This is exactly what I was looking for. VERY informative. I am under contract as the buyer of a 1955 home, and I observed what is 99% likely asbestos tiles in the basement and tape around the ductwork. It had me absolutely alarmed, but I feel much more informed now.
I worked for 3 days removing tile in a 1950s building Denver Colorado last week. There was confirmed asbestos. The first day I didn’t wear a mask. Second and third day I wore a n95 but I looked it up afterwards and it’s not rated to stop asbestos inhalation. Am I at risk?
Asbestos tile generally poses very little to no risk at all. You can buy a product to encapsulate it and then go over it with another flooring material. Don't be alarmed by it.
Asbestos tiles like kentil brand are not very dangerious nor is the mastic glue under it that contains asbestos. Even if you sanded and hammered and broke down those tiles one by one and anorted a line of the dust, you would have to do that for months if not years to have a significant chance of getting a lung related disease. You have more chance of lung disease from air pollution then some old asbestos floor or cieling tiles. Remeber, asbestosis and lung diseases affected 20-30% of the people who worked in the industry. And the 30% were smokers
Every homeowner's insurance policy I've had on my properties never did an inspection. I just entered in my information online and was given a rate. I purchased all my policies online. The only asbestos question that was asking was about the type of siding you have on your house. Some people tell me you can get a cheaper insurance rate if you have asbestos siding because it's fireproof and the asbestos is embedded inside the shingle.
I bought my first house ever. Asked the home inspector if there qas anything else I needed to check for. I was concerned about any mold or anything that could make us sick. He NEVER mentioned asbestos and neither did my real estate agent.
Asbestos is beyond the scope of home inspections. That being said, inspectors should be familiar with asbestos like materials, and make note when they find something that looks like it. Usually that is a separate thing, and samples need to be sent off to test at a lab.
Buyer beware. Real estate salesman wont tell you. Even the home inspector i paid for didnt tell me. He saw it said nothing, well he was more dependent on the real estate agent. Make sure your inspector is honest not buds with the agent and gives you the goods straight up.
I could be wrong, but home inspectors generally refrain from telling you it's asbestos for legal reasons. They may mention to you that there may be a possibility of something containing asbestos and to have it tested if you're concerned. Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral that we are exposed to almost everyday in small amounts.
Thanks for mentioning an estimate of Four to five thousand dollars. That’s not a deal breaker for us, but it is something I want to plan for. I didn’t know about insurance companies being concerned about asbestos too. We’re considering buying my great grandparents house built in 1963. I’m concerned about asbestos and lead based paint. I’m concerned about quite a few other things there as well. We won’t know what all needs to be fixed, how much they’re going to be asking for the home, or what an inspector will say until my great grandma passes away. I’m assuming the worst case scenario that it needs asbestos removed, lead paint removed, replumbed, rewired, new subfloor and flooring, and a new septic tank. It’s good to know rough estimates of what these things may cost to fix in older homes before we decided to jump in and buy that house.
Your mileage may vary... the cost of removing asbestos will be drastically different from one region to another, due to different regulations, and also the disposal costs at landfills. As for the septic, the tank is one thing ... but getting a sense of how the septic field is working is very important. While it may be adequate for an elderly couple, if you move in a big family with big poops, the system may not ne able to keep up!
Closer to 7k or 8k...about $9-15 per square foot . Vermiculite is trace. Furnace work 2500 A full on survey for a 1000 sq ft home. 3 samples from everything suspect, just depends on who does the inspecting.
Another big issue with that asbestos ceiling insulation is that it is NOT truly sealed into the attic. Every place there is an electrical box air (and dust) move in and out of the living space. Every place electrical or plumbing wire is run through the top of the wall air (and dust) move in and out of the attic. Removing all of that insulation and sealing all of those air leaks will make a big difference in the heating and cooling of that house. I will give you better indoor air quality with less dust and a more even temperature.
Thanks - this is very interesting. Could I ask - is this different from loose-fill asbestos insulation which I have read is the worst asbestos there is - but virtually no information is available about it!
Really informative video. Would you suggest to your potential buyers that they should purposely seek out houses with lots of asbestos because it will turn off many other buyers, and according to the law of supply and demand, fewer buyers = lower selling price (ideally for the buyer a far lower sale price).
We have high levels it in my school. It's locked in a sealed and labeled room. That room is above my classroom :) Also that school needs to be torn down, it's so bad :/
Hi Luis Medina, it is almost impossible to detect asbestos fibres with the naked eye. For a professional analysis, you need high-resolution technology, which even today's digital solutions cannot replace. If you really want to be sure, have a sample of the material in question analysed in a certified laboratory. Stay healthy!
They have not banned asbestos use in the US. Generally speaking mid 70s and after that contain very little asbestos, but some products then contained small traces of asbestos. Regulating asbestos and it's usages came about in the early 70s.
I’m just laughing at when he says house….. and honestly it doesn’t matter Washington state they’ll sell you a house with asbestos in it or not and no difference on insurance company. They just don’t care. In mine I just suck mine out with the vacuum cleaner full suited and air duct for the air… like who’s gonna sit there and watch you and say oh no, we better test that for asbestos. Just clean it up toss it out and who cares but the people wanting to make money off you… as long as you’re being safe and go by the guidelines. They’re not gonna care nobody does, the only time they do is when you start getting sick. Then you want to go Sue happy and Sue everybody.
@@keithyoung7381 some you can see but most of it you cant see. but getting it tested you have 2 disturb it and thats dangerous plus what if its in a spot where you didnt test? mise well just treat it as theres asbesestos and everything there and not even test it just follow the abatememt steps
Oh no my home was built in 1930 so I probably have it everywhere😮no wonder why my health has been declining. 1st I was concerned about lead but now this unlocked a new fear😩
From what I am researching, homes built during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s would be more at risk than homes in the early 1900’s. Even thought asbestos has been mined and used for centuries, it wasn’t until those post war rears that it was used more in homes. I wouldn’t worry too much about much about asbestos in your home but do get it checked out by a professional since you have health issues. I went through Lead Safety certification last year and learned a lot about lead in old homes. Lead not as bad as it can be made out to be. Lead does affect developing brains but not so much adults that have fully developed brains. Higher levels in adults can lead to high blood pressure but it’s not the super danger like it is for developing young minds. Also, lead was used where it needed to be more durable. This was usually not on walls but in interior and exterior trim around doors windows and other places they wanted semi or full gloss plus resiliency. We use lead kits manufactured by 3m that are not super expensive and tell you almost instantly if something has lead. Unfortunately, for asbestos testing you have to send off samples and pay for the results. They are more expensive than the lead test kits. You also have to wait for results to come back and then by able to trust the results. It’s still worth the cost.
@@RemmikRotus Thx so much for the info, you've helped ease my mind! Since living in my home I've been experiencing breathing issues and brain fog but that also could just be from aging, gotta love getting older☺
The asbestos that may be in that attic insulation is microscopic. It can't be seen. Vermiculite (those small flaky pieces he shows in the video) itself is not hazardous. The issue is that much of the vermiculite used in North America between 1920 and 1990 was from a single mine in Montana. The product was marketed as Zonolite. And the vermiculite from that mine was contaminated with asbestos. That is why if vermiculite is seen, it is very likely to contain asbestos. Only testing by a lab can tell for sure.
This is exactly what I was looking for. VERY informative. I am under contract as the buyer of a 1955 home, and I observed what is 99% likely asbestos tiles in the basement and tape around the ductwork. It had me absolutely alarmed, but I feel much more informed now.
I worked for 3 days removing tile in a 1950s building Denver Colorado last week. There was confirmed asbestos. The first day I didn’t wear a mask. Second and third day I wore a n95 but I looked it up afterwards and it’s not rated to stop asbestos inhalation. Am I at risk?
@@ElDuderinohVery unlikely. It takes a lot of exposure over a long period of time for it to really be a risk.
Asbestos tile generally poses very little to no risk at all. You can buy a product to encapsulate it and then go over it with another flooring material. Don't be alarmed by it.
Asbestos tiles like kentil brand are not very dangerious nor is the mastic glue under it that contains asbestos. Even if you sanded and hammered and broke down those tiles one by one and anorted a line of the dust, you would have to do that for months if not years to have a significant chance of getting a lung related disease. You have more chance of lung disease from air pollution then some old asbestos floor or cieling tiles. Remeber, asbestosis and lung diseases affected 20-30% of the people who worked in the industry. And the 30% were smokers
Why are you touching and disturbing it if it is likely to be asbestos?
What an idiot
Cant lie i thought this was abit mad lol
You can see caught dust in the video as you hear geavy breathing
ikr! I'm so afraid of renting a new place, if it says 'renovated'. How to assure it is asbestos or any other lethal substance free?
@@SG-xb7de no reason to be so fearful if it undisturbed; however, you may want to stay away from anything mid century if you're that worried
Every homeowner's insurance policy I've had on my properties never did an inspection. I just entered in my information online and was given a rate. I purchased all my policies online. The only asbestos question that was asking was about the type of siding you have on your house. Some people tell me you can get a cheaper insurance rate if you have asbestos siding because it's fireproof and the asbestos is embedded inside the shingle.
I bought my first house ever. Asked the home inspector if there qas anything else I needed to check for. I was concerned about any mold or anything that could make us sick.
He NEVER mentioned asbestos and neither did my real estate agent.
same thing happened to me. What a nightmare
Asbestos is beyond the scope of home inspections. That being said, inspectors should be familiar with asbestos like materials, and make note when they find something that looks like it. Usually that is a separate thing, and samples need to be sent off to test at a lab.
As a home inspector in Texas, Good video!
Buyer beware. Real estate salesman wont tell you. Even the home inspector i paid for didnt tell me. He saw it said nothing, well he was more dependent on the real estate agent. Make sure your inspector is honest not buds with the agent and gives you the goods straight up.
yes seen ton of professionals look past it
I could be wrong, but home inspectors generally refrain from telling you it's asbestos for legal reasons. They may mention to you that there may be a possibility of something containing asbestos and to have it tested if you're concerned. Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral that we are exposed to almost everyday in small amounts.
Never accept inspectors referred by your realtor
Thanks for mentioning an estimate of Four to five thousand dollars. That’s not a deal breaker for us, but it is something I want to plan for. I didn’t know about insurance companies being concerned about asbestos too.
We’re considering buying my great grandparents house built in 1963. I’m concerned about asbestos and lead based paint. I’m concerned about quite a few other things there as well. We won’t know what all needs to be fixed, how much they’re going to be asking for the home, or what an inspector will say until my great grandma passes away. I’m assuming the worst case scenario that it needs asbestos removed, lead paint removed, replumbed, rewired, new subfloor and flooring, and a new septic tank. It’s good to know rough estimates of what these things may cost to fix in older homes before we decided to jump in and buy that house.
Your mileage may vary... the cost of removing asbestos will be drastically different from one region to another, due to different regulations, and also the disposal costs at landfills.
As for the septic, the tank is one thing
... but getting a sense of how the septic field is working is very important. While it may be adequate for an elderly couple, if you move in a big family with big poops, the system may not ne able to keep up!
Closer to 7k or 8k...about $9-15 per square foot . Vermiculite is trace.
Furnace work 2500
A full on survey for a 1000 sq ft home. 3 samples from everything suspect, just depends on who does the inspecting.
Also look for a black tar like substance called mastic underneath old flooring.
Yeah didn't realize that's asbestos
I'm surprised you picked up the vermiculite since that disturbed asbestos particles, if that section contained any.
I cannot refrain from commenting one detail: as you are filming this, there is a constant movement of particles in front of the camera.
Not sure where you're getting your prices but just our vermiculie attice abatement cost was 15k. Cheapest price we could find as its high risk.
3:38 that ceiling coating might contain asbestos too.
Thanks for sharing this information
What is the cost now in 2023?
I've never seen a place with 3 different types of insulation in the roof. I do live in a warm place though.
Many homes started with minimal insulation, and over the years it may have been topped up by a variety of different types.
Another big issue with that asbestos ceiling insulation is that it is NOT truly sealed into the attic. Every place there is an electrical box air (and dust) move in and out of the living space. Every place electrical or plumbing wire is run through the top of the wall air (and dust) move in and out of the attic. Removing all of that insulation and sealing all of those air leaks will make a big difference in the heating and cooling of that house. I will give you better indoor air quality with less dust and a more even temperature.
Thanks - this is very interesting. Could I ask - is this different from loose-fill asbestos insulation which I have read is the worst asbestos there is - but virtually no information is available about it!
Really informative video. Would you suggest to your potential buyers that they should purposely seek out houses with lots of asbestos because it will turn off many other buyers, and according to the law of supply and demand, fewer buyers = lower selling price (ideally for the buyer a far lower sale price).
Wait whats a longshoreman?
My father died of mesothelioma exposure to asbestos.
We have high levels it in my school.
It's locked in a sealed and labeled room.
That room is above my classroom :)
Also that school needs to be torn down, it's so bad :/
Is there any digital devise per se, to detect for asbestos? Thanks a lot, Jake!
Hi Luis Medina,
it is almost impossible to detect asbestos fibres with the naked eye. For a professional analysis, you need high-resolution technology, which even today's digital solutions cannot replace. If you really want to be sure, have a sample of the material in question analysed in a certified laboratory.
Stay healthy!
You can only speculate something that may contain asbestos. Generally speaking, most 9x9 tiles always have asbestos in them.
How new does a home have to be before it is completely asbestos free? TY
..
They have not banned asbestos use in the US. Generally speaking mid 70s and after that contain very little asbestos, but some products then contained small traces of asbestos. Regulating asbestos and it's usages came about in the early 70s.
thanks
Worked in a refinery removing asbestos in my 20s I'm in my 30s now
I’m just laughing at when he says house….. and honestly it doesn’t matter Washington state they’ll sell you a house with asbestos in it or not and no difference on insurance company. They just don’t care. In mine I just suck mine out with the vacuum cleaner full suited and air duct for the air… like who’s gonna sit there and watch you and say oh no, we better test that for asbestos. Just clean it up toss it out and who cares but the people wanting to make money off you… as long as you’re being safe and go by the guidelines. They’re not gonna care nobody does, the only time they do is when you start getting sick. Then you want to go Sue happy and Sue everybody.
Aren't you scared to hold this asbestos stones in your hand like that?
@ThunderCheese But will that let some fiber get into air?
He should be
Shit! I have popcorn ceiling in my room very old ceiling. Probably too late.
Tested all our popcorn ceilings in our old 50s house. All negative. Floor tiles were positive though
Why do you have to get it tested cant you see it?
I agree, i think u can. But its easy to mistake for fiberglass
@@keithyoung7381 some you can see but most of it you cant see. but getting it tested you have 2 disturb it and thats dangerous plus what if its in a spot where you didnt test? mise well just treat it as theres asbesestos and everything there and not even test it just follow the abatememt steps
You cannot see asbestos with the human eye. You can only speculate something contains asbestos by looking at it.
it is good good job
lol and you're up there breathing deeply and handling it with your bare hands?
From reading about it, I think it depends on the amount of time over years you are exposed to it and beating it in.
Oh no my home was built in 1930 so I probably have it everywhere😮no wonder why my health has been declining. 1st I was concerned about lead but now this unlocked a new fear😩
From what I am researching, homes built during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s would be more at risk than homes in the early 1900’s. Even thought asbestos has been mined and used for centuries, it wasn’t until those post war rears that it was used more in homes. I wouldn’t worry too much about much about asbestos in your home but do get it checked out by a professional since you have health issues. I went through Lead Safety certification last year and learned a lot about lead in old homes. Lead not as bad as it can be made out to be. Lead does affect developing brains but not so much adults that have fully developed brains. Higher levels in adults can lead to high blood pressure but it’s not the super danger like it is for developing young minds. Also, lead was used where it needed to be more durable. This was usually not on walls but in interior and exterior trim around doors windows and other places they wanted semi or full gloss plus resiliency. We use lead kits manufactured by 3m that are not super expensive and tell you almost instantly if something has lead. Unfortunately, for asbestos testing you have to send off samples and pay for the results. They are more expensive than the lead test kits. You also have to wait for results to come back and then by able to trust the results. It’s still worth the cost.
@@RemmikRotus Thx so much for the info, you've helped ease my mind! Since living in my home I've been experiencing breathing issues and brain fog but that also could just be from aging, gotta love getting older☺
tired of these videos about asbestos that say, "we never tested", "in all likelihood", "it is probably.". Show me! dips
The asbestos that may be in that attic insulation is microscopic. It can't be seen. Vermiculite (those small flaky pieces he shows in the video) itself is not hazardous. The issue is that much of the vermiculite used in North America between 1920 and 1990 was from a single mine in Montana. The product was marketed as Zonolite. And the vermiculite from that mine was contaminated with asbestos. That is why if vermiculite is seen, it is very likely to contain asbestos. Only testing by a lab can tell for sure.