What Should an Asbestos Inspection Include for Homes in Northern, VA?

Most products today do not contain asbestos. However, up until the 1970s, there were many types of building and insulation materials that were used in homes which contained asbestos. Before doing any home repairs or renovations to an older home in Northern, VA, you should consider having an asbestos inspection.

An asbestos inspection should include a complete visual assessment. A collection of samples should be taken and sent off to a third party laboratory for analysis. If the report confirms that asbestos is present in your Northern, VA home, the asbestos inspector should provide you with a written evaluation that describes where the asbestos materials are located and the extent of any damage. The asbestos inspector should also give you recommendations to correct the problem at your Northern, VA home.

Northern, VA homeowners should never take it upon themselves to take samples of suspected asbestos materials. This should only be done a professional asbestos inspection company such as the team at Envirotex. These professional inspectors know what to look for and know how to handle the situation carefully and safely. Taking samples yourself may release asbestos fibers into the air, which can be extremely harmful to any household members in Northern, VA.

Professional asbestos inspection teams should take all necessary precautions when taking samples. Your Northern, VA home’s heating and cooling system will be shut down to minimize the spreading any released asbestos fibers throughout the house.

Most often, asbestos-containing materials that are in good shape and are never going to be disturbed, should be left alone. Your asbestos inspection may only include sampling materials that may be damaged or disturbed when doing repairs or remodeling.

If the asbestos material presents a problem, two corrections are possible: removal or repair. If it is repaired, this involves either sealing or covering the asbestos material with a sealant that binds the asbestos fibers together or coats the asbestos materials, so fibers are not released into the air.

The other is by removal. Both repair and removal should be done by a mold removal professional explicitly trained to handle asbestos safely.