Testing a Home for ASBESTOS Before Demolition

As often happens in up-and-coming areas, lots of people are purchasing real estate in Calgary with the intention of demolishing the existing home and building a new structure on the lot. That can be a great idea, allowing you to build your dream home while raising the value of your investment at the same time.

One thing to keep in mind before you sign the papers and take the first step, however, is that the law requires you to test a home for asbestos before it’s demolished. The reason is simple: Pulverizing asbestos-filled building materials and releasing them into the air could be a severe health risk. Occupants, neighbors, and even construction workers can all breathe in dangerous material for days or weeks on end. And so, guidelines specify that the home be checked for asbestos before this type of work begins.

Unfortunately, some buyers overlook this detail, and it can come back to haunt them later. Recently, we were called to inspect a home that was set to be demolished, and found that asbestos was present within the walls. Because the new owners hadn't thought about this detail, or budgeted for it, the expense of removing the asbestos safely – which we must point out again, was required by law – took a pretty big bite out of their construction fund.

Avoiding the same mistake is easy. Make asbestos testing and removal a part of your home demolition budget. Or better yet, have the home inspected before you actually buy it in the first place so you can be sure you won’t be set for any nasty surprises later. Testing for asbestos in a Calgary home that you plan to knock down might not be convenient, but it is a legal requirement.

Call Amity Environmental today at 403-667-8264 to schedule an inspection.

Why Thorough Asbestos Testing is so Important to Calgary Homeowners

AMITY ENVIRONMENTAL INC.

     For a long time, builders and homeowners didn't realize the dangers that asbestos represented to our health, much less that thousands of cancer cases would be traced back to the material. Now, we often face a similar problem – people know asbestos is dangerous, but they don't really understand just how common it is.

     That's because, even though it was banned before then, builders could use exemptions to keep using asbestos in construction until the late 1980s. And, it was used in all kinds of materials and products. These days, it isn't unusual for us to find asbestos in places homeowners wouldn't expect, such as ceiling textures, attic insulation, and even vinyl or linoleum flooring.

     For that reason, the only way to keep yourself and your family safe in a home that's more than 25 years old is to have a professional come in and look for asbestos. Here at Amity Environmental, we don't just provide that service, we work with the highest-credited lab in North America to ensure that we can find out exactly what you have in your home, without any mistakes or accuracy errors.

     Do you need to have an experienced Calgary asbestos testing and removal team on your side, or one of the world's best labs evaluating samples? That's for you to decide, but given that you won't pay anything extra to work with our company, why would you demand anything less?

     It's unfortunate that asbestos has disrupted, and even ended, so many lives simply because we didn't know better. Now, though, you have the power to make one phone call and have our team look through your home for any problems that could cause you and your family health issues later.

Don't wait any longer – place a call to Amity Environmental today at 403-667-8264.