When trying to decide whether to remove asbestos from your home or building, there are many factors to consider. The first, and often the most important, is the condition of the asbestos. Some types of asbestos are “friable” and can easily crumble or be broken by hand, like old asbestos pipe insulation. When broken, these materials release toxic dust into the air. Other asbestos materials can be “nonfriable” and are more durable, like asbestos cement slabs and vinyl asbestos tiles. These materials typically keep asbestos fibers trapped, but sawing, scraping, or smashing these materials may release toxic fibers.

The location of the asbestos materials is another important consideration. Asbestos that can be easily reached and damaged is far more dangerous than asbestos in a part of the home that is rarely visited, such as an unfinished attic. When renovations occur, changes to the home or building can also determine whether asbestos should be removed. This removal process is complicated and should be performed by a licensed professional like the experts at Thunder Bay Environmental Services, LLC.