Are you thinking about renovating? Consider this...

Summer is right around the corner and that means the official beginning of renovation season for South-Western Ontario!

 If you are currently thinking about renovating, in the process of renovating or have recently completed renovations to your home, it is important to consider whether or not your house contains lead or asbestos.

Did you know that your house may contain lead or asbestos?  These materials were both used in some building materials (up until mid 1980s) that can poison your body.  Lead, which is often found in the paint on your walls and trim, can cause very serious health issues, including learning disabilities in children as well as nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems in adults.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used as a material in construction and many other industries.  If disturbed, i.e. during a renovation, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. When asbestos fibers are breathed in they get trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time.  Overtime, asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer and other serious illness.

It is due to these important health risks that you need to make sure you are not going to be disturbing leaded-paint or asbestos during the course of your summer renovation. If either of these materials exist in your home and are disturbed, they can cause serious health problems for both you and your family.  Even if you are in the process of renovating or have recently completed renovations, you can still check to make sure either lead or asbestos or both are not negatively affecting the indoor air quality of your home.

 

At The Healthy Abode we are certified by the EPA to test for lead and follow all Health Canada guidelines in testing for asbestos.  It is important to know what’s in your house, in order to know the best way to handle the materials.  Remember, even if your house does contain lead and/or asbesots, in many cases there are simple ways of dealing with these materials, the important first step is Knowing.