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3 Tips For Hiring An Asbestos Removal Company

29 June 2017 by Kyle Brown

If your home was built prior to 1970, chances are asbestos was used as part of the structural material. Because it is now known that asbestos is a toxic substance, many home owners seek to have it removed -- which involves demolishing the area. This is especially true if the walls of your property have begun flaking and peeling, or if you plan on remodeling. Any disturbance of your property's structure will release asbestos into the air. Asbestos fibers are easily inhaled and can cause respiratory problems such as fibrotic lung disease and increase the risk for lung cancer. It is never recommended that you try to remove asbestos on your own. You'll need to find and hire a specialized asbestos removal firm to take care of it. Here are three tips to help you find the right asbestos removal contractor.

Check Licensing

All states require that contractors doing asbestos removal-related work be licensed to do so. This license is separate from a general contractor license and specific to asbestos removal. So, it's not enough for your contractor to simply have a general license. The only time a specialized license is not required, is if the area where you need the asbestos removed is very small -- typically under six square feet. To give you some context, the typical closet in a single-family home is anywhere from 75 to 200 square feet. So, six square feet is an very small area. Even if you only need asbestos removed from a small area, it's still best to have it done by a contractor who is licensed to remove asbestos specifically.

Ask for References

Because asbestos is highly hazardous, it's imperative that removal measures are done correctly. You can't risk incomplete removal as it can negatively impact yours and your family's health. For this reason, it's a good idea to request references from any contractors you're considering for the job. Make sure the references are specific to asbestos removal. That way you'll be able to confirm that the contractor is capable of effectively removing the asbestos from the area in question. A good firm will have no problem providing references. Be wary of any contractor who gives you a hard time about references, or doesn't have any.

Provide Accurate Information

In order to ensure that you have the right company for the job, it's critical that you provide accurate, detailed information. Describe the project in detail, including the size of the area, the date the structure was built, the condition of the area -- report peeling, cracking etc -- as well as what other materials the structure is composed of. You may want to right down the details so that you can describe them the exact same way to each contractor and compare bids. For more information, check with companies like Environmental Cleansing Corp for more information.

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