Why Asbestos Testing in Washington, D.C. is Recommended

Once acknowledged as exceptional for fireproofing and insulating in Washington, D.C. homes, asbestos is widely known as a dangerous fibrous material. When its fibers become airborne and these fibers are inhaled, it can cause havoc on a person’s lungs possibly causing mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

It is hard to tell where asbestos could be in your home in Washington, D.C because it has been so widely used for a variety of products, so it could almost be in any room of your home. Popcorn ceilings are famous for containing asbestos as is drywall joint compound, floor tiles, and vinyl flooring. If you suspect that you might have asbestos in your Washington, D.C. home, there are numerous at-home asbestos testing kits that you can purchase, take samples and send to a lab. However, asbestos testing by an accredited professional is recommended by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) instead of using at-home asbestos testing for homes in Washington, D.C.

As long as asbestos is not disturbed, it will not harm you. However, any home built in Washington, D.C.before 1980 stands a good chance of having asbestos-containing materials and should have an asbestos testing performed before doing any remodeling. Asbestos fibers are odorless, tasteless and something you cannot really see.

Asbestos testing by a professional will safeguard your family against further exposure to asbestos. Once tested and confirmed by an asbestos testing professional that your home does have asbestos-containing materials, removing asbestos from homes in Washington, D.C. should also be done by a professional asbestos abatement contractor who is trained to properly seal off areas to avoid spreading asbestos dust throughout the house. These professionals in Washington, D.C. have the proper equipment to clean the air during the removal process. They also wear protective gear which is required by OSHA to keep themselves safe.

Before you put your family at risk, call an asbestos testing professional to check your home in Washington, D.C. if you are uncertain that a particular material contains asbestos. It is better to be safe than sorry. You should never take it upon yourself to remove asbestos. This should be left to an environmental service company who is experienced in asbestos removal and who knows how and where to properly dispose of asbestos-containing materials.

Asbestos Removal Rids your Washington, D.C. Home of Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural silicate–based mineral that has been mined and used in thousands of products for centuries. When asbestos is added to products, the mineral increases durability and has fire–resistant properties. Asbestos fibers were used in the manufacturing of—

  • floor tiles
  • roofing shingles
  • pipe insulation
  • adhesives
  • ceiling tiles
  • insulation
  • siding

Suppose your home in Washington, D.C. was built prior to 1980. In that case, the chances are that you have asbestos in some of the construction materials. Making home improvements to your home could be dangerous if you don’t know if any of the materials contain asbestos. Before sawing, cutting, hammering or removing any construction materials from your home, you should first have an asbestos inspection to see exactly what materials in your home do indeed have asbestos in them. Once you know, you should have asbestos removal and rid them from your Washington, D.C. home.

Asbestos–containing materials usually are not dangerous if they are in good shape and undisturbed. If you have any products that are wearing because of age, fibers could become airborne and cause exposure. Anytime you go to renovate an area of your home in Washington, D.C., you want to be aware of any possible asbestos–containing materials. Disturbing these materials will release asbestos fibers into the air where you and your family members could inhale and cause significant health issues, some even fatal.

Having your home checked for asbestos–containing materials is a safe way of protecting your family. If any asbestos is detected, asbestos removal may be necessary and should not be avoided.

Asbestos removal should be done by professionals such as Envirotex, who have the knowledge, experience, talent, and resources. Envirotex has over twenty years of experience and offers cost–effective and quality work, keeping your safety their first priority at your home in Washington, D.C.

The professional team will completely clear any asbestos–containing materials from your Washington, D.C. home during the asbestos removal process and then properly dispose of the materials. The area will be cleaned and ready for your family to come back home to your Washington, D.C. house.

Asbestos–containing materials that might be disturbed in any way should be removed. Asbestos removal is the only sure way of getting rid of the problem altogether. Sometimes asbestos encapsulation may be recommended, which is when asbestos–containing materials are sealed off and contained. Encapsulation doesn’t last forever, so asbestos removal is preferred for homes in Washington, D.C.

How to Pass a Mold Inspection in Fairfax, VA

Anytime you go to sell your home in Fairfax, VA you will have to go through a home inspection which will include detecting for mold growth. If you have musty odors in your home, it is best to have a mold inspection done before the home inspector comes. Any signs of mold should be removed or cleaned completely before home inspections because it will be noted and a potential buyer may be turned off, and you might lose a sale for your home in Fairfax, VA.

Small amounts of mold or mildew can be wiped away with special cleaners. A musty smell might possibly mean it could be hiding behind your walls or under your flooring. Your best bet is having a mold inspection for your home in Fairfax, VA.

Reasons for a Mold Inspection

  • Noticeable signs of mold such as musty smell or mold symptoms.
  • Identify the type of mold in your Fairfax, VA home.
  • Find out where the mold is growing.
  • To test indoor air quality by measuring the amount of spores in the air.
  • To retest to be sure all mold has been fully removed.

If you have mold in your home and have it professionally removed and fixed any issues related to mold growth, document all repairs. Keep a copy of the mold inspection for proof that a mold inspection was performed and your home in Fairfax, VA is free of mold. This will provide the homebuyers documentation if it becomes a problem later on.

A mold inspection in Fairfax, VA will give you the assurance you need that once you find a prospective buyer and the home inspector comes to inspect your home, it will be free of any mold issues. Buyers with small children for sure do not want to take any chances on the health of their loved ones if there is even the slightest suspicion of any mold.

Even if you are not selling your home and you suspect mold, call a profession mold inspection company so they can come and inspect your home and if mold is found, advise you of a plan to have it removed from your home in Fairfax, VA.

How are Mold Inspections in Washington, D.C. Conducted?

When properly diagnosing a mold or indoor air quality problem, a mold inspection company in Washington, D.C. should always ask a homeowner about any current or previous issues including moldy odors, plumbing leaks, past or present roof leaks, humidity or condensation problems or if there is any visible mold present.

Visual Inspection for Mold

Mold inspections consist of a complete visual inspection of your home conducted to search for visible mold growth or possible water penetration and other problematic conditions. Moisture meters for detecting moisture, hydrometers for measuring indoor humidity, boroscopes for viewing inside the walls, and laser thermometers to check surface temperatures and the operation of AC units may be used during mold inspections at homes in Washington, D.C. Also, digital photographs might be taken to document the condition of your Washington, D.C. home.

Mold Sampling

Sometimes a mold condition cannot be visually seen but can be detected by taking air samples. As part of conducted mold inspections, samples are taken indoors and outdoors to determine if the mold spore count filtered through the air inside is higher in comparison to the mold spore count filtered from the air outside the home. It can tell you which types of mold are on the property.

Surface-lifted samples of mold are taken by scraping mold from building material surfaces with the aid of swabs or clear tape. Bulk samples may be taken by cutting samples from building materials that are contaminated with mold.

Analysis of Mold Samples

A professionally trained analyst analyzes these samples collected by the mold inspector at a specialized lab. A mold inspection report is provided with the results of the samples taken at your home in Washington, D.C.

Mold Report Information

A written report of the findings from the mold inspection will include color digital photos, spore levels and types of mold. This report will be sent to you with a recommendation of the procedure that needs to be conducted to remove the mold from your Washington, D.C. home. At that time, you should call an environmental service company and immediately have all mold removed from your home in Washington, D.C.

Some molds can be toxic and cause health issues for you and your family, so you want to get rid of all molds as soon as possible. Once the mold has been professionally removed from your Washington, D.C. home, you should have another mold inspection conducted to verify all mold is gone.