Asbestos is a natural mineral once popular across industries for its heat resistance and insulating abilities. However, we now know exposure can lead to lung conditions like mesothelioma and asbestosis. This makes asbestos removal an important consideration for Milwaukee homeowners aiming to safeguard their investment.
In this blog post, we’ll have a candid conversation around asbestos removal Milwaukee. We’ll explore key questions like:
What are current asbestos levels in Metro Milwaukee homes?
How can asbestos impact home safety and investment value?
Why should you consider professional help for removal?
What does the removal process entail?
Equipped with insights from industry research and professionals in the field, you’ll leave better prepared to make a wise decision for your home.
Asbestos in Milwaukee Homes: Assessing the Landscape
Many Milwaukee houses contain asbestos, especially in older homes built before 1980. This section explores common sources to understand potential exposure risks.
When Was Asbestos Commonly Used?
Asbestos became popular in the early 1900s for industrial and residential buildings. Usage peaked around World War II and the material remained common in construction until the 1970s.
This means homes built prior to 1980 have a higher likelihood of containing asbestos. It was rarely used in homes after 1990.
Where is Asbestos Typically Found in Metro Milwaukee Homes?
When assessing asbestos risks, it helps to know common locations in buildings. In Milwaukee households, typical materials include:
Insulation – Vermiculite attic insulation often contains traces of asbestos, along with pipe and boiler insulation materials.
Roofing & Siding – Asbestos cement boards were frequently used as affordable and durable exterior roofing and siding.
Walls & Flooring – Older vinyl floor tiles or sheet vinyl may contain asbestos paper backing. Some acoustic ceiling tiles and plaster walls have traces too.
Textures & Joint Compounds – These textured coatings helped hide imperfections but often contained asbestos.
This list gives a sample of where to look when evaluating your home. Understanding common sources is the first step towards safety.
Why Asbestos is Hazardous to Health and Home Value
Now that we’ve covered where asbestos hides, you may wonder – what’s the big deal? This section dives into the health and financial risks of leaving asbestos untouched.
Health Hazards of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos fibers are a health hazard when inhaled. Long-term exposure can eventually scar lung tissue and lead to serious illness like:
Mesothelioma – Cancer in the linings of the lungs often fatal within a year after diagnosis.
Asbestosis – A chronic lung disease leading to severe shortness of breath and permanent scarring.
Lung Cancer – Inhaled fibers increase lung cancer risks too, especially among smokers.
In most cases, symptoms appear slowly, even 10-50 years after exposure. This makes prevention critical.
While asbestos only poses a hazard when fibers enter the air, home renovations or damage can easily stir settled dust. It’s best to remove before major work.
How Asbestos Can Impact Home Value
Here’s the financial reality – asbestos removal risks can deter buyers and deflate your home’s value in Milwaukee.
Disclosing asbestos to potential buyers is legally required in Wisconsin. Yet research shows 62% of homebuyers consider asbestos a deal-breaker because removal means added costs and health uncer
tainties.
This causes many to pass up homes with asbestos or demand steep price reductions compared to similar homes without it. For sellers, this directly hurts your bottom line.
While asbestos itself rarely drives up fixer-upper budget costs, its psychological impact on buyers indirectly deflates home value. Eliminating this barrier early on through professional removal keeps your asset secure.
Why Trust Professional Help for Asbestos Removal?
Now that we’ve covered the importance of asbestos removal, a natural next question is – can’t I just handle this myself?
While DIY asbestos removal is legally allowed in Wisconsin, most experts advise against it unless you have extensive HAZMAT training.Handling asbestos materials requires safety protocols to minimize exposure risks. Professionals are well-versed in precautions and disposal laws compared to casual DIYers. They also carry specialized insurance if anything goes wrong.
Below we highlight 5 key reasons Milwaukee homeowners should strongly consider professional help:
1. Advanced Training for Strict Protocols
Licensed asbestos removal pros in Milwaukee undergo advanced EPA-certified training on safety protocols. This includes:
Containing work areas effectively
Using specialized HEPA vacuums, disposable suits, and respirators
Knowing proper handling, bagging, and disposal methods
Monitoring air quality and conducting final inspections
DIYers often overlook critical precautions without certified training. Professionals minimize exposure ruthlessly at every step.
2. Access to Specialized Asbestos Removal Gear
You likely don’t own a heavy-duty negative air pressure containment unit, industrial-grade HEPA filter vacuum, and disposable hazmat suits at home.
Professional asbestos removal contractors invest in this specialized gear to get the job done safely. Renting commercial equipment as a homeowner can also prove costly compared to pros with direct access.
3. Legal Transport and Disposal at Approved Sites
Asbestos containing waste over a certain threshold is considered hazardous in Wisconsin. Improper disposal could land you in legal trouble.
Professionals follow mandated procedures for properly containing, labeling, transporting, and offloading waste at approved asbestos landfills. Letting the experts handle regulations reduces liability.
4. Insurance Protection from Errors or Accidents
Mistakes happen, especially when handling hazardous materials without extensive training. Duct tape doesn’t stand a chance containing airborne asbestos from an accidental tear during amateur removal.
Contractors carry specialized insurance policies to cover medical bills, legal disputes, evacuation fees, and property damages in a worst case scenario.
Relying on your basic homeowners insurance likely won’t cut it. Worker’s compensation also won’t apply for friends helping with DIY asbestos removal.
5. Peace of Mind Dealing with a High-Stakes Health Hazard
Asbestos exposure and removal process involves high stakes for your home and health. Rather than lose sleep as an uncertified DIYer, professional guidance brings immense peace of mind.
This allows you to confidently move forward with renovations or a sale when the time comes. Breathing easy after asbestos abatement makes the investment worth it for many Milwaukee homeowners.
Understanding the Asbestos Removal Process from Start to Finish
What exactly will certified asbestos removal contractors do when I hire them?
Now that we’ve covered why professional help is advisable, let’s walk through what you can expect during the asbestos removal process in your Milwaukee home:
Phase 1: Inspection & Planning
The first step is identifying materials that may contain asbestos. Contractors take samples to test at accredited labs based on suspected sources.
Your contractor uses inspection findings to create a site-specific plan tailored to your home. This includes a timeline, necessary equipment, exact containment details, and final disposal procedures.
Understanding your asbestos landscape is key for targeting removal efficiently.
Phase 2: Work Area Preparation
Before touching suspect materials, crews focus on meticulous containment prep:
All furniture and belongings get cleared out and covered securely offsite
Special plastic barriers seal off work areas completely
Industrial HEPA filter vacuums and negative air pressure units set up
Crews don protective layers like hazmat suits, gloves, and respirators
Proper work zones ensure zero asbestos fibers escape into households during removal. Professionals take this extremely seriously.
Phase 3: Certified Asbestos Removal
Finally, trained technicians begin carefully eliminating contaminated sources using specialized techniques. This may involve:
Gentle removal avoiding breaks
Misting surfaces with amended water
Bagging immediately in leak-tight containers
Repeatedly vacuuming and cleaning work zones
Crews also monitor air quality constantly to ensure fibers stay secured. Any debris gets sealed and disposed of properly.
Phase 4: Inspections & Clearance Testing
As a final precaution, independent inspectors visit to confirm the work areas are clean and free of any lingering asbestos post-removal. Air samples also get analyzed at accredited labs.
Only after passing rigorous clearance checks do crews dismantle containment setups and allow normal access again.
When you receive the inspector’s formal asbestos abatement clearance report, you can rest assured your Milwaukee home is safely free from hazardous asbestos dust.
Key Takeaways – Prioritizing Professional Asbestos Removal
After reviewing health hazards, financial risks, removal insights, and expert guidance, the importance of professional help is clear.
Asbestos exposure threatens wellbeing slowly over time if left settled in homes. One uninformed renovation can also release fibers triggering serious illness. Don’t wait for a medical surprise years later.
Without certification, DIY asbestos handling often overlooks safety protocols increasing health risks. Even with pure intentions, liability from improper disposal or containment failures can lead to legal issues.
Contractors expertly eliminate materials while mastering strict precautions to minimize exposure. You avoid handling dangerous contaminants yourself plus gain insurance protection.
Most importantly, certified asbestos removal in Milwaukee homes protects value against market stigma. Eliminating this psychological barrier for buyers means securing maximum sale potential down the road.
While hiring certified asbestos pros represents an upfront cost, view it as an investment in your family’s safety and your property’s future value. The peace of mind and confidence gained by doing things right makes every penny worthwhile for homeowners serious about safeguarding their asset.
What next steps are you considering after assessing this overview of Milwaukee’s asbestos landscape and professional removal benefits? I’m here to discuss any lingering questions or concerns around options for your household.
