Rotten Floor's and abestos siding

[Football88]

We bought our house 2 years ago. It was built in the early 20's and had an addition added on in the 70's. When we bought it the inspector did not go under the addition that was added in the 70's. But the termite inspectors did. The termite inspector noted some rotten boards due to moisture. Problem 1, advance 2 years, house has abestos siding on it and is starting to fall off due to the the main boards being rotten so there is nothing there to keep it attached. Problem 2, the toilet to the origial bath that was built in the 20's tilts when you sit on it now. It seems like the house is sinking. The outer part of the home is lower then the middle part. Is there anything homeowener's will cover or are we own our own to fix this MAJOR problem?

------------------------------------- Kacie Rosser

[hrhofmann]

Have a large grease fire!!!

[Ed Pawlowski]

It is not an insurance problem, it is somewhat normal wear on a house with perhaps some poor construction techniques. . Not to mention a shoddy inspector that did not do a complete job. The termite guy gave you a tip, but evidently you did not do anything to prevent further damage. You may have also had some recourse with the seller at that time.

Step one is to determine the source of the moisture and remove it. Then replace the rotted boards. You need someone that knows what they are looking for and at to give a good assessment of what needs to be done. Then do it.

[dadiOH]

Depends...does your insurance cover "ravages of time" ?

[norminn]

There are all degrees of moisture problems possible, so if you can post photos or give a better description it would help. Asbestos siding falling off due to "main boards being rotten"??? That could indicate a little rot around a couple of gaps in siding, or it could indicate the whole structure ready to fall down. What's under the asbestos siding? How did you determine the outer part of the house is lower than the middle part? Floors slant? How much?

As for the rocking toilet, that is likely due to leaks around the base of the toilet, causing the subfloor to rot and the bolts holding the toilet to loosen. That might be a problem a homeowner can repair, if you prepare in advance and find out how to do it right.

If the home inspector neglected serious problems that existed at the time of the purchase, it might be worthwhile taking the inspection paperwork to an attorney. How much did purchase cost? Mortgage?

[Evan]

DOUBTFUL...

The asbestos containing materials need to be abated before anything disrupts or disturbs the structure... Burning off asbestos containing materials would make some of the particles airborne and cause an environmental hazard...

No government agency would want to have any part of taking or participating in some action which will cause the release of asbestos into the environment...

~~ Evan

[Evan]

Well your LOCAL inspectors are flat out wrong and/or ignorant...

Disposal of asbestos containing materials is regulated by the US Department of Environmental Protection... So don't take the local yokel's word on that one...

Don't try to remove it yourself, as you are not licensed to properly dispose of it and therefore you would have nowhere to take such toxic waste... You need to read up on the federal Clean Air Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act which dictate the need to be licensed in order to remove Asbestos and what protective procedures must be carried out while removing it and how it must be packaged for disposal...

Knowingly removing asbestos improperly is federal criminal offense...

~~ Evan

[Ed Pawlowski]

"Evan" wrote

Wrong, you can do it. Some government agencies tell you how to remove the siding?

removal procedures described in this publication are intended to help homeowners minimize health risks associated with do-it-yourself asbestos removals. However, it should be understood that with any removal project some release of asbestos fibers into the air is unavoidable and there are no known safe levels of asbestos exposure.

Montana has similar information available to homeowners. Probably lots of others too. This is from Maine

even tell you where to get rid of it.

[Josh]

Incorrect. It may vary by state, but at least in New York (the first state that came up on a Google search):

"While it is legal for New York homeowners to remove asbestos from their own homes, it is highly recommended to hire a professional to remove, encase, or encapsulate asbestos."

and:

"It should be noted that private homeowners are not generally subject to the [paperwork] regulations outlined above; however, these regulation are in place for the good of public safety. If you are a homeowner and need asbestos removed from your home, it is always best to have it done by a qualified professional. Otherwise, the best course of action is to follow the regulations and procedures above."

It may or may not be a good idea to do your own removal, but it certainly isn't illegal everywhere.

Josh

[Steve Barker]

LMAO! you need to get out more often. Non friable asbestos is no more a hazard than brick.

[JIMMIE]

When I removed it from my grandparents home there was no problem.Its not something you want to rip down with a crowbar but its not a major HAZMAT problem like asbetos insulation either. All I had to do was keep it wet while removing it preferably in whole pieces and box it up. I took it to the landfill and let them know what I had. Dont know what they did with it.

Jimmie

[Evan]

OK... Keep saying that after you improperly remove it and you have nodules in your lungs at your autopsy... Oh, you won't be around to see who was correct at that point, will you...

Having asbestos containing materials in or on your home effects its resale value and impacts what kind of work you can do to your home without setting up containment when you do anything which will penetrate, cut or otherwise disturb the siding...

That means that if i was your neighbor and saw you drilling the outside wall of your house for something and saw ANY dust, because there is asbestos in the siding and you can not prove or certify in any way at all that you are NOT releasing asbestos particles in doing your work, I could report you and you would be in trouble under a variety of laws for not following proper safety procedures in doing work which disturbs asbestos containing materials...

It is quite clear that you think because you have an owner occupied home that the rules which must be followed don't apply to you... Well they do, the work area has to be wrapped in plastic, everything has to be kept wet, then double bagged in approved bags for hazardous asbestos waste disposal...

Since the proper items with which to remove asbestos aren't available at the local HD or Lowe's I am very certain you wouldn't have the foggiest idea of where to obtain them...

~~ Evan

[Evan]

And since you live in one of those states would you mind explaining how you would comply with all of the regulations, how to build a proper containment to remove the siding and where to get the special asbestos trash bags which are thicker plastic than normal ones and marked to identify that the items contained within are hazardous ?

While it is possible for a few homeowners out there to know enough about what they are doing to do the actual work, you are describing the 0.00001% of the single family home owners out there who can do it properly... Make ANY mistakes or oversights at all, and you have committed a federal crime and have incurred the liability to correct your mistakes to the government's and your neighbor's satisfaction to remove any potential or proven hazards your sub-par removal work created... That is the reason why almost all property owners call in a trained, licensed and INSURED company to do the removal work and assume any liabilities it might create because such companies are experienced in such matters...

~~ Evan

[Steve Barker]

Oh IF I die, there won't be an autopsy. And after the hundreds if not thousands of drum brake assemblies i blew out with compressed air in the

70's and 80's, i'm not really worried at 52 years of age that i'm gonna get something from a damn piece of siding. LMAO!

[hallerb]

today neighbors may sue and require a pro area clean up.

[Steve Barker]

Not when the city says it's ok to remove and dispose of.

[hallerb]

anyone can sue for anything. just the hassle factor could become a real PIA.

and heck theres a fed law anyone working with lead based paint must be certified. certinally such a old home has lead based paint too..

[Steve Barker]

Yeah, i've been wondering about THAT new rule. It's a joke. It's about as enforceable as no texting while driving.

[hallerb]

well if a house painter gets caught the fines are horendous.

50 grand or some such?? unreal in any case

i would assume asbestos has similiar laws, it certinally does in schools and public buildings.

[Harry K]

Curious. When was lead based paint outlawed? Any house built prior to that _will_ have it.

Yes, as for asbestos siding, it is encapsulated and can be disposed of normally unless you beat it to pieces while removing it. No need to do that as it comes off easily.

Harry K