Find an Asbestos Removal Contractor you can trust in Banchory.

Many examples of asbestos will not need removing, for example if it is present in artex that is in good condition. However, if you are carrying out building work on or near the asbestos it should be carefully removed before the building work starts to make sure it is not accidentally disturbed.

Can I Remove Asbestos Myself?

If you’re an individual who owns or control buildings, you’re required by the law to carry out asbestos management and reasonably so. Asbestos is a very dangerous and life threatening material which comes with a host of potential diseases related to exposure and therefore, it’s required to be removed from any building once discovered.

Majority of these diseases are not treated and in the UK alone, there has been about 4,500 deaths per year that has been attributable to asbestos exposure. Hence, this explains why this topic is considered crucial to the legislators.

When it comes to asbestos containing materials removal, this should only be done if necessary and ultimately, only by a person who possesses the skills, knowledge and expertise to make sure that the removal is done safely and to the highest possible standards. Exposure to asbestos poses great health risks. And although when left alone the material can only cause little harm, but the real threat comes when disturbed which implies that asbestos removal is a gravely dangerous process if not handle with skill and care.

Due to this fact, the law has taken a very serious stance that only skilled specialist are allowed to handle the task. Therefore, if you want to know if you can undertake this task by yourself, it’s important to consult your local authority to know the stance of the law in your state. We’d however recommend that you do not attempt this by yourself as the dangers are simply too much. The cost of asbestos containing materials removal can be somewhat costly, but when you look at the threat it poses to both you and your loved ones, you’d realize that it’s worth the price.

Asbestos is basically a naturally occurring fibre which, until the 1990s, has been a commonly used material in construction and other industries. There are three major kinds of asbestos fibres in the UK and they include crocidolite or blue, amosite or brown as well as chrysotile or white.

Before it’s life threatening potentials were exposed, asbestos was commonly used across the globe in buildings and structures as a means of insulation, roofing, flooring and was also sprayed on ceiling as well as walls. Upon the discovery of its hazardous features however, it has been swiftly banned in the UK but it may still be discovered in buildings and structures that have been erected before the year 2000.

In the event whereby a building or structure possesses asbestos within them, it can pose only a little risk but only if they remain undisturbed. It’s only when they’re disturbed or damaged that the tiny asbestos fibres are usually discharged into the air and can be easily inhaled into the lungs. Breathing in of asbestos is a very harmful thing as the fibres can have a terrible impact on your lungs and their linings. What’s more? Asbestos-related health conditions’ symptoms normally takes several years to surface which means that an exposure to the deadly substance many years ago may only start to show symptoms today. Therefore, if you’ve worked in a building or construction industry especially within the time period of 1970s to 1990s, there is a real chance that you’ve been exposed to asbestos. This type of jobs include ship building, construction and insulation projects, but this doesn’t necessarily imply that asbestos exposure can not occur in other jobs as well.

What Does Asbestos Cause?

The perfect example of a silent killer is asbestos. Wonder why? From the day of exposure, you might not see any symptoms of the asbestos containing material disease till years later and more often than not, these disease are not treatable. And as dangerous at it is, it’s most likely not something you’d think about on a daily basis unless you’ve been affected by this harmful material or probably someone you know has.

Found in rocks and soils, asbestos have been an important material for manufacturers across the globe for numerous reasons. Not only are they exceptional insulation materials in both electrical and buildings, but they’re also flexible and resistant to heat, chemicals as well as electricity. And due to this fact, they represent a very common material that’s used in automotive parts, construction materials as well as textiles.

Asbestos when disturbed and inhaled for a long period of time can significantly increase your risk for diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma as well as asbestosis. Smokers are more likely feel a greater impact as cigarette smoke irritates lung passages which makes it a lot more difficult for the lungs to remove asbestos fibres.

Mesothelioma. This is a form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs as well as the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract. By the time diagnosed, it’s almost always fatal.

Lung Cancer. This asbestos related lung cancer is almost the same with that caused by smoking and other causes.

Abestosis. This is a serious scarring condition of the lung which usually occurs after exposure to asbestos after a lengthy period. It can lead to shortness of breath, and in some cases, can be fatal.

For some types of asbestos, you are not legally required to use a licensed contractor. However, it’s recommended that you always use one. These contractors will have all the relevant training and knowledge to make sure asbestos is removed safely. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the licensing body.

In recent times, when about to purchase or renovate a building that was constructed before the 1980’s, most homeowners will be particular about knowing whether or not asbestos containing materials are present. Also when a property is being checked, a lot of individuals would want to know the peak years for asbestos to be used in homes.

Modern asbestos production started in the 1800s during the time of industrial revolution, but after some regulation were made to ban some asbestos products and uses in the late 1970’s, the production witnessed a significant drop. The United States was the foremost users of asbestos according to the USGS but this lasted until the 1960’s when it was overtaken by the Soviet Union. In this article, we’ll look at the years of use for asbestos containing materials like pipe insulation, vermiculite as well as wall systems.

✓ Insulation. Asbestos insulation was commonly used in homes with lots of focus on both piping and ductwork. This was started in the year 1908 but was ended between 1915 and 1920 by Air-Cell pipe insulation.

✓ Vermiculite. This refers to a mineral that’s popular for its insulating properties and mostly used as insulation for attics. It possesses a gold to brown kind of appearance and it’s also a pebble material that shimmers in the light. According to the EPA, if this material is suspected in a home it should be assumed to contain asbestos.

✓ Wall Systems. Plaster and drywall are very common wall types that are asbestos containing. And until asbestos was banned both wall systems are said to have asbestos. For example the drywall sheets as well as it’s joint compound both features asbestos from the 1930s to the 1980s.

There are all different types of Asbestos. Some kinds of asbestos, if they are in good condition, may be left as they are or covered up. If there is any danger of the asbestos being damaged and particles entering the air, it should be removed. Once a survey has been completed you will be advised on what course of action to take.

If you’re thinking about having your asbestos removed, you have two options - either you take on the project yourself or you call in a reliable professional for help. If you do not have enough time on your plate or perhaps you’re not confident enough to carry out this project on your own, then you’d have to reach out to an expert and of course, it comes with a cost.

The cost of removing asbestos is, however, not fixed as it depends on many factors. These factors works to decrease or increase the cost of removing asbestos. The factors include the type of asbestos material that needs to be removed, if the material can be encapsulated rather than removed, if the material has been sampled and tested, the location where the works would be carried out, size of the area, the accessibility of the asbestos, if other sites users or neighbours will be affected as well as the type of the building be it residential, commercial, industrial.

With a plethora of important things to put into consideration, it’s therefore essential to call in a qualified, competent and professional asbestos removal company to provide a reasonable quote for your unique project. Generally, in the UK, you can expect to pay the approximate cost of around £1000 or less for smaller areas. However, for larger areas the cost of removing such an asbestos will cost you considerably more. The cost can be within the range of £2500 and above in the UK.

These prices may seem high at first but its definitely worth it when you look at it’s possible effect on the health of you and your loved ones.