Asbestos

Quick Tips

Asbestos is commonly found in old houses and apartments around college campuses across the country. Landlords with temporary college tenants frequently manage to avoid removing asbestos from basements and garages. Read this quick guide to asbestos before looking at properties.

Guide to Asbestos

Until the 1970s, most houses and apartments were built with asbestos insulation. After this time, fiberglass insulation became much more common. If you are looking at an old house, ask the landlord when it was built, and whether it has had asbestos removed. If it was built before 1970, and has not had asbestos removed, a professional asbestos inspection is probably necessary.

Make sure to ask if an asbestos analysis has been done on an old house. Asbestos can not be identified by visual inspection alone. If you suspect asbestos contamination, a professional should be contacted for sampling and analysis.

Dangers of Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos can cause a number of respiratory problems. The most common ailments are asbestosis, mesothelioma, and increased risk of lung cancer. However, despite these dangerous side effects, health problems only arise from prolonged, regular exposure. Asbestos in an unused basement will not lead to severe health problems. People come into harmful contact with asbestos by inhaling the tiny airborne asbestos fibers. These fibers are released from old, worn, damaged, frequently disturbed, or vibrated materials containing asbestos. Asbestos that is in good condition is usually best left alone. Any material that is in questionable condition or a high-traffic area should be analyzed by a professional.

Dealing with an Asbestos Problem

Asbestos material that has become a problem can be dealt with in two ways: repair or removal. Repair is cheaper but makes later removal more difficult. Removal, if done improperly, can disturb the asbestos and actually spread asbestos fibers in the house. However, if you do suspect asbestos in your apartment or house, you should first contact your landlord! Ask him if he knows of asbestos in the property, or whether any asbestos treatment has been done in the past. If not, and you still suspect asbestos, have your landlord contact a local asbestos professional. If your landlord is being uncooperative, check with your local housing or building department. They will know whether your landlord is legally required to act on asbestos in the building (HUD.gov). Also, check your lease. If your landlord is breaking the lease, you can give your rent payment and full documentation of your complaint to the county clerk and pay rent in escrow. This will force your landlord to fix the problem.

Where Asbestos Can Be Found in the Home

List courtesy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency

• Some roofing and siding shingles are made of asbestos cement.
• Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation.
• Asbestos may be present in textured paint and in patching compounds used on wall and ceiling joints. Their use was banned in 1977.
• Artificial ashes and embers sold for use in gas-fired fireplaces may contain asbestos.
• Older products such as stove-top pads may have some asbestos compounds.
• Walls and floors around woodburning stoves may be protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets.
• Asbestos is found in some vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.
• Hot water and steam pipes in older houses may be coated with an asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape.
• Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets may have asbestos insulation.

Further Information

Visit the EPA asbestos site for a comprehensive look at asbestos, associated health problems, regulations, products, and removal.
EPA Asbestos Site

Related Pages

• Selecting an Off-Campus Abode

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