Aussie homeowners revel in the opportunity to renovate. Taking an old home from dysfunctionally dated to functionally fabulous is a dream for anyone who owns a 20th Century home. Unfortunately, 20th Century builders had a penchant for using a nasty mineral we all know as “asbestos”.
This natural mineral was used as an insulative material for homes up until the late-1980s. When agitated and allowed to permeate throughout a home asbestos can be incredibly harmful to our health. It is infamous for causing a range of respiratory illnesses including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
One of the most terrible things about the mineral in Australia is its prevalence: around one-third of Aussie homes contain the mineral and the chances further increase if your home was built before the late-1980s. If your home was built after this period there is less chance that it contains the mineral.
With all this in mind, it’s imperative that your home receives asbestos air sampling before you begin renovations, and here are a few vital reasons why:
1.You don’t know what you’re knocking down
Perhaps the worst thing you could do when renovating an old home is knock out a wall without knowing what’s behind it. Homes built before the late-1980s likely contain this hazardous material and therefore need thorough testing before you can go knocking out cement, floor tiles, pipes, walls etc.
If you are unsure as to whether or not your home contains this nasty mineral then the safest thing you can do for you and your family is have it tested. The untrained eye has a difficult time detecting the mineral and many homeowners have continued knocking their home about without even knowing that it is permeating the air!
2.Peace of mind is everything
There is nothing more important when renovating an old home than the peace of mind that it isn’t being permeated with asbestos. We all know the horror stories and we should all do everything possible to avoid them ourselves. Why put your health at risk just to save costs on your renovation? It is always recommended for old homes that you factor a test in as part of your renovation budget.
If your experts do detect the mineral in the home then, fantastic, you stopped a potential health criss. They will go to work on removing the mineral so that you can get back to work on beautifying your old home. If, conversely, they find nothing well, hey, at least you have that all-important peace of mind that you can safely work without any health threats stressing you out!
3.You’re protecting any subcontractors
Protecting your family is one thing during a renovation. But you also must consider the health of any friends or subcontractors who will be working on your property. Can you imagine putting the health of a friend or builder at risk because you didn’t bother to test for this hazardous mineral?
The most important thing on any building or renovation site is to ensure the health and safety of any visiting workers. And, considering that this testing for this mineral is essential for homes built before the late-1980s then we see it as an essential element of ensuring this level of health and safety.
And, finally, the experts know exactly what they’re doing, so leave it up to them and they will ensure that your home is asbestos-free before you go to work on your dream renovation!
Comments