Asbestos used to be one of the most commonly used building materials. The reason why was because it was not only cheap, but it was also durable. So, using asbestos when building homes and other structures just seemed like the logical thing to do.
Unfortunately, people began to discover that asbestos’s usefulness in building materials came with a price. While it did make for great construction material, it wasn’t great for one’s health. Asbestos and its particles, especially when inhaled, caused a lot of damage to a person’s lungs. It also caused several other illnesses, such as birth defects in children and even lung cancers.
Since the discovery of the dangers of asbestos use, this material was banned in places such as the United Kingdom. While this ban has prevented new structures from using asbestos in their building materials, buildings and homes put up before the ban were put in place are still a concern. Since there was no ban on asbestos when these were built, these structures still have asbestos-laden materials. Fortunately, there are now companies that offer services to remove these materials.
The Importance of Removal
In line with the ban on asbestos, it has become a requirement that buildings be screened for any presence of asbestos in them. Those that have asbestos in the materials that make up the structure are then required to have them removed. This is to help lessen people’s risk of asbestos exposure and its subsequent health hazards as asbestos-related illnesses and deaths are still rather prevalent in the UK.
Even if it isn’t in the interest of public health, having asbestos removed in places such as your homes is also still important. By having your homes tested for asbestos, you at least ensure the health and safety of you and your home’s inhabitants.
Asbestos Removal Companies
Because of the need for asbestos removal, several companies offering this service have become available. Some of these companies would even consider themselves to be asbestos removal experts. Unfortunately, not all companies are experts and would offer services that may even be substandard.
You might hire a company’s help to assist with the removal, only to find out that they’ll refer you to a partner company to get another step done first. You might even find yourself still having asbestos-related problems even after having a certain firm do the removal for you. While there are a lot of removal companies out there, some of them are only asbestos removal experts in name and not in fact.
What to Consider When Looking for an Asbestos Removal Company
Credentials. Before you even begin to consider a company, you should at least be sure that they have the credentials to back it up. In this case, you want to make sure that the company you’re planning on hiring is accredited or licensed by the corresponding local governing body. By getting an accredited company, you’re at least sure that they meet certain standards regarding the service they provide.
Good Reviews. Aside from accreditation, another way to help you find good removal companies would be to try to look at their reviews. While reviews left by people are often subjective, they’re still a good gauge of how good of a job they do. The more satisfied reviews a company may have, the bigger the chance of them being good at what they’re supposed to do.
Convenience. The whole process of getting asbestos removed from your home or building takes several steps. There’s the initial process of inspection and testing for the presence of asbestos. Samples may be taken and assessed to confirm if there is indeed asbestos. Once it is confirmed, the preparation for removal will then begin. When getting this done, it would be more convenient if all of this was done by one company. The more convenient it is, the easier it is for you to get the asbestos removed from your home or building.
Capabilities. You should also consider when hiring a removal company would be their capability to get the job done. Asbestos removal jobs vary in several degrees. Sometimes these jobs only involve the removal of asbestos found in your ceiling, roofing, floorboards, and walls. Other times, these jobs are more extensive and require precautions as the removal may cause the disturbance of the asbestos materials. These kinds of jobs increase the risk of exposure if not done right. Before you hire a certain company, you have to make sure that they can actually carry out the job properly.
