Lead and Asbestos Testing
If you’re planning on renovating it’s important to know what kind of material is behind your walls. Asbestos is often found in drywall mud and popcorn ceilings as well as plaster walls, especially in older builds.
What Makes Asbestos Dangerous?
According to Health Canada, the health risks associated with asbestos are not determined by
the amount of asbestos in a product. Asbestos is harmful when the fibers can be inhaled. There are no significant health risks associated with asbestos when its fibers stay intact and enclosed within a product. Victims of asbestos exposures often end up with lung cancer or other harmful lung problems. Common residential asbestos is often found:
- Insulation
- Textured paint and patching compounds
- Paper, Millboard and cement sheets used around wood-burning stoves
- Vinyl and vinyl-sheet flooring and adhesives
- Hot-water and steam-pipe taping and insulation
Testing for Lead in Your Home
Due to their age, a significant number of residential, commercial and institutional buildings in the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor are rife with materials containing lead. This is true of most buildings built before 1960, when adding lead to paints was finally abolished. With regular public health scares, such as Flint, Michigan, lead poisoning will remain worth testing for. If your doing any kind of renovations, especially if your home with built before 1960, it’s a good idea to have your home tested.
When To Get Your Building Tested
A mold inspection can be used for a variety of reasons. Anything from selling your house to noticing a funny smell where you’re living can be a good reason to have a professional come and take a peak. Mold can have a very negative effect on your health, especially if you have allergies or asthma. Coughing, wheezing, or any kind of throat, eye, and skin irritation could all be caused by having mold in your living quarters. While it is everywhere, and you can’t entirely control your exposure to it, it’s definitely worth checking the common places around your home and taking the preventative measures to remove it and keep it away.
Contact Us to have a Lead and Asbestos
Living with asbestos or lead can have serious effects on your health. Have one of our certified technicians inspect your home today.