If you have plans to knock out a wall or tear up old vinyl flooring, you should test the materials for asbestos first. You don't want to disturb anything that's made from asbestos since the fibers could become airborne. When you inhale asbestos fibers, you could develop lung cancer or another serious disease. For that reason, you'll need to work with an asbestos removal professional when you renovate your home after asbestos has been found. Here are a few details about asbestos removal.

The Area With Asbestos Must Be Sealed Off

An important aspect of asbestos removal is making sure that the fibers aren't spread through your house when the materials are broken up. This requires careful sealing of the area. The contractor may put plastic sheets over the doors and close off the HVAC vents. They'll probably turn the HVAC off just to make sure it won't pull fibers into the ducts and then circulate them through your home.

The contractor may also set up a negative ventilation system that pulls air from the work area to the outside and through a series of filters before the air is released to the outdoors. When the area is prepared, the work crew puts on respirators and protective clothing to ensure they don't breathe in asbestos fibers or get the fibers on their skin.

The Area May Be Watered Down To Contain Fibers

It's not really dangerous to be around asbestos until the material is disturbed. When the asbestos material is scratched, cracked, or busted up, fibers are released along with dust. To minimize this, the contractor may water down the materials first. When they're wet, fibers are less likely to float up in the air.

When the materials are broken down, they're placed in contractor bags and marked with an asbestos label. The bags will be taken to a landfill that's designated for asbestos materials.

The Air Is Tested When Work Is Done

You'll probably want proof your home is safe after asbestos has been disturbed. The contractor can provide this by having an independent testing service test your home for asbestos once the work is complete and the work area has been cleaned up. You'll see the results of the test, and a clean test lets the contractor know their work is done.

Asbestos removal is hazardous work, and it's something you don't want to undertake by yourself. There are laws governing the process of asbestos removal, and you need to follow the laws to keep your home and family safe.

Contact a local asbestos removal service, such as Asbestos Inspections Inc. DBA Capital Abatement, to learn more.