certified professionals to help. Similar to having lead paint, you want to ensure the way it’s mitigated is contained.

Learn more through the EPA and through the Lanier Law Firm Homeowner’s Guide.