Asbestos is one of the most dangerous substances that you might find in a home, causing lung cancer (mesothelioma) and other respiratory problems if inhaled. Anyone considering a remodeling project in the State of Oregon, is required by law on any home built before 2004 to have an asbestos survey performed by an accredited inspector prior to any demolition or renovation activity takes place.
What is asbestos? Asbestos is a mineral fiber found in rocks and soil, and it was mined extensively in the 20th century for use in building products because of its superior fire resistance. Unfortunately, asbestos use wasn’t restricted until the 1990s, and it is still not banned in the US.
Home construction materials containing asbestos fall into two categories: Friable (easy to crumble, sending fibers into the air), and non-friable. Friable materials pose the greatest health threat, but according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, there’s no “safe” level of exposure to asbestos.
Here are the top five most common sources of asbestos in Portland area homes:
- “Popcorn ceiling”,or textured ceiling material that is painted over. These ceilings were very popular in the 1960s and 70s, and you can bet that the moment this material starts to crumble, you’ll be breathing in asbestos fibers.
- Insulation. Asbestos is almost the perfect material for insulation – it has a high R-value (heat resistance value), its fluffy mineral fibers capture a lot of air, and it is very difficult to set on fire. Unfortunately, it also carries all the health hazards of any other asbestos material, and is friable from the get-go.
- Duct tape/wrap. Insulating wraps are often found around duct work coming from furnaces. Again, asbestos was a very useful material to use here, and we will usually bet that any white duct-tape-like material contains asbestos. It becomes friable as it disintegrates.
- Vinyl floor tiles. The waterproof tiles that are commonly found in kitchens, baths and basements commonly contained asbestos before 1980. These tiles are safe and non-friable when installed, but can become friable when they are removed.
- Drop ceiling tiles. These large panels are found anywhere a lowered ceiling might be necessary — in an office space to hide ducts and cabling, in residential kitchens to hide fans and piping, or in remodeled basements. They are more friable than floor tiles, but also much easier to remove and replace.
Although these are the most common asbestos-containing materials we see in Portland, there are literally hundreds of others. The only way to be sure you and the people around you will be safe during a remodeling project is to have your home professionally tested for asbestos. Our assessors will perform a thorough inspection and provide more accurate laboratory results than a DIY test kit.