If your residential or commercial building was originally assembled between the early 1930s and late 1980s, it may contain asbestos — an insidious material that, if disturbed, releases tiny but dangerous airborne fibres.
If these are breathed in, they can cause a range of deadly diseases — such as asbestosis and lung cancer. Here are some common indicators that a building may contain asbestos.
This kind of roof is otherwise known as a corrugated cement roof. It is also the type of roof that is likeliest to include asbestos — and if yours does, the gutters and downpipes may also be contaminated with this fibrous mineral.
The following are all varieties of exterior cladding that can contain asbestos:
However, stucco cladding can be especially deceptive, as it has been used in the past to conceal asbestos-containing cement boards.
As we acknowledged earlier, gutters can be contaminated with asbestos if they line a corrugated cement roof.
However, you would have especially good reason to be suspicious about those gutters if they are cement-like in appearance. The same could be said about any downpipes, spouting, or rain headers on the property.
This term is used for a ceiling where a spray-on or paint-on treatment has been applied, resulting in a bumpy surface. Popcorn ceilings created before the 1970s often contained white asbestos, which has also been referred to as chrysotile.
The combination of these two circumstances would be a major warning sign — as, before 1983, asbestos would often be used in the electrical metre boards, fuses, and fuse backings of buildings as they were initially put together.
It is crucial to emphasise that, if you suspect your building does contain asbestos, you should have an expert visit the site and thoroughly inspect it. It’s easy to enquire with us about our ability to provide asbestos sampling and asbestos removal services in Auckland.
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