Home Inspectors in the Huntsville area occasionally encounter asbestos materials. Asbestos is a mineral that was used in thousands of products (and still is) including insulation, siding, flooring, brake pads, cement, and other applications where a non-flammable ceramic material is needed. This natural material was commonly used as a major component of pipe insulation and exterior wall siding and as a filler material in a variety of products such as vinyl flooring tiles, drywall, roofing, and popcorn ceiling texture. At the height of its popularity in the first half of the 1900s, it was considered a wonder material and was used nearly everywhere.
Unfortunately, asbestos turned out to be a potent cause of cancer. Because it is a fibrous material, when disturbed asbestos creates a fiber dust that lodges in lungs and cannot be broken down or easily removed by the body and affected tissues often develop cancers, mainly the deadly mesothelioma, years after exposure.
Homes built prior to the 1980s can contain asbestos in one or more areas. At-risk older homes can be found in sections of Huntsville, Decatur, Athens, and other areas as well. Many Huntsville-area homes built in the 1950s and 60s had asbestos siding, for example, and may still have this material buried under layers of new siding.
You cannot positively identify an asbestos-containing product without testing it in a lab. The best advice is: if the home was build prior to 1980, seek further advice from a professional before cutting, drilling, or removing any part of the home or disturbing any insulation materials in attics, walls, or on pipes.
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