Removing Popcorn Ceiling
Popcorn ceilings were once a very popular means of décor in the home. This is not as true anymore. One of the worst things about the decoration is that, especially in earlier homes built before 1980, the popcorn material can contain asbestos. When the time comes to sell your home, removing popcorn ceiling should be a first priority.
Testing for Asbestos
In general, testing for asbestos is best accomplished by a professional laboratory. You can easily remove pieces of the popcorn and seal them in tight containers for sending off to a lab. However, there are dangers should the material crumble or flake. This is why many people opt for the services of an asbestos removal company to take and analyze samples.
Removing Popcorn Ceiling
Removing popcorn ceilings can be messy and take a lot of time. You should completely clear the room of all furniture and other objects so that they do not get covered with asbestos dust. You should also wear a respirator to avoid breathing in the fibers, as well as protective clothing, goggles and use specialized abatement bags to store and remove the material. A contained vehicle should be used to move the asbestos to a hazardous waste site.
There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. Illnesses such as respiratory problems or cancer can manifest well over 30 years after initial exposure. Be extra sure, if you remove asbestos on your own, that you take every precaution to avoid getting the material on your skin or breathing it in. This includes using a vacuum with a special HEPA filter to take care of any dust in the air. It also means taking extra precautions to be covered from head to toe while dealing with removal.
The Abatement Company
A qualified abatement company is your best bet to get rid of asbestos in your home. These companies are professionals who have years of training and expertise in dealing with dangerous materials. The professionals can come in, assess the problem and get it removed with a minimum of exposure and danger to you and yours.
Exposing asbestos yourself can cost you hundreds of dollars in the necessary equipment, safety procedures and disposal in a waste site. An abatement company already has the equipment and partnerships with disposal areas, so they can often handle the problem at a lower cost to you. In addition, not only will this avoid you being exposed to the material, it will save you a lot of time and headache as you will not have to do the work yourself.
When hiring an abatement company, make sure that they are experienced, bonded, licensed and certified. You want to be sure that the contractors coming in are experts in handling the problem. Our experts have years of experience getting asbestos out of buildings and are consummate professionals. If you have problems with asbestos in your home, give us a call today for a consultation.
