Asbestos In The Garden: What Should You Do

Could your beautiful garden be hiding a very deadly hazardous material? Asbestos is a well-known hazardous material that was widely used in building construction decades ago. If your home was built before the late 1980s, when asbestos was banned, or is a newer home built on an old home site, asbestos could have found its way into your soil. In addition, a good percentage of old sheds and outbuildings may have been constructed with asbestos; even if the shed or outbuilding has been removed, asbestos could remain.

The most common use for asbestos was in the roof, walls and around pipes as insulation, both in homes and outbuildings. However, asbestos was also sometimes mixed in with cement, making it very hard to detect. Likewise, some carpet underlayment that was manufactured and installed before the 1970s was manufactured from bags that had previously transported raw asbestos. If old carpeting or carpet underlay has been disposed of on your property, that is another potential source of asbestos.

What You Should Do if You Have Found Asbestos in Your Garden

If you suspect there may be asbestos in your garden, don't panic. The first thing you should do if you think there is asbestos in your garden is to call a professional for an asbestos test. A professional can examine any potential asbestos, and if necessary, send it to a lab to confirm whether or not it really is asbestos. The results will provide you with the knowledge you need to take the next step.

Often, if the asbestos is in good shape and is not likely to be disturbed, it can be left alone. However, asbestos is dangerous to both human and animal health if it's disturbed and the fibers are released into the atmosphere, where they can be inhaled into the lungs. It can be nearly impossible for the average person to differentiate between asbestos and similar-looking materials.

While as a homeowner, you can legally remove small amounts of asbestos from your property, you must follow all the safety and health measures that apply to the disposal of asbestos. If you are uncomfortable doing this yourself and are unsure of the safety procedures, it's recommended that you call for licensed asbestos removal professionals; for example, Asbestos Removal Adelaide. Also, if you plan to tear down an old shed, it is highly advisable to have professionals check the site for asbestos before anything is removed or disturbed.

Any sort of renovation or demolition project on your property should have an asbestos inspection before proceeding. This is absolutely true of any type of building built during or before the 1980s, when the use of asbestos was finally banned. If necessary, contact a professional asbestos removal Adelaide to perform both an asbestos test, and to remove any asbestos found anywhere on your property.

Your garden should be the most beautiful and relaxing place on your property. Don't let lingering doubts about asbestos spoil your enjoyment of your home and garden.