Asbestos Removal Costs
We are the asbestos removal specialists! EME, Inc. can easily accomodate your needs in asbestos removal. We are specialists in Demolition (Site and Selective), Asbestos and Lead Abatement, and Mold Remediation.
The process of selecting an asbestos contractor to remove asbestos from your home can be difficult. The asbestos removal costs and the work performance of the asbestos contractor are important considerations. As with any work you contract to have done, some caution should be used when selecting a contractor and not just base your decision on asbestos removal cost alone.
Dangers of Asbestos
Asbestos is a generic name for a variety of strong and flexible mineral materials that are chemically inert, highly resistant to heat and virtually indestructible. Asbestos presents a health hazard when it is friable, that is, when it is crumbled or crushed into a powder. Microscopic fibers of asbestos have about the same density as cigarette smoke. When these fibers are released into the air, they can be easily inhaled and either swallowed or trapped in the lower part of the lungs.
Exposure to asbestos is associated with several serious health problems. Lung cancer is the most common and take 15 to 20 years to develop after exposure. Asbestosis, or scarring of the lung tissue, also takes 15 to 20 years to appear. Asbestosis is rarely fatal; however, it is debilitating and can lead to fatal cases of pneumonia,flu or lung cancer.
Asbestos is also linked with a rare cancer, mesothelioma, which attacks the lining of the lungs and the abdomen. The latency period of this disease varies. In some cases, mesothelioma develops as soon as three years after exposure to asbestos, while in others it may take 30 to 40 years to appear. This disease is always fatal. Unlike other asbestos-related diseases, mesothelioma can be contracted from limited, low-level asbestos exposure.
It most commonly was used to insulate pipes and boilers. However, asbestos was also often mixed in with stucco, plaster, cement, wallboard, ceiling and floor tiles, acoustical tile, asphalt roofing shingles and tile, vinyl tiles, fireproof textiles, wallpapers, grouts and caulking compounds as a binder and fireproofing material.
Removal
Asbestos abatement by removal means that asbestos-containing materials are totally removed from the building. A common example of this would be the removal of asbestos pipe wrapping and insulation from heating pipes. The most obvious advantage of this type of asbestos abatement is that once it is gone, the need for further monitoring or maintenance of the asbestos-containing materials is eliminated.
Do not, under any circumstances, remove asbestos yourself. Asbestos is highly dangerous when it is airborne. It is far more dangerous to remove asbestos improperly than to leave it alone, no matter what its condition.
Conclusion
Asbestos-related problems in older buildings should be addressed in a rational manner. Ignoring the potential problems of asbestos is irresponsible, but careless and hasty removal without proper safety precautions is also irresponsible, and can lead to even greater problems. The best course of action is to identify asbestos-containing materials in your building, ascertain their condition and then develop an abatement plan that addresses any hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions in a deliberate and responsible manner.
EME, Inc. is a Demolition (Site and Selective), Asbestos and Lead Abatement, and Mold Remediation contractor based in Greensboro, North Carolina. EME, Inc. is licensed to provide these services in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee.
