What is Asbestos?

What is asbestos?


Asbestos, a mineral, was used for decades as an insulator and fire retardant in homes and other buildings. You may find asbestos wrapped around older hot water pipes and water boilers, or used to tape together sections of heating ducts. Asbestos has also been used for ceiling plaster and flooring materials.
Asbestos is usually white in color. Its matted fibers can be crumbly if unbound or deteriorated. Although asbestos is no longer widely used commercially, it can still be found in many homes and commercial buildings, and as part of the infrastructure of our cities.

Which health problems can asbestos cause?

When large amounts of asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can cause asbestosis (scarring of the lungs), lung cancer, and mesothelioma (tumors in the lining of the body cavity).
In the early 1930s, the dangers of inhaled asbestos became apparent when many workers who experienced prolonged exposure to air-borne asbestos fibers became ill.
Asbestos poses no risk to your health if it is intact and not releasing fibers into the air.

Asbestos Floor Tiles

Who is at risk?

In recent years, there has been great public concern about asbestos. Schools and offices have closed, and many efforts made to remove asbestos from public buildings.
Asbestos poses very little threat to health in most circumstances. In fact, tests show that removing asbestos from older buildings can actually increase the risk of exposure and the quantity of asbestos fibers in the air.

Asbestos Insulation

Should I be concerned that my home contains asbestos?

If your home is more than 20 years old, then you probably do have asbestos insulation wrapped around your furnace ducts or pipes, as well as in your floor tiles and other areas. Keep in mind that asbestos does not cause any risk to your health if it is in good condition. Asbestos poses a potential health threat only when it is fraying or crumbling.


Asbestos Pipe Insulation

How can I make my home safe?
Make a visual check of all your hot water pipes and furnace air ducts. If the asbestos or insulation material is deteriorating, then the easiest plan is to cover it up. Buy a roll of duct tape and do a complete rewrap of any areas that are no longer completely intact.
Once the work is done, take extra care to contain any dust with a wet-wiped, drop sheet.
Do not use a vacuum cleaner to collect asbestos dust, as most vacuum bags allow the smaller, more dangerous fibers to pass through the collection bag and back into the room air.
To protect against asbestos fibers, you should wear a facemask, disposable coveralls, and gloves.
Keep in mind that some forms of insulation may look like asbestos, but they are actually mineral or fiberglass-based insulation materials that are not a health risk. If you are not sure, it is always best to play it safe.

You can have a sample of the material tested for asbestos. Look in the Yellow Pages under Laboratories for Analytical Services or Environmental Services.
If you find asbestos that is fraying or crumbling in your home, you might want to remove it entirely. Look in the Yellow Pages under Asbestos Abatement for professional contractors who specialize in this service.
They should use methods that will remove asbestos dust and dispose of the material properly.
If you are renovating an older house, you should be alert to unexpected sources of asbestos.
Power-sanding floor tiles, plaster walls or partitions made partly from asbestos can release dangerous quantities of inhalable fibers into the air. Get an expert opinion before starting the renovation.

Remember that:

Asbestos is only a health risk when it has frayed or deteriorated, thus releasing fibers into the air. Extensive testing shows that the usual level of asbestos inside buildings is very low and does not pose a health threat.
If you have frayed or deteriorating asbestos, wrap it with duct tape rather than trying to remove it. Homes built in 1980 or newer should not contain asbestos.

Richard Morse

Morlin Property Inspections

InspectorRick@Bellsouth.net

(770)564-1505

Atlanta Home and Commercial Property Inspections

Richard Morse Morlin Property Inspection FaceBook Fan Page

The real need for Property Inspections

The time has come for you to make the largest investment in your life. You have been pre-approved by a mortgage company. You have looked at many homes with a Realtor and have found just the right one that would easily fit into your lifestyle. The right size. The right asking price. The right school district. The best location for your needs. But is this house really the right one? What is the age of the roof? Mechanical systems? Is there any water damage to the siding or the trim? Is the house structurally sound? Are there any safety concerns? Will any of these questions cause you to have unexpected out of pocket expenses now or in the future to repair or replace the defective, worn or damaged items? You have already incurred many expenses with the purchase of your new home. Large, unexpected out of pocket expenses could be disastrous.

My name is Richard Morse and I am from Morlin Property Inspections and am based just outside of Atlanta, GA. Everyday I perform inspections on both Home and Commercial properties. Every day, I will find some sort of major concern that would have been costly, if our services had not been utilized. I looked at an investment property last week that was to be used as a rental home. On the exterior, the house had some of the standard concerns - The gutters were overfilled, the window trim in some areas was damaged, etc., etc. The real problem was located when I entered into the crawlspace. As with most of my clients, they do not enter into either the crawlspace or into the attic. Both areas where I will typically find the "expensive" problems. Buyers will typically see the home, see the nice parts of it, and then move into an agreement. Well, once I did enter the crawlspace, I found that all of the copper, I mean ALL of the copper piping had been removed, or better known as stolen! Not only was the copper water supply piping stolen, the air-conditioning high and low pressure lines were taken as were the coils and the compressor. The "good" deal suddenly became not such a good deal. This particular buyer did decide to find another deal, and did.

This is just an example of what I will see on any given day. A property inspection is, no matter what anybody else says, is a smart thing to do, before you buy a home or business.

Richard Morse

Morlin Property Inspections

InspectorRick@Bellsouth.net

(770)564-1505
Atlanta Home and Commercial Property Inspections

Richard Morse Morlin Property Inspection FaceBook Fan Page

One of the potential concerns with forced-air furnaces

I was looking at a home about a week ago in the Village of East Atlanta. The home was built in the 40's and was "rehabbed". I see a lot of rehabs that have had only cosmetic repairs and upgrades performed. This means that someone purchased the property at a discounted rate for one reason or another so that they could "flip" the property and make their millions. Just watch late night TV. The infomercials will tell it all. Well, the home did have some nice new granite counter tops and newer vinyl siding, but the bigger surprise was found when looking at the furnace. No one thought that it was important to look over the mechanical systems in the structure. The gas fired, forced hot air furnace was located in the crawlspace. This is exactly why a professional home inspection is needed. I found that the Furnace flu pipe was rusted beyond recognition. You may say that this would have been found when someone decided to replace the fresh furnace. Not likely. OK. Not possible.

The holes, yes, holes, were in a location that the average Joe would have never ventured into. This of course is a major concern. CO - Carbon Monoxide is an extremely dangerous gas, that is colorless and odorless. You can quickly become overwhelmed by the fumes before anyone knows what had hit them. Making sure that your gas fired appliances are in good working order is extremely important to you and your family's welfare. Another excellent reason for a property inspection before you purchase a new home or business.

Richard Morse

Morlin Property Inspections

InspectorRick@Bellsouth.net

(770)564-1505
Atlanta Home and Commercial Property Inspections

Richard Morse Morlin Property Inspection FaceBook Fan Page

Inspecting older Atlanta homes

     I love the look and feel of the older Atlanta bungalows, especially after someone renovated it with the help of an architect. These houses have been changed from their very simple pre-war design to an elaborate, open floor plan that allows for entertaining and flows better than you think it possibly could. When using a professional architect, designer, and general contractor, the “renovated” house is essentially a new home with most everything updated or replaced. 

     Then there are the homes that people, especially investors purchase just to renovate. Performing inspections on these homes is something completely different from any other home. My inner detective really must come out so that the inspection will reveal where the renovation went wrong or what corners were cut and for what reason.

Here are a few of the many things I see on homes that did not get a complete or proper “renovation”:

1)      The main electrical panel had been replaced, but only a very limited number of the branch circuits had been replaced. Many contractors will mask the older wiring with the additional of three-prong, grounded electrical outlets in older 2-wire systems. Oh yeah, this is not legal as per the NEC. Two wire branch circuits are acceptable as long as the outlets are of the un-grounded, 2-prong style.

2)      I often see where the air-conditioning compressor had been replaced, but the hard to get to, crawlspace installed furnace and air-conditioning coils had not.

3)      The water supply and sewage discharge piping is replaced only where it is easily accessible and not where it is going to eventually fail.

Be very careful when purchasing an older, renovated home. Be prepared to spend a lot of time with your inspector. Many things will be uncovered.

Richard Morse

Morlin Property Inspections

InspectorRick@Bellsouth.net

(770)564-1505
Atlanta Home and Commercial Property Inspections

Richard Morse Morlin Property Inspection FaceBook Fan Page

Listing Agents, please have your homes de-cluttered for the Inspection

I guess that this is my rant for the day.

     First off, I do admit that this may not always be possible. But, if the home is currently occupied, or recently vacated, cleaning or straightening up the home should be and can easily be done. I recently entered into an occupied home that was almost impossible to have a complete inspection performed on. Large piles of debris (boxes, bags, dirty clothes, etc.) were around the mechanicals in the garage, as well as in the attic next to the furnace. Oh, and in the laundry room, kitchen, master bathroom, and in the…..the list goes on and on. The home was not a candidate for the show “Hoarders” by any means, but it did need some general rearranging and de-cluttering.  The listing agent, who was on site, told me to just, “push the items away from the furnace and water heater”. This sounds great, but I try to limit my own liability by not touching or “pushing” something that does not belong to me or my client. Especially, if I do not have explicit direction by the current homeowner. Fortunately, the Buyer’s agent was present. She and the Listing agent spoke and then contacted the seller. The seller allowed movement of the items for access. The Realtors together, graciously moved the items for the benefit of the Buyer. We then performed a complete, unobstructed inspection of the home.

I do not like entering into a home where I cannot perform the task that I was hired to do. Listing Agents, please help out the Seller, Buyer and their Inspector. Clean up the home before it is placed on the market.

Richard Morse

Morlin Property Inspections

InspectorRick@Bellsouth.net

(770)564-1505

Atlanta Home and Commercial Property Inspections

Richard Morse Morlin Property Inspection FaceBook Fan Page

As an Agent, do you encourage your client to be present at the Inspection?

Of course I am not going to say that agents discourage their clients from being present. I do feel that sometimes not enough emphasis is placed on the importance of being present. I cannot pin this just on any agent, but also on the buyers themselves. Some just do not feel that it is extremely important to be present. I will always encourage that a client attends the inspection. I even encourage that the agent be present. Not necessarily for the whole inspection, but for at least the final portion where I can explain the locations of several items, how certain systems operate and what concerns were noted that will require repair. I recently was called back to look at a home after an in-wall water pipe had broken. I also perform Mold Assessments and the homeowner wanted to test the air-quality within the home. The majority of the damage did not occur because of the actual water line break. Much more damage occurred because the homeowner did not know the locations of either of the water shut off valves. Should the homeowner have known exactly where the shut off valves were and how they operated, much less damage would have occurred. And yes, the homeowner did not think it was necessary to be present at the inspection. Inspections not only give you a list of items that require immediate and future repairs, it also gives you and your client an education to their new home and its many features and systems. Encourage that they be present.


Richard Morse

Morlin Property Inspections

InspectorRick@Bellsouth.net

(770)564-1505

Atlanta Home and Commercial Property Inspections


Richard Morse Morlin Property Inspection FaceBook Fan Page

Safety in Vacant Homes. What do you do?

How many of us out the field, including agents, inspectors, appraisers and pest control companies look at foreclosed homes alone? I spend approximately half of my time inspecting homes in Atlanta that are vacant. Many of these homes are for investment firms that are outside of the metropolitan area and for the most part, out of state – so of course, they are not present. What kinds of precautions do you take before you enter into that property? Do you let others know where you are? If you are with a client, how well do you actually know them? Do you perform a quick sweep of the home to ensure that no one is there? When inside do you lock the door behind you?

These are very important questions to think about. There has been a rash of assaults and murders in vacant homes on real estate professionals. On September 28, an Ohio man was apprehended in the shooting death of a real estate agent. Apparently, the disgruntled home owner knew and had dealings with the agent. A real estate agent was assaulted when she showed a vacant home to a potential buyer. In this case the attacker was apprehended because the agent wrote down his license plate number before entering into the home. A few years ago in Atlanta, 3 real estate agents were assaulted by a man who posed as a “Professional” baseball player. I have looked around and found that 206 agents were murdered on the job between 1982 and 2000. This does not account for assaults.

I entered into a home several months back to perform an inspection. During my initial walk through, I did not see anything out the ordinary. Nearing the end of the inspection, I opened a bedroom closet door to find a sleeping man – who became agitated quickly. This ended well, but would it had in different circumstances? I have many stories of entering into vacant homes that have been used by homeless for a shelter. Although I have never faced imminent danger, would others have?

A vacent home that had recently been used by homeless as a shelter.

When entering into an unfamiliar neighborhood, I locate the home and then drive around to see if I notice anything or anyone that I consider strange. When I get out of my vehicle at the home, I walk the exterior of the home to see if there are any signs that the doors or windows had been tempered with. When inside, I perform a sweep, with the door open, to see if anyone is there. When I decide that it is safe to stay, I lock the door behind me. When someone arrives to look at the home, I take their license number down. Always be suspicious and never trust anyone. OK that sounds bad, but remember that your client may be someone that you only spoke with over the phone. Do you really know them? In the best circumstances, you should first meet your client at your office – with others around. Should you carry some sort of personal defense device? Yes. There are many products that are very easy to use and are non-lethal that can be administered very quickly and easily, which can allow for your escape.

Everyone who performs field work alone must be very careful. Be cautious, suspicious, and on full alert – at all times. Just be careful.

Richard Morse

Morlin Property Inspections

InspectorRick@Bellsouth.net

(770)564-1505

Atlanta Home and Commercial Property Inspections

Richard Morse Morlin Property Inspection FaceBook Fan Page