asbestos materials report
Asbestos is an old house?
The house we are planning to buy is 123 years old and the home inspector’s report says that there is ‘asbestos-like’ material in the exterior chimneys.
Mind you, it was a visual inspection and no other chemical tests were done. But where else in a house that age would we test for asbestos? Where were the common areas, if any?
Also, there was an addition built on around the early fifties. I’m guessing more asbestos would have been used in that area, but where exactly should we be looking?
The evaluation company is asking for this list (even though we think they should already know where to look, since this is their business!) but I would like to get your input so I’m not going into this blindly.
It may turn out that we renegotiate the price etc. based on this so it’s really important! Thanks in advance.
Asbestos can typically be found in exterior siding tiles, around air ducts, some drywall type materials and under vinyl flooring. They used these products up until the late 70’s I believe. Asbestos exterior siding tiles are pretty easy to spot (they tend to all look about the same) Air ducts covered in a white insulation are usually suspect to asbestos. Dated vinyl flooring was installed with a material containing asbestos underneath.
Remember that is is only harmful if disturbed. Look for visual suspects and consider any older vinyl floors or older drywall materials to contain asbestos if you have future plans to disturb the materials in those areas.
When you plan a remodel have area tested before pulling up floors and knocking down walls or removing the isulation from air ducts.
