Asbestos is a mineral fiber that is naturally found in soil and rock. Due to its fire-resistant, strong, and long lasting properties, asbestos became a very popular building material. It was widely used in many different areas of construction when building homes and other structures. Unfortunately, it was later found that asbestos can be dangerous to humans and animals, and was discontinued in many of its uses in 1985. 

Because it was so widely used, asbestos testing is generally recommended for every type of building. If you have a house that was built in or before 1985, testing for asbestos becomes critical.

The dangers of asbestos and the health complications are widely known today. In Canada, manufacturing, importing, selling, and using asbestos products in any manner is prohibited.

Where is Asbestos Usually Found?

The use of asbestos extends into almost every area of your home. Many people are familiar with asbestos insulation found in walls, attics, ceilings, and basements, but if you have an older home, you may find that is used in various places, such as:

• In pipes, furnaces, electrical boxes, boilers, and similar heating systems
• Around wood-burning stoves to protect walls and floors
• Cement and plaster
• Floors and ceiling tiles
• House siding
• Roofing products like tar paper, shingles, and felt
• Paint, drywall, caulking, sealants, putty, and similar surface treatments
• Older automotive parts, such as brake pads, clutches, and transmission components

Asbestos inspection in Ottawa will focus on areas where asbestos may be found in your home. If found, asbestos abatement and removal services may be required.

What to Do If Your Canada Home Has Asbestos

If there is no exposed asbestos, there are no immediate health risks. You can leave it undisturbed when it is safely sealed behind walls, bound in products, or otherwise unexposed. However, if you are ever planning renovations, or you encounter exposed asbestos, it may be time to call in the experts. With weather damage, regular wear, and exposure to elements, some products materials, such as siding, flooring, roofing, and walls can begin to deteriorate, causing asbestos to become exposed or find its way into the air within your home.

Asbestos is dangerous, and inhaling the dust can cause lung cancer and disease. Areas that are suspected or known to have high traces of asbestos include such as the wall and floor tiling, and roofing material like shingles and siding. However, these surfaces generally don’t release asbestos dust unless they are moved or harmed. Therefore, you shouldn’t disturb such surfaces until you receive the test results.

However, if you ever encounter asbestos, or suspect it may be present in your home, in addition to asbestos testing, here are some other tips you should follow:

• Keep children, pets, and out of areas that may contain asbestos
• If you can, seal any openings in walls, windows, door frames, electrical outlets, or near the attic or basements
• Don’t disturb the area, especially with sweeping, dusting, vacuuming, or other activities that can send asbestos into the air
• Look into professional asbestos testing in your area

A common practice among home-owners is to remove vermiculite (insulation containing asbestos) from the attic or walls as well as asbestos tape from furnaces, air ducts, heat registers, etc. The experts at Simon Air Quality are available to take asbestos material samples and provide remediation services.

Why is Asbestos Exposure Dangerous?

Asbestos is made of small fibers that can break down and find their way into the air around you. When inhaled, these tiny fibers can enter the lungs, where they can impact serious harm. They can irritate the tissue, causing inflammation, scarring, as well as breathing issues and even lead to serious diseases, such as:

• Lung cancer
• Mesothelioma
• Ovarian cancer

With mesothelioma cases having increased in Canada over the years, asbestos exposure can be a major concern for some homeowners. Testing is highly recommended to anyone who is looking into buying a new home or doing renovations within their current space. Looking into asbestos services to help inspect for asbestos, test the area, and perform any removal or abatement can help to mitigate any problems.

Professional Asbestos Services in Ontario

In the event that you suspect vermiculite or asbestos in your home and need to ensure the air you are breathing is liberated from these destructive strands, call us. We offer an assortment of asbestos administrations and will test for asbestos immediately. Our authorized professionals will take an example and send it to our lab for examination. Results will be supplied approx. 4 to 5 days later. If required, a rush can be applied to the test in a request to get the outcomes 2 to 3 days after submitting the samples.

On the off chance that results decide hazardous degrees of asbestos are viewed as in your home, remediation choices can incorporate asbestos expulsion or decrease administrations, which can rely upon your requirements and the kind of openness found.

Asbestos evacuation in Ottawa frequently incorporates stopping the tainted region of your home to limit its gamble getting into different spaces. From that point, various strategies can be utilized to eliminate the asbestos as best as could really be expected. When it is securely taken out from the home, the air will be cleared to kill any particles that might be breathed in.

At times, total expulsion is not feasible, so decreasing the amount of asbestos becomes a second choice that includes first embodying any uncovered asbestos. Our experts will fix the openness by resealing the asbestos securely, dispelling any confusion from any hazardous fibers.

Call us today to plan asbestos testing and removal services in Ontario. In the event that you might want to hear an expert point of view on the nature of air in your home, take our indoor air quality evaluation!

Simon Air Quality offers asbestos related services for the following areas:

Ottawa, Kemptville, Carleton Spot, Orleans, Kanata, Cornwall, Cumberland, Casselman, Brockville, Rockland, Dunrobin, Morrisburg, Alfred, Sharbot Lake, Barrhaven and the encompassing regions.