Asbestos In Homes Built In 1978

“DANGER: CONTAINS ASBESTOS, A KNOWN CARCINOGEN” the sign on your drywall reads, or rather it would in a perfect world. In a perfect world, that sign wouldn’t be needed, nor would there be asbestos in your home. Unfortunately, asbestos can be found in a multitude of places throughout the home, and usually the contaminated objects in question are never labeled. Fortunately, there is information out there that can help you identify common sources of asbestos exposure in the home and around the world we interact with daily.

Asbestos has been mined for thousands of years across the world. Health problems associated with asbestos date back just as long with some cases being confirmed in Ancient Rome. Still, it took until the early 1900s for the medical community at large to really take note of the dangers that asbestos posed to those who were exposed to it. Despite warnings from doctors around the world, asbestos production increased as demand did for the fire-resistant, sound-insulating material. In fact, the US military at one point even mandated that all branches of the military use asbestos. As a consequence of what can only be called willful ignorance by the mining companies and manufacturers, world-wide asbestos made its way into everything from vehicles to clothing to construction materials.

The 1970s saw the first attempts by manufacturers and the public to move away from the heavy use of asbestos in construction and manufacturing but its use in construction was not fully phased out in the United States until the 1980s. As a consequence, many homes still contain asbestos.

Asbestos In Houses

Of course, the older the home and its contents, the more likely it is to contain asbestos. Check the info-graphic for where to look out for asbestos at home. Remember to never handle asbestos yourself and only have it removed by a professional certified to clean up the hazardous material. If you have found asbestos in your home, don’t hesitate to contact Baggett McCall, and our experienced asbestos and chemical exposure attorneys. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma or another asbestos related illness due to the negligence of others call us at 800-NEW-CLAIM. You may be entitled to financial compensation.

Tags: asbestos, attorney, exposed, home, house, illness, in your home, is asbestos in my home, lawyer, lung cancer, mesothelioma, places to find asbestos, where is asbestosThis page was legally reviewed by Jennifer Lucarelli on February 10, 2023. For information on our content creation and review process read our editorial guidelines. If you notice an error or have comments or questions on our content please contact us.

Asbestos materials in the home can pose a danger to residents. Over time, asbestos-containing products can become worn or damaged. Disturbing these materials can cause microscopic asbestos fibers to become airborne. Anyone in the home may inhale or ingest the airborne fibers.

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Asbestos was commonly used in thousands of products and home construction materials before the 1980s. From the 1930s to the 1970s, building materials, vinyl products and other products contained asbestos. New regulations in the 1970s and 1980s limited asbestos use. But stockpiles of asbestos materials may have found their way into homes up to the 1990s.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 30 million tons of asbestos were used between 1900 and 1980. Some of these past uses are still in materials and products people may come into contact with today.

Asbestos is not banned in the United States, but the EPA did ban the use of asbestos in some new products after 1989. Older homes built before 1980 may be more likely to have asbestos, and there is less asbestos risk in newer homes.

Hazardous Building Materials 101

Asbestos-containing materials may be found in all areas of older homes. From the 1930s through the 1970s, asbestos was included in many different building materials. The mineral was popular because of its durability and resistance to heat and chemicals.

Homeowners may want to know how to identify asbestos in their house. It is not possible to identify asbestos-containing materials with the naked eye. However, there are signs of asbestos homeowners can look for. These clues may hint toward the presence of the mineral in certain products.

For example, homes built before the 1980s likely have asbestos in them. If the home has popcorn ceilings or vinyl flooring, it may have asbestos. A simple rule is the newer a home is, the less likely it has asbestos materials. Homes built before 1980 should be assumed to contain the mineral somewhere.

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There may be signs or visual clues of asbestos in the house, but homeowners should never touch anything they think may have the mineral. Homeowners should have a trained asbestos professional inspect and manage potential asbestos. Proper handling of the mineral will prevent asbestos exposure.

Homeowners may find visual clues that help identify asbestos in their homes. They won’t be able to see asbestos itself because the mineral consists of microscopic fibers. However, the age of the home and some construction materials may suggest if a home has asbestos.

Another complication to visually finding asbestos is the different types of asbestos that may have been used. These asbestos types can range in color and appearance. But asbestos-containing products may not have visible asbestos fibers. In many cases, asbestos was used as a component in the product, making it impossible to see asbestos fibers. Still, some visual clues may suggest materials may contain asbestos.

Guide To Identifying, Testing & Removing Asbestos In Homes

The texture applied to walls and ceilings that was then painted over often contained asbestos. Popcorn ceilings were popular between 1945 and the early 1990s. Homeowners should assume all popcorn ceilings from this period contain asbestos.

Asbestos causes dimpling in certain products’ surfaces. Products that may show dimpling include shingles, roofing materials or pipe insulation. Dimpling may often mean the material has asbestos and should be tested by an asbestos professional.

Homeowners should remember that asbestos is a microscopic fiber that becomes airborne after being disturbed. If homeowners suspect potential asbestos in their home, they should hire a professional to inspect materials and recommend next steps.

Guide To Asbestos In The Home

For example, spare boxes of vinyl floor tiles may have a stamp on the box or the back of the tiles that states they contain asbestos. These products came in a variety of shapes and sizes, and not all used asbestos in their production. A date included on the packaging may also indicate that they were manufactured during the height of asbestos use (1930s – 1980s).

Handling the tiles or other surplus materials may carry exposure risk. Homeowners should only inspect the outside of the packaging for a label. If there are no packages, it is best to assume any flooring or other construction materials installed before 1980 contain the mineral. Homeowners should treat these materials with caution.

While visual clues like labels can suggest the presence of asbestos in the home, it is not a fool-proof method to identify asbestos. Only asbestos abatement professionals can properly test for asbestos and safely handle any asbestos materials.

The Secret Killer

The only way to know for sure if your house has asbestos is to test the home. The best way to test is to hire an asbestos abatement professional. Anyone with a home or planning to buy a house built before the 1980s may want to consider having their home tested, especially if they plan to remodel.

A trained asbestos abatement professional can test for asbestos while minimizing the risk of exposure. They will also offer advice on the proper way to handle any asbestos-containing products present. Options may include leaving it as is, removing it or encapsulating it. Encapsulating asbestos involves leaving it in place and sealing it with a protective barrier.

Home asbestos tests are available. However, the homeowner could expose themselves and anyone living in the home to asbestos by using these tests. Many experts recommend leaving the asbestos testing to the professionals. They have the needed training to test for asbestos and handle next steps, such as removal, to prevent exposure.

Measurement Of Asbestos Emissions Associated With Demolition Of Abandoned Residential Dwellings

The cost of professional asbestos testing varies. The number of samples needed, type of testing completed on the samples and part of the country can all impact cost. According to data from Essel Environment, the national average for basic asbestos testing is $600.

Homeowners may consider having asbestos testing done before conducting any renovations or home projects. The cost for comprehensive testing may be worth the peace of mind from knowing that dangerous exposure could be prevented.

Asbestos exposure at home may happen whenever asbestos-containing materials are disturbed or damaged. This can happen through normal wear and tear or as a result of renovations. Other common ways for asbestos products to be disturbed include:

How Can You Tell If Your Popcorn Ceiling Has Asbestos?

Asbestos may be in insulation found in the attic. One of the most notorious sources for asbestos came from vermiculite attic insulation. This type of insulation looks like small pebbles that have been put down on the floor of the attic. Vermiculite attic insulation, such as Zonolite insulation, has well-documented ties to asbestos contamination.

The EPA suggests up to 70% of the vermiculite sold in the United States between 1919 and 1990 came from Libby, Montana. Much of it may have been

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