While older homes have a certain charm, it’s no secret that there are more dangers associated with them. Many times the most alarming risks involve the types of materials used in the construction. Whether you already own an older home or you’re in the market for one, it’s important to understand the risks associated with home construction throughout the decades.
Everyone wants to be safe when renovating right? Well, there are many materials that could harm you without you knowing most are Asbestos-containing products. Asbestos was often included in a wide rage of materials used to construct homes in the 1940s and beyond. Asbestos was an attractive addition due to its unique properties including extreme durability and heat resistance. This material was utilized in insulation, ceiling and floor tiles, walls, windows, and numerous other places.
Asbestos-containing materials are usually found in homes built before 1980 but that does not always mean it is not, here is what to look for when renovating your older home.
- Steam pipes, boilers, and furnace ducts
- Boilers insulated with an asbestos blanket
- Pipes insulated with asbestos paper tape
- Resilient floor tiles, the backing on vinyl sheet flooring, and adhesives used for installing floor tile
- Cement sheet, millboard, and paper that are used as insulation around furnaces, and woodburning stoves
- Door gaskets in furnaces, wood stoves, and coal stoves
- Soundproofing
- Decorative material sprayed on walls and ceilings
- Patching and joint compounds for walls and ceilings
- Textured paints
- Cement roofing, shingles, and siding, Fireproof cloves
- Stove-top pads
All of these materials are possible asbestos-containing materials and should be tested before they are disturbed.
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