What Should I Do... If I Suspect My Home Has Asbestos?
Renovating an old house can be exciting – but be sure you know exactly what's in the walls and floors before you start
We all know that breathing in asbestos dust can be deadly. But it might surprise you to learn that this potentially dangerous building material is still present in the walls, roofs or floors of nearly one in two Australian homes, according to Karen Banton, founder of the Bernie Banton Foundation. And despite the 2003 Australia-wide ban on asbestos use and manufacture, two Australians are still diagnosed with incurable mesothelioma cancer every day. The Bernie Banton Foundation Asbestos Awareness Week runs from 23 to 30 November 2018, which aims to highlight the dangers of asbestos exposure and the importance of renovating safely. Here, Karen Banton, Bernie’s widow, reveals what to do if you suspect the presence of asbestos in your home.
What can asbestos exposure do to you?
If broken, cut or drilled, materials containing asbestos can release dangerous particles which, if breathed in, can cause asbestosis, lung cancer or the incurable disease mesothelioma.
If broken, cut or drilled, materials containing asbestos can release dangerous particles which, if breathed in, can cause asbestosis, lung cancer or the incurable disease mesothelioma.
Which homes are most likely to be affected?
Any house or apartment built or renovated before 1990 can be affected, whether it’s made of brick, weatherboard or fibro.
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Any house or apartment built or renovated before 1990 can be affected, whether it’s made of brick, weatherboard or fibro.
7 Hidden Problems in Older Properties
Where is asbestos normally found?
Externally, a home may have asbestos cement sheet (ACS) eaves, verandahs, carport ceilings and garage linings, as well as gable and window infills. It can also be found in external walls.
There may also be asbestos in electrical switchboards and cabinets, roofing, gutters, ridging, as well as downpipes, stormwater, toilet and sewage pipes, chimney flues and outbuildings.
Inside the home, you might find asbestos in the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, under and inside flooring, behind and inside wall tiles, splashbacks, and shower surrounds.
Externally, a home may have asbestos cement sheet (ACS) eaves, verandahs, carport ceilings and garage linings, as well as gable and window infills. It can also be found in external walls.
There may also be asbestos in electrical switchboards and cabinets, roofing, gutters, ridging, as well as downpipes, stormwater, toilet and sewage pipes, chimney flues and outbuildings.
Inside the home, you might find asbestos in the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, under and inside flooring, behind and inside wall tiles, splashbacks, and shower surrounds.
How can I check if my house has asbestos?
You can’t tell just by looking – you’ll need to enlist the services of a licensed asbestos professional to inspect your property and have your building materials scientifically tested by an accredited laboratory to confirm the presence of asbestos.
Every home built or renovated before 1990 could have asbestos. Do not embark on any DIY renovations in a home built before 1990 without having it inspected by a licensed asbestos professional.
You can’t tell just by looking – you’ll need to enlist the services of a licensed asbestos professional to inspect your property and have your building materials scientifically tested by an accredited laboratory to confirm the presence of asbestos.
Every home built or renovated before 1990 could have asbestos. Do not embark on any DIY renovations in a home built before 1990 without having it inspected by a licensed asbestos professional.
What happens if they find asbestos?
It will need to be removed and disposed of by a licensed asbestos removalist. Click here for a list of a licensed asbestos-removal professionals.
It will need to be removed and disposed of by a licensed asbestos removalist. Click here for a list of a licensed asbestos-removal professionals.
Can I dispose of small amounts of asbestos myself?
DIY asbestos removal is not recommended. In fact, in the ACT, self-removal of asbestos is illegal and must be carried out by a licensed professional.
In NSW, a non-licensed person can remove non-friable asbestos as long as the area is no larger than 10 square metres.
DIY asbestos removal is not recommended. In fact, in the ACT, self-removal of asbestos is illegal and must be carried out by a licensed professional.
In NSW, a non-licensed person can remove non-friable asbestos as long as the area is no larger than 10 square metres.
What are the insurance implications?
It’s crucial that anyone handling asbestos, whether it’s you or a tradesperson, is fully insured – even if it’s only a small amount of asbestos.
Without insurance, if something goes wrong that causes contamination, you could be liable for hundreds of thousands of dollars in clean-up costs and/or compensation.
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It’s crucial that anyone handling asbestos, whether it’s you or a tradesperson, is fully insured – even if it’s only a small amount of asbestos.
Without insurance, if something goes wrong that causes contamination, you could be liable for hundreds of thousands of dollars in clean-up costs and/or compensation.
Home Buyer Beware: How to Spot a Lemon
My house has asbestos but I don’t plan to move it or renovate – is it safe?
If left alone and undisturbed, materials that contain asbestos pose little risk. Paint it and leave it alone – but remember to check it occasionally for any signs of wear and tear.
If left alone and undisturbed, materials that contain asbestos pose little risk. Paint it and leave it alone – but remember to check it occasionally for any signs of wear and tear.
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Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like, share and save this story. Join the conversation.
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It’s a versatile building material that can withstand heat, erosion and decay and is also fire- and water-resistant. Asbestos was an extremely popular building material in Australia between the mid-1940s and mid-1980s (in fact, at this point, Australia was one of the highest users in the world).
Asbestos products were manufactured in two forms – friable asbestos and non-friable asbestos (with the latter, asbestos fibres were bonded by cement, vinyl, resin or similar materials). According to the Bernie Banton Foundation, 97 percent of the asbestos products used in Australian home construction were non-friable, which are safe unless damaged, drilled, sanded or crushed.