Asbestos

Airborne asbestos fibers are a carcinogen.  Asbestos was a common building material and may be found in roofing and siding shingles, insulation, vinyl floor tiles, and other materials.  Its use as a component in textured paints and patching compounds for walls and ceilings was banned in 1977.

The presence of asbestos can be determined with certainty only through analytical testing.  Visual inspection by an inspector or tradesman cannot be relied upon.  Materials suspected of being ACM (Asbestos Containing Material) should be treated as though they contain asbestos, unless reliable analysis proves otherwise.

Many experts will tell you that encapsulation is the best approach to dealing with asbestos.  It's up to you, of course, but remember that eventually, the removal and legal disposal of it will become someone else's problem.  If that prospect makes the next buyer nervous, it may become a stumbling block when you are ready to sell your house.

IDEA does not test for asbestos, but if we identify potential ACM's, we will bring them to your attention during an inspection.