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September 11, 2008: Prior to taking on any remodeling and/or repairs, building materials should be sampled for asbestos and/or lead.
Environmental AirTechs wants you to know:
Water damage is another area that has become more complicated due to laws and regulations, i.e. lead paint and/or asbestos. Throughout the years I have found that some contractors simply ignore these important laws and/or regulations or are simply ignorant – which would red flag that contractor (in my opinion).
Let me further explain; during water damage projects many contractors are removing ceiling, walls, trim, and flooring without have the materials tested for lead and/or asbestos as required in some or most states. Massachusetts ids one of those states that require testing of ALL” building materials prior to alteration, manipulation, and/or removal.
According to our industry: any dwelling of building built before 1978 there is a “more likely than not” probability that the walls and/or ceiling (including trim) will be painted with a lead base paint. A simple way to tell is if your home/building has plaster ceilings and walls build before 1978 there is a STRONG chance (more likely than not) that your building has lead paint.
Furthermore, according to the EPA, asbestos was utilized in many building materials for many years. Prior to any building materials being altered, manipulated, removed such materials must be sampled to determine if asbestos is present.
It is believes by some that many contractors are being pressured by certain industries to ignore this possibility if they want to be on their short list of vendors. The results are these contractors are potentially placing the occupants and their children in harms way (all for the sake of cost).
In many cases if you have suffered water damage and the water damage is covered so is the testing for lead and asbestos. If the materials come up positive, the removal under strict guidelines should also be covered. If these cost are covered, than why place yourself and your children needlessly into harms way?
The real issue becomes if the materials come up “hot” (a term for the presence of lead or asbestos) than the contractor is unable to complete the work resulting in loss of finacial gain (unless the contractor possesses an asbestos or lead abatement license).
The real question to ask is: WHO INTEREST IS BEST BEING SERVED ON YOUR PROJECT?
If you have any questions, call Environmental AirTechs @ 866-569-5554.