Houses in Sydney look beautiful with spacious balconies and a private patch of outdoor space looking into the street. However, nearly 33% of homes in Australia have asbestos. Houses in Sydney built before 1982 have a good chance of containing asbestos. Asbestos removal in Sydney is done with the help of asbestos removal companies. They work to remove asbestos or asbestos-containing material from homes. People remove asbestos material when it is damaged or while planning to remodel the place. Asbestos has to be handled with care, and certified professionals should do it. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma and other cancers. Generally, houses have asbestos in roofing, shingles, tiles, flooring, pipes and furnaces.
Asbestos removal work includes:
● Removal of asbestos boards in the ceiling
● Removal of asbestos roof sheets
● Removal of asbestos caskets
● Removal of asbestos insulation
What to do with asbestos material?
The presence of asbestos in a home is not hazardous. They become dangerous only when they get damaged over time. Just by looking, it is not easy to tell whether asbestos is present in any material in the house. Trained and certified asbestos removal professionals in Sydney inspect the home and take samples to identify asbestos-containing material.
If asbestos-containing materials are not damaged or disturbed, they don't pose a health risk. It is because they do not release asbestos fibres into the air when they are in good condition.
Any asbestos material releases fibre when cut, torn, repaired, scraped, disturbed or damaged. Therefore, these materials need to be checked over time for signs of damage.
If any slight damage is noticed in the asbestos material, it is best not to touch it and limit access to that area.
Where is asbestos found in a house?
● Asbestos cement is used to make some types of roofing and shingles.
● Some textured paints and patching compounds found on walls and sealing joints may contain asbestos.
● Artificial embers and gases used in the gas-fired fireplace may contain asbestos.
● Asbestos paper, cement sheets or millboard may be used to protect the walls and floors around wood-burning stoves.
● Steam and hot water pipes may be coated with an asbestos material or covered with asbestos tape.
● Door gaskets and gas and oil furnaces may have asbestos insulation.
How to manage the asbestos problem?
When the asbestos-containing material is in good shape, there is no need to disturb it. However, if there is a break or damage, there are two ways to handle the problem - repair and removal.
Repair
Usually, the damaged portion is sealed with a sealant. It binds the asbestos fibres together or acts as a coating. It prevents the fibres from being released into the air. This treatment should be done only by a certified professional. Next, the asbestos-containing material is covered with some other material to prevent the release of fibres. Therefore, repairing makes the asbestos fibres stay in place.
Removal
Asbestos removal is expensive, and usually, it is the last option considered. During the removal process, the chances of asbestos fibres getting released into the air are high. However, removal is inevitable while making significant changes to the home. In addition, if the asbestos material is damaged extensively and cannot be repaired, it needs to be removed. Removal causes health risks, and trained people must do it.
Professionals do Asbestos removal in Sydney after they conduct a thorough home inspection. They assess the condition and advise what corrections are required. Improper removal increases the health risks. Certified asbestos removal professionals understand the risks. They remove and dispose of asbestos in a safe manner that doesn't cause any harm to the people living there.
