I live in 50+ year old house. My walls insulation is black one. I don't know
what it is it does not look like fiberglass. The insulation is very loose
and torn. I am currently installing new windows enlarging the openings. I
thought about ripping off old sheetrock on outer walls, adding R-13 faced
fiberglass insulation and then putting new sheetrock. I am worried about
asbestos in old insulation and sheetrock. How can I figure out if they
contain asbestos and may be dangerous to be disturbed? What else besides
vinyl tile may contain asbestos in old house?
I live in 50+ year old house. My walls insulation is black one. I don't know
what it is it does not look like fiberglass. The insulation is very loose
and torn. I am currently installing new windows enlarging the openings. I
thought about ripping off old sheetrock on outer walls, adding R-13 faced
fiberglass insulation and then putting new sheetrock. I am worried about
asbestos in old insulation and sheetrock. How can I figure out if they
contain asbestos and may be dangerous to be disturbed? What else besides
vinyl tile may contain asbestos in old house?
The walls are probably insulated with rock wool, if so you have no
problem. If you want to find test materials for asbestos, contact
your local (state) environmental quality department (or equivalent)
for procedures. Sheetrock normally doesn't have asbestos. Besides
some types of tile, and wall and ceiling insulation, you can find
asbestos in the popcorn type ceilings and the wrap on furnace pipes
and distribution system.
know
loose
I
faced
Unfortunately for the stockholders in USG (US Gypsum) SOMETIMES sheetrock
DID contain some asbestos and the joint compound (which was supposed to be
strong when applied in thin layers) often contained asbestos.
That said, if you do anything that might create dust, you might want to wear
a HEPA filter respirator when you take the stuff off. And you might
consider using one of those vacs with a HEPA "final filter" when you clean
up.
There is asbestos in the environment. Sometimes the crushed rock used
for road construction has asbestos. In past years, some commercial
"potting soil" mixtures contained dangerous amounts of asbestos.
It is a mineral and is mined. I've read that we are exposed to it most
every day from many natural occurring sources. Yes, under the right
circumstances it can cause asbestosis, but that is usually people working in
processing plants. Not homeowners with shingles and tiles, etc.
-
Ed
snipped-for-privacy@snet.net
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
In the past it was mined because it was a usuful product in and off itself.
I.e.: there were Asbeston Mines. In most cases, asbestos is no longer
used as insulation, or a binder, or as a filler. Very little is still
being deliberately mined in the US.
It's still being brought out to the surface because it is often found with
ther minerals. Vermiculite is an example. Some mine operators DON'T test
their mill runs for asbestos just so they can deny responsibility for any
asbestos.
Crushed rock in places has asbestos.
in
Shingles and tiles aren't considered a problem in place. But if they are
drilled, ground, whatever they can be a threat. It's like smoking
cigarets: the greater the exposure the more likely you will get diseases
from the product. With asbestos there are levels of exposure that
practically guarantee that you will get very sick (and die) in 20 years or
so.
A couple of years ago, asbestos was dicovered on the ceilings in a school
here in CT. They evacuated the school just like a fire drill, They got the
kids out and sent them home, never to return until the "problem" was fixed.
The school was built about 50 years ago and was in constant use every year.
Why the panic?????? Classic over reaction.
the
fixed.
year.
Well, that's because CT is a richer than average state AND because there is
a good chance that some of the money might come from someone else.
BUT
some time back it was noted that much of the run of the mill crushed rock in
the Maryland Suburbs of Washington, DC had some ASBESTOS.
When the story first hit the news, there was talk of suing folks and
"replacing" all the "contanimated" material.
When "they" figued out that the major cost of rock is transportation and
that a HELL of a lot of rock would be needed and the major cost of
"replacement" would be transporation of the matreial to a hole in the ground
big enough to hold it all and that most rock operations are local etc, etc,
the whole issue was dropped. It just disappeared from the news!
You are right, that is why I said "normally" doesn't have asbestos.
The really bad stuff was mined near Libby Montana; bad because it had
very small fibers that floated around.
know
Probably mineral wool. You can have a small sample tested at a lab.
Items that might:
old floor tile or linoleum.
old drywall mud.
furnace or boiler insulation.
not a complete list by any means.
Colbyt
I live in 50+ year old house. My walls insulation is black one. I don't know
what it is it does not look like fiberglass. The insulation is very loose
and torn. I am currently installing new windows enlarging the openings. I
thought about ripping off old sheetrock on outer walls, adding R-13 faced
fiberglass insulation and then putting new sheetrock. I am worried about
asbestos in old insulation and sheetrock. How can I figure out if they
contain asbestos and may be dangerous to be disturbed? What else besides
vinyl tile may contain asbestos in old house?
<< What else besidesvinyl tile may contain asbestos in old house? >>
Furnace insultion, siding shingles, sometimes water pipes and drainage.
Transite asbestos-cement pipes were usually larger sizes IIRC. HTH
Joe
1. If you get it tested and it IS asbestos, be prepared for a mandatory
remediation from the authorities. They may want to rip out all the walls,
etc. Many tens of thousands of dollars.
2. There has NEVER been a case of any adverse effects from ANY commercial
asbestos product. This includes people relining brakes who've breathed
asbestos dust for decades.
3. The uproar over asbestos is junk science run amok.
absurdity
Now
Wow Colby, thanks for pointing that out. I had no idea that people would be
dead 150 years later. I bet some people thought I was being funny, but your
keen sense of history proved that I was plain wrong in making such
statements.
Another fast fact for you to consider. The Revolutionary War was the worst
in the history of the world. Everyone that fought in the ware and their
families and innocent bystanders were slowly wiped out after a time. They
also are DEAD now. Must have been weapons of mass destruction or sumthin.
Wow, whouda thunk it?
I have to agree, same thing with indoor toilets. Toilets maintain so many
diseases, look how many people have died since indoor plumbing has become
the norm. Even Sir John Harrington who invented the flushing toilet in 1596
is dead. Sad but true.
Look at Ronald Reagan, who just died. He used a toilet too, and it
made him senile, then killed him. What is really amazing is that he
was once a president, and they are supposed to live forever since they
have so much power. It's the damn toilets that did him in.....
It is reported the King (Elvis) was found dead on the toilet. I don't know
if this is true, because there has been numerous sightings around the
country of him buying Twinkies in 7-11's since.
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