I was recently contacted by Jesse Herman, the Awareness Coordinator at the Mesothelioma Cancer Center .
Lately Jesse has been reaching out to real estate bloggers in efforts to getting some of our information published. As she reached out to me, I told her I would be glad to help her get the word out to the danger of asbestos in remodeling.
Homes built before 1980 likely have asbestos insulation in them. When homeowners remodel, they may expose themselves to asbestos, which could lead to the deadly cancer called mesothelioma.
There are many environmentally safe and healthy ways to insulate your home.
In Ann Arbor some of our most desireable area's are in downtown area of Ann Arbor, Burns Park and The Old West Side. The homes built during this time period are built between 1860-1940.
Used as a form of insulation for pipes and attics throughout the twentieth century, asbestos is a mineral found in the environment. Although a naturally occurring substance, this mineral can be extremely toxic. The inhalation of its toxic fibers can produce serious illnesses, such as; mesothelioma, asbestosis and other forms of lung cancer.
Asbestos used in millions of homes throughout the last quarter of the 20th century, asbestos insulation can become a real dilemma for homeowners due to causing a variety of health problems, including Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Malignant Mesothelioma. These types of cancer take the lives of thousands each year.
Non-regulated asbestos material can be legally performed by homeowners, regular contractors, or licensed asbestos abatement contractors as long as the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) are not violated.
Asbestos removal in public facilities, homes and workplaces must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.
Once the removal is complete, green insulation options should be given serious consideration, such as: Cellulose, Cotton Fiber and Lcynene.
Not only does, asbestos affect home remodelers but other occupations are at risk too, the list can be found here.
To find out exactly how much asbestos exposure is prevelant in your state you can read it here.
***Disclaimer: Photos in the post are only examples of homes around Ann Arbor and do not reflect they have asbestos. Only used as an example of older homes where there is the potential to find asbestos. ***
Missy Caulk & Team can be reached at 734-926-9797 or email: Missy@MissyCaulk.com
Our Team of 6 agents are available to help you relocate to Ann Arbor, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Milan, Ypsilanti Township, Clinton, Manchester, Whitmore Lake, or throughout Washtenaw County, MI.
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Thank you for this informative post. Appreciated!
Missy - You shared some valuable info about asbestos. Here in Florida, especially Mulberry,FL with phosphate mining, asbestos has been used predominantly. You sure gave me some food for thought for my next post. Thanks.
Missy - I don't see much of it here. Most of our old homes have been rehabed already, so I don't have to deal with it. But for those of yoy that do, be careful, I'm sure the legal risk is considerable.
Yikes I went to the link you provided and was very surprised with the problems in our state. I had no idea.
Important information.
Wow! I forget about some of the hurtles that you northerns have to over come when remodeling...our homes are built 1990's and newer...great information
This is a bit scary. Most of my county was built before 1980. If it's ok with you, I'll contact this lady and ask for information to pass along to consumers in my county.
Missy, thanks so much for this article.
Missy, I did think about that and lead paint when remodeling such an old home and had it replaced. Those diseases are frightening and people need to be aware of these issues older homes can have. Great information to pass along.
Thanks for reminding us of this critical information...we tend to not stress it's improtance enough, but these ilnesses are still very real.
Buyers in our area a very sensitive to asbestos we need to have a good resource to explain the issues thanks for the post.
Missy this is a very important subject which I addressed in the past. My first listing had the issue which needed abatement. My next house with asbestos was actually owned by an expert in the field so I learned about friable and non-Friable asbestos and how both should be addressed. Yes this is a subject homeowners should take seriously.
Missy... this is excellent information and was done very well. I just can't believe that there are many homes that still fall under this, in regards to having asbestos...I know this was more of an issue when I did a lot of FHA mortgages in the 90's, that this was more prominant. Because FHA required that the appraiser mention this on the appraisal, unlike conventional loans.
On another note, would you mind if I encluded this post in my First Time Homebuyers series? I would love to include it in the tips section. thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family...
Missy - Great post - years ago my husbands family home burned down and we had to clean up. No one ever told us about this toxic situation and to this day I wonder if we put ourselves in harms way. Thanks for the post!
Thanks for sharing the information about abestos insulation