Asbestos Shingle Removal

Asbestos made a big entry into the world of construction materials. Its versatility was hailed by one and all. Low cost of asbestos was another pleasing aspect. However, with time, it was found that asbestos could be quite dreadful for the environment and posed serious risks to the people who lived near it. Fact is that it is quite benign if intact even if it is showing minor signs of crumbling. In such a case, you would just need to keep it enclosed or encapsulated.

The problem starts to occur once weathered asbestos begins to give off its dust to the air particles. This poses serious threats and also brings forth chances of cancer in humans. Once such dangers of asbestos were exposed to us, asbestos shingles that were lapped up as smart and stylish part of décor aesthetics began to be prepared for removal Government approved norms were being assigned for asbestos shingle removal.

It is a meticulous procedure screaming for professional help

In present times, it does not matter whether you go about the job in a do-it-yourself way or by utilizing professional assistance, you will have to follow the rules made by EPA while wetting, scraping, packing and disposing friable asbestos. Asbestos shingle removal can be a tough procedure when seen in the light of meticulousness required to conduct it. This is why you are ill-advised to take up the job on your own. It is not worthwhile saving a dime and spending thousands on your health.

Drop cloth is prerequisite

For asbestos shingle removal, you first need to drop a cloth below the shingles so that any remnant is dutifully picked up by the cloth. The cloth must be placed exactly under the shingles and duct taped at the edges for more circumspect picking. A putty knife used at 45 degrees angle is the best technique of loosening and scraping off the shingle. This way, enough torque is generated at the base of the shingle and it comes out on its own. The ideal method for asbestos shingle removal is to travel from the top and keep coming down till you come to the bottommost shingle.

Try to make the work zone isolated

Make sure that the job is performed so meticulously that no shingle breaks down. It is a given assumption that a broken down shingle would encourage transference of asbestos as airborne particle. In fact, for the safety of people, you can even convert the zone of asbestos shingle removal into an isolated zone. Use of negative air machines for pumping in fresh air through HEPA filters can add to the clinical efficiency of the task at hand.

While performing asbestos shingle removal, it is not everything to scrape the friable asbestos off the surface. You must also take care to dispose it off in a perfect way. This can be done by securing the shingles in leak-proof bags. When the drop cloth fully clutches the particles and is wetted perfectly, you can tie it up in the bags as well and take all the remnants off to secure site, certified by the EPA. For taping the leak-resistant bags after asbestos shingle removal, misting and duct taping are believed to be non-mandatory protocols. They help in ensuring proper disposal of the waste.