Does My House Have Asbestos?

You’ve heard the adage that not knowing something is worse than knowing it. Uncertainty is uncomfortable, so we should take every chance to obtain information for peace of mind. This includes knowing if your home contains a potentially dangerous substance like asbestos.

For decades, St. John Environmental Consulting has provided St. Louis area home and business owners peace of mind with expert testing for asbestos, lead, mold, and other environmental hazards. If you wonder if your house contains asbestos, here are some tips from the experts at St. John.

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral once widely used in construction materials, has been linked to serious health risks, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other respiratory diseases. It was banned in the United States in 1978, but some structures built before this time still contain asbestos. This poses a potential health hazard to occupants of these buildings.

Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to determine whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it. Asbestos fibers are microscopic and often mixed with other materials, making them invisible to the naked eye. Therefore, the only definitive way to know if your home contains asbestos is to have it tested by the trusted professionals at St. John Environmental Consulting.

Even if a visual inspection alone cannot confirm the presence of asbestos, certain clues may suggest its presence in your home. These include:

• Age of the home/building.Homes built before the 1980s are more likely to contain asbestos, as its use was widespread during this period.
• Presence of specific building materials.Asbestos was commonly used in various building materials, including insulation, textured (popcorn) ceilings, vinyl floor tile, ductwork, insulation, joint and pipe cement, and more.
• Condition of specific building materials.If any of the materials mentioned above appear damaged, frayed, or crumbling, it increases the likelihood of asbestos presence and exposure.

St. John Environmental Consulting is your first call for peace of mind with comprehensive asbestos testing. Our inspections are thorough, and samples of suspected materials are sent for laboratory analysis. If the presence of asbestos is confirmed, we can provide recommendations for any necessary abatement and removal.

If you suspect that your home contains asbestos materials, you can take steps to minimize exposure. Generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fibers, and disturbing it may create a health hazard where none existed. The best thing to do with asbestos material in good condition is to leave it alone. The danger increases from asbestos material from damage over time. Asbestos that crumbles easily if handled, or asbestos that has been sanded, scraped, or sawed, is more likely to release asbestos fibers and worsen the potential for a health hazard. It would be best if you also ventilated your home adequately, as good ventilation can disperse airborne fibers. The most important step you can take to protect the health of your loved ones is to seek advice from a qualified environmental company such as St. John Environmental Consulting.

When you remodel, demolish, repair, or disturb materials that may contain asbestos, you need an asbestos inspection from St. John Environmental Consulting. An AHERA-accredited inspector will help you to determine the appropriate asbestos sampling plan and protocol to ensure that you protect yourself from health impacts and liabilities of asbestos without wasting money on abating unnecessary materials.

St. Louis asbestos testing and inspection services from St. John Environmental Consulting are designed to address your safety and air quality concerns. We prioritize customer satisfaction by delivering exceptional services to residential, commercial, and governmental clients. Does your house contain asbestos? Call St. John Environmental Consulting today at 314-853-4668 for a definitive answer.