ASBESTOS REMOVALFor centuries, it has been used around the world as a building material. It is fireproof, which made it an ideal material to use in both houses and commercial properties. However, due to health concerns, many homeowners have searched for asbestos removal companies in the past several decades.
What is Asbestos? Some commonly asked questions are "What is asbestos?" and "What does asbestos look like?" It is a naturally-occurring material mined from the ground. The mineral is resilient and durable. However, it poses health risks when its fibres are breathed in. The mineral can be broken into two categories: friable and non-friable. Friable asbestos is most often found in powder form. It can also be easily pulverised, torn or crumbled into powder Friable fibres are especially dangerous because they are tiny and they can easily be spread by wind. Thus, a person can breathe the fibres unintentionally when the material is being removed from homes and buildings. The non-friable form of the mineral is bonded together. It is the type commonly found in building materials. This form of the mineral is usually safer. However, over time the non-friable type can become damaged and loosen or crumble. For instance, weather damage or damage to the fibres can cause the fibres to break apart, which poses a greater health risk. |
|
|
|
WHAT IS ASBESTOS?
What Does Asbestos Look Like?
Asbestos is the name given to six different silicate minerals. All of these minerals are made of thin, long and fibrous crystals.
How to Identify Asbestos
The minerals can come in several different colours. The raw fibres are usually grey, brown, white or blue. In Australia the three types commonly mined were white (Chrysotile), blue (Crocidolite) and brown (Amosite). Friable asbestos looks flexible, brittle and fluffy.
Many homeowners ask questions regarding how to identify asbestos. One thing that makes the material hard to identify is that it was often mixed with other substances when used as a building material. The fibres of the harmful substance are also tiny, which makes them even more difficult to identify. Our specialists have experience identifying the various types of materials.
Once the fibres are released into the air, the dust can be very difficult to see. However, large amounts of the dust gathered together can be visible.
When placed under a microscope, the fibres have different shapes. For instance, the amphibole type can be blue, white or brown in colour. Amphibole fibres are shaped like rods with sharp, thin ends. The serpentine type appears white and has long, curly and thin ends to the fibres.
Keep in mind that the best way to be sure the toxic mineral is present is to have the material tested. Our asbestos inspection company has the experience necessary to check for the mineral in a safe and effective way.
Asbestos is the name given to six different silicate minerals. All of these minerals are made of thin, long and fibrous crystals.
How to Identify Asbestos
The minerals can come in several different colours. The raw fibres are usually grey, brown, white or blue. In Australia the three types commonly mined were white (Chrysotile), blue (Crocidolite) and brown (Amosite). Friable asbestos looks flexible, brittle and fluffy.
Many homeowners ask questions regarding how to identify asbestos. One thing that makes the material hard to identify is that it was often mixed with other substances when used as a building material. The fibres of the harmful substance are also tiny, which makes them even more difficult to identify. Our specialists have experience identifying the various types of materials.
Once the fibres are released into the air, the dust can be very difficult to see. However, large amounts of the dust gathered together can be visible.
When placed under a microscope, the fibres have different shapes. For instance, the amphibole type can be blue, white or brown in colour. Amphibole fibres are shaped like rods with sharp, thin ends. The serpentine type appears white and has long, curly and thin ends to the fibres.
Keep in mind that the best way to be sure the toxic mineral is present is to have the material tested. Our asbestos inspection company has the experience necessary to check for the mineral in a safe and effective way.
|
|
CALL NOW (02) 45082666
ASBESTOS INSPECTION
Where Could Asbestos Be Found?
The mineral can be found in multiple different parts of a home or commercial property. Common places where it is found are as follows:
An asbestos sheet was often used to reinforce cement sheets in many home constructions. This type of sheeting was popular in Australia between the 1940s and 1980s. An asbestos house is typically one built before the 1990s. This is because the Australian government began to regulate the use of the mineral around that time.
The harmful contaminate can be found in many parts of a home. For instance, a popcorn ceiling was often made using the contaminated fibres. An asbestos ceiling is one that was reinforced with the harmful material in its insulation.
An asbestos ceiling and an asbestos roof were usually reinforced with the material to make them flame-retardant. An asbestos roof that is loose-filled with the contaminant material is considered the most harmful form of the mineral. This is because when it is uncovered the loose fibres can easily become airborne.
The mineral was also used in both sealants and paints. In most cases, the paints and sealants don't cause a health problem unless the asbestos sheet(s) in walls or other painted objects deteriorate and release the fibres into the air. Contaminated paints do not look any different from other paints, and the harmful mineral cannot be detected by the naked eye when mixed into paint.
In an asbestos house, the mineral is most often found in the ceiling or flooring. Carpet underlay was often contaminated with the mineral when it was mixed with the glue to hold the carpet in place. Vinyl floors installed in homes through the 1980s were also often made with the toxic mineral.
Flooring that has blackish, brown, greyish brown or dark grey parts mixed in are often contaminated with the fibres. The flooring poses a much greater health risk when the flooring begins to deteriorate or become unglued.
The mineral can be found in multiple different parts of a home or commercial property. Common places where it is found are as follows:
- Tile flooring
- Carpet underlays
- Vinyl flooring
- Paint
- Popcorn ceilings
- Sheeting
- Wall insulation
An asbestos sheet was often used to reinforce cement sheets in many home constructions. This type of sheeting was popular in Australia between the 1940s and 1980s. An asbestos house is typically one built before the 1990s. This is because the Australian government began to regulate the use of the mineral around that time.
The harmful contaminate can be found in many parts of a home. For instance, a popcorn ceiling was often made using the contaminated fibres. An asbestos ceiling is one that was reinforced with the harmful material in its insulation.
An asbestos ceiling and an asbestos roof were usually reinforced with the material to make them flame-retardant. An asbestos roof that is loose-filled with the contaminant material is considered the most harmful form of the mineral. This is because when it is uncovered the loose fibres can easily become airborne.
The mineral was also used in both sealants and paints. In most cases, the paints and sealants don't cause a health problem unless the asbestos sheet(s) in walls or other painted objects deteriorate and release the fibres into the air. Contaminated paints do not look any different from other paints, and the harmful mineral cannot be detected by the naked eye when mixed into paint.
In an asbestos house, the mineral is most often found in the ceiling or flooring. Carpet underlay was often contaminated with the mineral when it was mixed with the glue to hold the carpet in place. Vinyl floors installed in homes through the 1980s were also often made with the toxic mineral.
Flooring that has blackish, brown, greyish brown or dark grey parts mixed in are often contaminated with the fibres. The flooring poses a much greater health risk when the flooring begins to deteriorate or become unglued.
|
|
ASBESTOS TESTING
Asbestos Testing Sydney
Our company can help you with asbestos testing Sydney. In order to do asbestos testing, a sample of the material needs to be collected and brought to a laboratory. It is recommended by the Australian government that only experienced professionals take samples for asbestos testing.
If you are thinking of taking the sample yourself, it's best to read safety precautions. You should also call a lab before you take the sample. The lab can advise you on how to safely transport the sample. However, you might be held liable for any damage you do to yourself or those around you.
Asbestos Removal Sydney
If you're concerned about asbestos removal Sydney, contact us. We are a licensed asbestos removal company.
Who Should I Call for Help?
It's best to choose a licensed removalist like our company. Removing the mineral would put you in danger of exposure. Friable fibres can spread easily when they become airborne. Thus, you would put others in your neighbouring area in danger, too.
Calling an expert from our company will reduce your risk of exposing yourself to fibres. Our experts have the proper protective equipment to reduce the risk of airborne contamination and exposure. Our expert workers can also identify the mineral much more easily than someone who has not seen it before.
Our company can help you with asbestos testing Sydney. In order to do asbestos testing, a sample of the material needs to be collected and brought to a laboratory. It is recommended by the Australian government that only experienced professionals take samples for asbestos testing.
If you are thinking of taking the sample yourself, it's best to read safety precautions. You should also call a lab before you take the sample. The lab can advise you on how to safely transport the sample. However, you might be held liable for any damage you do to yourself or those around you.
Asbestos Removal Sydney
If you're concerned about asbestos removal Sydney, contact us. We are a licensed asbestos removal company.
Who Should I Call for Help?
It's best to choose a licensed removalist like our company. Removing the mineral would put you in danger of exposure. Friable fibres can spread easily when they become airborne. Thus, you would put others in your neighbouring area in danger, too.
Calling an expert from our company will reduce your risk of exposing yourself to fibres. Our experts have the proper protective equipment to reduce the risk of airborne contamination and exposure. Our expert workers can also identify the mineral much more easily than someone who has not seen it before.
|
|
CALL NOW (02) 40582666
ASBESTOS DISPOSAL
Our company has expertise in the following:
We are also aware of strict government policies. For instance, in Australian Capital Territory, a non-licensed person is not authorized for asbestos removal. In the other Australian territories, a non-licensed person can remove the mineral but only as much as ten square meters of the non-friable type. This prevents unlicensed people from removing large amounts of it. Therefore, if multiple rooms in your home are affected, it's best to call a licensed expert.
Another thing to keep in mind is that most insurance policies in Australia don't cover asbestos-related work. Therefore, if you do it yourself, you should expect to pay out-of-pocket for clean up costs and asbestos disposal.
Overall, do it yourself removal and clean up is not recommended in Australia. Some states even forbid it by law
- Effective training in safe handling practices
- An understanding of government regulations in regards to safe clean-up practices
- An awareness of the environmental hazards of dangerous pollutants
- An adherence to government regulations
- Training in regards to safe removal tactics
- A knowledge of the tools used to remove hazardous materials
We are also aware of strict government policies. For instance, in Australian Capital Territory, a non-licensed person is not authorized for asbestos removal. In the other Australian territories, a non-licensed person can remove the mineral but only as much as ten square meters of the non-friable type. This prevents unlicensed people from removing large amounts of it. Therefore, if multiple rooms in your home are affected, it's best to call a licensed expert.
Another thing to keep in mind is that most insurance policies in Australia don't cover asbestos-related work. Therefore, if you do it yourself, you should expect to pay out-of-pocket for clean up costs and asbestos disposal.
Overall, do it yourself removal and clean up is not recommended in Australia. Some states even forbid it by law
|
|
ASBESTOS REMOVAL COST
As previously stated, a person who removes the material himself will have to pay the clean up fee. However, the removal cost would be much lower if you hired a licensed removalist and got insurance to cover part of the cost.
To get a proper and correct quote for your asbestos removal cost, you will need an asbestos inspection first. A specialist from our company can come out to the property and assess it. Most removalists charge by the square meter. Therefore, removing the mineral from only one part of one room in the house would be much cheaper than removing it from every room in a large house.
Another factor that affects cost is the condition of the contaminated surface and the mineral. If it is crumbled or deteriorated, this could cost you more. If the mineral supports a load bearing wall and parts of the wall must be removed then you will pay more for asbestos disposal. Other factors impacting cost are:
If you suspect you need asbestos removal, contact us.
We can assess your needs and help you rid your home or commercial property of asbestos-containing materials. Contact us today for help.
To get a proper and correct quote for your asbestos removal cost, you will need an asbestos inspection first. A specialist from our company can come out to the property and assess it. Most removalists charge by the square meter. Therefore, removing the mineral from only one part of one room in the house would be much cheaper than removing it from every room in a large house.
Another factor that affects cost is the condition of the contaminated surface and the mineral. If it is crumbled or deteriorated, this could cost you more. If the mineral supports a load bearing wall and parts of the wall must be removed then you will pay more for asbestos disposal. Other factors impacting cost are:
- The existence of any obstacles in the home that make removal more difficult
- The amount of the mineral that has to be removed
- The distance from the removal site to the closest drop off spot
If you suspect you need asbestos removal, contact us.
We can assess your needs and help you rid your home or commercial property of asbestos-containing materials. Contact us today for help.