Asbestos Removal
If you have discovered that your home or building contains asbestos, or if you are planning construction or demolition of a structure that may contain asbestos, it is critical to retain the services of an asbestos contractor.
At Nielsen Environmental, we have over 40 years of experience and knowledge in the removal of asbestos. All of our asbestos contractors have been extensively trained in the asbestos removal process. When you hire Nielsen Environmental, you can be assured that the safety of your family is our number one goal.
Why Is Asbestos So Dangerous?
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that is resistant to electricity, fire, and heat. Because of these properties, asbestos was used in multiple material and products, especially building materials. Asbestos can be found in ceiling acoustical tiles, cement siding, duct insulation, floor tiles, pipe insulations, and vermiculite insulations (commonly used in attics). Asbestos was also used in boilers and furnaces, cables, wires, sheetrock, wallboards, and roofing shingles.
Asbestos use was banned by the government in the 1980’s because it was found to be a dangerous carcinogen. The fine particles can be easily inhaled and can cause cancers in the linings of the abdomen, heart, and lungs. Although asbestos has been banned for decades, there are still hundreds of thousands of structures that contain this banned substance. This is why it is so important to have a professional asbestos removal company help and not attempt this process on your own.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), if your home or building has undamaged asbestos-containing materials, you should not touch them. It can actually be more dangerous to disturb these products. But when you are ready to remodel, this is when you should have them removed by a professional asbestos contractor.
Asbestos removal requires having the materials tested to verify that it contains the dangerous mineral and then having it removed by an asbestos contractor. Each state and/or municipality has its own asbestos removal regulations. These rules can be obtained either through the agency’s office or you can also obtain them through your regional Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) office.
A qualified asbestos removal contractor should also be thoroughly trained in the safe testing and safe removal of asbestos, as well as professionally licensed. Before the asbestos contractor begins work on your property, you will want to make sure you receive a written contract which clearly spells out all local, state, and federal rules and regulations that cover the removal, disposal of the asbestos-containing materials, and the cleanup of your property.
You should also obtain a written statement from the contractor verifying that all the asbestos has been removed and that proper procedures were followed. Many property owners will also have a second inspection done to ensure that all the asbestos has indeed been removed.
The costs of asbestos and removals vary on the amount of the materials on your property. If you are planning on remodeling or construction on your property and suspect there may be asbestos-material in the structure, contact an asbestos contractor at 323-951-9722 to find out how we may be able to help.
