September 20, 2011

The Dangers of Asbestos-Contaminated Popcorn Ceilings

Popcorn ceilings were very beloved in the 1950's all the way straight through the early part of the 1980's. It was a trendy fashion within the home during this time and many people opted to have popcorn ceiling installed throughout their homes. Also the fact that they were trendy, they also absorbed noise well and could hide imperfections. Of course, cleaning the ceiling were a major drawback because they did not have a smooth face on which to work when cleaning.

Contaminated Ceilings and Asbestos
Many ceilings were installed using asbestos fibers because, at the time of the installation, no one was aware of the dangers of asbestos. It was surely touted as a very good invention because of its anti-flame properties.

Asbestos Law Firm

The biggest danger of asbestos exposure is when it is disturbed. For this reason, those homes and apartment buildings that had the asbestos popcorn ceilings installed face a removal process, but the tenants cannot live in the home during the process.

Unsuspecting Homeowners
It was unknown for many years that the proximity of asbestos can expose those who disturb it to many condition problems, including mesothelioma cancer, heart conditions and breathing conditions. As the popcorn ceiling craze ended, many homeowners opted to take off the popcorn ceilings, but unbeknownst to them lurked a deadly substance. Most homeowners wore no protective covering, and dust within the home was gift for everyone to inhale.

Many people who had no idea that their ceilings were made with asbestos or knew about the dangers related with it, filed lawsuits because they had been exposed to a potentially dangerous material when they supplanted their ceilings.

Does Your Ceiling comprise Asbestos?
If your popcorn ceiling was installed in the middle of the 1950's and the 1980's, it may comprise asbestos because asbestos was widely used for many of these ceilings. The only way to know is to have a certified master come into your home and test the ceiling for the proximity of asbestos.

If your ceiling does comprise asbestos, you can choose to have it removed, but should not effort this yourself because, as it is removed, the asbestos is disturbed and at its most toxic. Commonly professionals will fully seal off one room and take off the ceiling and before replacing the ceiling, take off all the asbestos-contaminated ceilings and then move to the next room. It is a lengthy process to have asbestos removed, but well worth the effort to have the asbestos out of your home.

Final Thoughts
If you have supplanted your own ceiling and have no way of knowing either it contained asbestos, you should Commonly be checked for the varied conditions related with exposure to asbestos. The effects of asbestos exposure may not come to be a condition concern for you until years after inhaling the asbestos.

If you removed a popcorn ceiling that was installed in the middle of the 1950's and 1980's, you may want to touch a law firm to learn more about your options because you may have exposed yourself and your family to deadly toxins.

The Dangers of Asbestos-Contaminated Popcorn Ceilings