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