Renovating or Remodeling an Older Home?
Disturbing asbestos-containing materials (ACM) during a renovation or home repair may release asbestos fibers into the air. Asbestos fibers pose a serious health risk to workers and building occupants and have been linked to lung disease and some types of lung cancer.
For public safety and liability issues, asbestos-containing material should only be handled by trained and experienced asbestos abatement professionals.
At Elite Asbestos Removal, we will set up an asbestos abatement plan to deal with your specific circumstances and give you the peace of mind that your building is safe for occupancy.
Safely Remove Vermiculite Insulation
Vermiculite is a mica-like mineral that was used as insulation in many houses and commercial buildings (sometimes marketed as “zonolite”) between 1920 and the early 1990s. When heated, it expands like “popcorn” into a loose, lightweight material that is absorbent, fireproof, and a good insulator. Much of this vermiculite contained some asbestos when it was originally mined.
Under no circumstances should you attempt to remove or disturb vermiculite insulation. Vermiculite removal should be carried out by an experienced contractor trained in its safe removal. Our experts are fully certified in Asbestos Testing & Asbestos Removal in the cities of Vancouver, Surrey & Coquitlam
Removal Steps to Follow
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a potentially deadly fibrous mineral that’s very tough and resistant to chemicals and heat. Up until 1990, it was regularly used in ceiling texture, drywall mud, flooring, and attic insulation. If these materials are disturbed (such as when they are drilled, sawed, sanded, or broken up during renovations or demolition), workers and family members can breathe in asbestos fibres. WorkSafeBC’s definition of an asbestos containing material (ACM), other than vermiculite insulation, is 0.5%.
What are the hazards of Asbestos?
Renovating or demolishing houses containing asbestos products can release asbestos fibres, which are extremely fine and can stay in the air for hours. Breathing in asbestos fibres may cause serious health problems, including lung disease and cancer.
Asbestosis is the name given to scarring and stiffening of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos dust over many years. It makes breathing difficult and may lead to fatal diseases such as pneumonia and heart disease. Exposure to asbestos can also cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, which is a rare cancer of the linings of the lungs and abdomen.
Asbestos-related diseases usually develop many years after a person has been exposed to asbestos. The risk of developing these diseases increases with the amount of asbestos in the air you inhale and the length of time you are exposed.
How do i find out if my house contains asbestos?
Elite asbestos technician adheres to WorkSafeBC’s minimum sampling guidelines when collecting suspected building materials. They are sent to an accredited laboratory for testing.
It is not recommended that you collect samples on your own as you may not have knowledge about which materials may contain and where they may be concealed. Asbestos fibers are microscopic and cannot be identified with the naked eye. Furthermore, most city demolition permit processes require a Qualified Professional to conduct the Hazardous Materials Survey/Assessment.
ELITE ASBESTOS TESTING
Machine Demolition
Total demolition of houses, commercial and industrial buildings and other structures, including foundations.
Hand Demolition
We provide hand demolition and recycling services for residential and commercial buildings for renovation purposes.
Selective Demolition
Demolition or deconstruction of portions of buildings to allow for restructure. This would also include heritage buildings where a portion of the building needs to be preserved for heritage value.
The Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have both signaled the importance of having a clean, sanitized, and disinfected environment to help control the spread of the corona virus (COVID-19). The CDC specifically recommends the cleaning and disinfecting of homes and facilities. Undertaking these 3 steps is more commonly known as performing a ‘deep clean’. We want to assist in heeding the calls of these health organizations by helping you understand what it means to perform a ‘deep clean’. The health and safety of you and your family is our top priority and understanding how to fight against the spread of the illness is critical.
Most important to understand is that cleaning does not kill bacteria, viruses, or fungi more commonly referred to as “germs”. Instead cleaning is done to remove “germs” usually by combining water, a cleaning product, and scrubbing. Though cleaning does not kill ‘germs’ it is still a vital step in the deep cleaning process as removal of dirt and debris can make way for products and methods that do kill ‘germs’ to be more efficacious.
Disinfecting and sanitizing methods on the other hand refer to products that work by killing germs. These processes do not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection. Sanitize-rs reduce bacteria on a surface by at least 99.9%. Conversely disinfectants kill a wider range of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mold. These methods work great on all surfaces like natural stone including marble, granite, and limestone; upholstery, fabrics, and drapes; and carpets and area rugs on hard non-porous surfaces like stainless steel and the components of your H-VAC system.
Our ‘deep clean’ method utilizes three techniques depending on the need.
You can certainly clean, sanitize, and disinfect your home with over the counter solutions yourself. However, in order to reach all areas needed for a ‘deep clean’ including your
H-VAC system we recommend contacting a professional. Professionals can use tools like foggers and industrial sprayers to get to all areas of your home.
We know that these are uncertain times and if/when you are ready, we are here to help. Our IICRC trained and background checked technicians are prepared to provide your home/facility with a deep clean including our enhanced service offering of disinfectant and sanitization for carpet, upholstery, air ducts and hard surfaces.
We realize that allowing people in your home or place of business may cause concern. The Elite commitment to you and our employees is to first follow all of the recommendations from the CDC and World Health Organization. Our technicians and employees are required to follow the recommendations which include, but are not limited to:
It is our deepest commitment to provide you with a clean, safe and healthy home or work environment. We appreciate you as a community member and customer. We want to assure you that Elite is here to help. pressure washing asbestos home improvement Richmond Vancouver Surrey
Service Areas: Vancouver, Surrey, Delta, Richmond, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Langley, White Rock, North Vancouver, Mission, Aldergrove, New Westminster and Abbotsford
Open today | 07:00 a.m. – 07:00 p.m. |
ELITE ASBESTOS REMOVAL & TESTING
19714 44 Avenue Langley, BC