Asbestos insulation is a hazardous material that can be found in many homes and buildings. It is important to know what it looks like in order to identify it and take the necessary steps to remove it. Vermiculite insulation is one of the most common types of asbestos insulation and is easily identifiable. It looks like small pebbles, usually grayish-brown or silver-gold in color, and has a lightweight, accordion-like texture.
Asbestos insulation in walls and attics usually has a bluish-white and gray-blue appearance, while asbestos pipe insulation is usually used as wrapping or sprayed and resembles corrugated paper. Asbestos fibers are too small to be seen with the naked eye, so it is impossible to smell them either. If you suspect asbestos insulation, it is recommended to call a professional who brings you an asbestos test kit to check for the presence (or hopefully absence) of the potentially toxic mineral. During the time when asbestos insulation was used without pause, installers used asbestos pipe insulation, which used a kind of cardboard made of asbestos paper that can crumble and release asbestos dust into the air.
It is important to note that not all insulating materials contain hazardous minerals, such as fiberglass, cellulose and mineral wool. However, vermiculite insulation almost always contains asbestos. If vermiculite isolation was used in your home; the first symptoms of exposure to asbestos are symptoms of related diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. An asbestos removal license is required to remove any amount of friable (easily crumbling) asbestos and more than ten square meters of non-friable asbestos.
Whether you own a historic home or are renovating one that could contain asbestos, a specific asbestos inspection should be performed before you live or work on the home to ensure that asbestos is not detected. Without the help of a certified asbestos abatement company, you should never attempt to handle or dispose of asbestos insulation.If you have loose-fill asbestos on your property, it is extremely important that you immediately contact a professional asbestos removal company. Asbestos Removal Pro was founded by Mario Ramirez, environmental engineer at Georgia Tech, which provides Atlanta residents with safe and effective asbestos removal services from residential and commercial buildings.It is essential to be aware of what does asbestos insulation look like in order to identify it and take the necessary steps for its removal. Knowing how to identify it can help protect you and your family from potential health risks associated with exposure to this hazardous material.
