If you've started to remove wallpaper in your older home and you've discovered layers of decades-old paint and plaster, you may want to get an asbestos inspection. A home that was built in the mid-20^th century or before is at the risk of having asbestos in many different materials, and you don't want to expose everyone in your home.

Stop the project right away and seal off the areas if you can so you don't have to risk inhalation. Talk with the asbestos abatement professional about the following things.

Immediate Abatement Services

Once the expert tests the materials, you will know if you need to have the area abated. This means the asbestos will be removed. Since this is layers deep, it may be necessary to strip the walls down to the studs and have new drywall put on.

Get a cost from the abatement company to remove all the damaged and affected materials in the house. Then do any treatments necessary after like air purification and clean up.

Risks of Property Wide Asbestos

If there is asbestos in the plaster on the walls, it is likely that there could also be asbestos in these areas:

• Under floor tiling
• Within insulation throughout the house and attic
• Paint on the walls
• Siding adhesive and materials
• Plaster

The asbestos inspector will take samples from all the different areas where they are concerned and go from there. The year the home was built and the materials used will be clues the inspector uses to determine what items are a risk and what are not.

Low-Risk Materials                 

There are some materials that if they are not moved or damaged won't be a health concern. If there are layers of flooring over asbestos adhesives under the original tile flooring or glue used to hold wood together, it's unlikely that these will become exposure concerns. The professional will go over high-risk concerns, low-risk materials, and what needs to be done immediately for your safety.

Asbestos exposure and inhalation can cause health complications, some fatal. You could end up with chronic lung complications and irritation, mesothelioma, and more. You don't want to put yourself and anyone else living in your home at risk because you didn't take the time to get an inspection, and then to treat the asbestos properly. Stay away from the area until you can get a professional in to diagnose the problem today.