Are you getting ready to renovate? Giving your home a much-deserved upgrade is an exciting process and what better way to invest your savings than into your home.

However, safety should always be your top priority before starting any project, big or small.

With DIY projects on the rise, so is the risk of asbestos exposure. Many homeowners unknowingly put themselves and their loved ones at risk by not fully understanding the dangers of asbestos or where it could be on their property.

When this is the case, hiring a reputable business offering Queensland asbestos inspections is essential. Read on to discover how you can avoid asbestos exposure in home renovations.

Is Asbestos in Your Home?

It was common for builders to use asbestos before the 1980s for a variety of purposes. Even after that, when the substance was heavily regulated, old stock that contained the deadly substance was still being used. That means even if your home was built after the 1990s, there’s a possibility that it could contain ACMs (asbestos-containing material).

A wide range of products were created using asbestos cement, sheeting or insulation, such as:

• Roofing
• Shingles
• Fencing
• Outbuildings
• Gutters and downpipes
• Exterior walls
• Vinyl floor tile and underlays
• Textured surfaces
• Insulating boards and covers
• Loose insulation

If you aren’t sure if a material contains asbestos and you want to avoid asbestos exposure in home renovations, it’s always best to treat it like it does. Unfortunately, you can’t tell from sight alone so the safe bet is to hire a professional that offers asbestos inspection and testing before starting any reno work.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos won’t cause any harm while it’s intact; that’s why it remains in so many buildings today without any complications. However, during renovations, if the material is damaged or disturbed it causes the toxic fibres to become airborne which poses serious health risks.

The asbestos fibres embed themselves into the lungs and internal organs and cause serious health complications and even cancer over time.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an aggressive tumour that’s almost always caused by asbestos exposure. Here are the facts you should know:

• It takes approx. 20-30 years after exposure before the disease develops
• Each year in Australia, between 700 and 800 people are diagnosed with Mesothelioma (AIHW)
• There’s currently no cure for the disease
• The average life expectancy after diagnosis is about one year

Take Precautions

DIY homeowners are among the highest at risk of exposure to ACMs due to a lack of awareness and the improper handling of PPI during renovations.

Under no circumstance should you try and remove friable asbestos from your property without a professional with a Class A license. For non-friable asbestos of more than 10m2, a class B professional can complete the work safely.

You may remove non-friable asbestos less than 10m2 yourself. Still, you must take proper safety measures and remember you’re entirely responsible for identifying and safely disposing of all ACMS.

Protect Yourself and Your Family

There is no safe level of asbestos, and you don’t want to take any risks that could harm you or the people close to you.

If you suspect there could be asbestos in your home, please wait before starting renovations and contact Quality Building Management as soon as possible. We are the #1 asbestos service provider in Queensland offering testing and inspections and we can safely assess your home before you start your home renovation.