If you live in an older home in California, you may wonder if there could be asbestos in your floor and ceiling tiles. Owning property with a pedigree can mean you get a lot of personality through craftsman style accents and unique, vintage details. Unfortunately, you can also inherit problems or even hazards with those attractive building materials. At Benchmark Environmental Engineering in San Jose, we want to help you find answers.
If your home meets most of the following criteria, you should consider a professional asbestos inspection.
- Your home was built before 1980.
- You notice damage, fraying, or crumbling.
- You’re planning renovations that could disturb the tiles.
- The tiles have not been treated with an encapsulant.
The Dangers Of Asbestos
Asbestos becomes a health hazard when its fibers are airborne, and people breathe them in. Blown ceilings (better known as popcorn ceilings) containing asbestos may release fibers as dust when they are damaged, drilled, or patched.
If your ceiling is in poor condition, moving air from ceiling fans and draperies can also spread asbestos dust.
The Benefits Of Professional Asbestos Testing
Hiring expert asbestos inspectors minimizes the risk of exposure for you and your family. Having samples analyzed by qualified technicians, like those at Benchmark Environmental Engineering, is also the only way to ensure whether your floor or ceiling tiles contain asbestos.
Before You Renovate, Be Safe
While there are ways to treat and isolate asbestos, removal is the only permanent solution. Unfortunately, removal can release fibers if it’s not done correctly, so it’s important to leave this up to certified asbestos abatement experts for remediation.
Once you’ve any problematic material removed, our environmental consultants can return to re-test your air and make doubly sure your family is safe.
Get Your Popcorn Ceilings Tested Today
If your home was built before 1980, then there may be asbestos in your ceilings or floors, but a visual inspection usually isn’t enough to tell for sure. The only way to get guaranteed answers is for certified professionals to collect samples of the suspicious material and analyze them in a lab. Contact Benchmark Environmental Engineering today to get started.