JS Removals have seen an increase in instances of asbestos containing materials that have been damaged with the ever-increasing frequency of severe weather and major storms hitting the UK. It will be no surprise to learn that there has been a massive rise in the number of people seeking professional help to deal with the colossal clear up in the wake of these events.

Storm Damaged Asbestos

The scale of the damage caused to property is vast, but while the wholesale destruction of large buildings is visually very dramatic it is at a much smaller scale that the deadliest effects will be felt. The tearing apart of the basic structure, quite literally the building blocks of homes and businesses can result in the release of asbestos dust and fibres into the environment. Invisible and undetectable these tiny particles can wreak havoc with our health for years to come.

From the largest commercial premises to the smallest of homes the danger is exactly the same. Most people know the problem of dealing with asbestos roofing on older garages and sheds and the need to employ experts to safely remove it when it has become damaged by high winds. However, few realise the extent to which asbestos permeates the whole of their homes, in particular homes constructed prior to 1999.

It can be found lurking in the most unexpected places, in fact it is possible to encounter asbestos in almost any room of a pre 1999 home. Over the years it has been added to other materials to give them added strength, for instance in your bathroom your toilet cistern, if it is an older model, could contain asbestos. In the kitchen there is a chance your old-style vinyl floor tiles might be a source and it can also be present in insulation board which was often used in fuse boxes. All around the house you might have trouble getting away from asbestos as in the past it was used in cement, ceiling and wall tiles, adhesives, paint, light cables, roofing felt and pipe insulation to name but a few.

It was also used for its sound proofing properties and while this was generally more often found in large commercial buildings it can also be found in houses.

Artex, Textured Walls and Ceilings

Artex, although very much out of fashion these days the trend in the 1970’s/80’s for textured walls and ceilings has left many properties with this dangerous material still in place. While, in all these cases, the danger from the asbestos is minimal if the items remain in good condition and are not disturbed it is a very different story when they are damaged in any way and the fibres and dust are released into the atmosphere and can be inhaled.

So if the recent storms that have been battering the UK have caused damage to your home it is worth bearing in mind the age of the material that is damaged and the likelihood that it might contain asbestos.

High winds, falling trees and flying debris are not the only danger to property as we are experiencing a much-increased incidence of severe flooding which can present just as many problems. The action of floodwater can cause unseen damage to the substructure of our homes resulting in the breakdown of bonding materials like cement. Because many asbestos fibres are waterproof, they can float on the surface of water and other liquids allowing the release of fibres which can be transferred to skin and clothing and subsequently into our lungs where they pose a long term threat to our health.

It’s worth getting in touch with a removal company to clear any flood or wind damaged asbestos from your properties to ensure that you and your family remain safe.