Asbestos - Plumbing Zone

Scott K · 10-16-2008, 12:22 AM

For those of you, many of you I'm sure have been or go to houses that have asbestos in them. Some may be reno's, or service calls. I'm curious how you approach the topic of asbestos in someone's home. How do you conduct yourself around it? Do you have someone who tests for it for you? Do you have an exposure plan? Do you know how to recognize it? Or to hell with it? What do you tell the homeowner?

And a little scenario for you:

Lets pretend you have 2 renovation contractors coming over to your house. Lets say for example you want to do a complete gut of a bathroom. You have an older type heritage house that may or may not have asbestos but say you don't know much about it.

So Contractor 1 comes over to your house, looks professional, not flashy, but a clean looking tradesman type. He impresses you with his attitude, courtesy, and the questions he asks. He has good references potentially from friends, all that. And he gives you a quote.

Contractor 2 shows up and lets say he's equally or similarly as impressive as the first contractor, with equal references, and say he gives you a similarly priced quote, but after doing some more investigating, he has an asterik attached. He asks you how old your home is? And you said *** years. So he asks if you know if has asbestos in it? And you say "I'm not sure." So he tells the homeowner that before he can properly give you a quote, he is going to have a guy he uses to come and do some asbestos tests on insulation, those types of things. He mentions that this is standard procedure for his company and that he not only wants to protect his guys, obey state or provincial or national law, but that if he starts opening up walls which may have asbestos that the fibers could contaminate your home. You then seem startled - you ask him what are the consequences if there is asbestos - he says they would have to have (what is normally an expensive) remediation type contractor come and clean it up professionally, which could cost so much.

So to sum it up, you have 2 contractors - equally impressive in how they approach the actual renovation, but one has an edge in recognizing potential asbestos in the home and the need to test for it and potentially remediate it. What's your take on which contractor should you use, and what is the reality of the situation?

The last question I have for you is: Do you know someone who has died from asbestos?

Plumberman · 10-16-2008, 12:26 AM

I eat asbestos with my morning cereal....

Scott K · 10-16-2008, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plumberman

I eat asbestos with my morning cereal....

This coming from the guy still searching for a set of asbestos brake pads and asbestos gaskets for his restored muscle car.

Plumberman · 10-16-2008, 12:30 AM

Got the pads still hunting the gaskets....lol

But seriously. a contractor who covers all points is the best one IMO. Yea its expensive but it will be done right and you can sleep easy at night because all the bases have been covered.

DUNBAR PLUMBING · 10-16-2008, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plumberman

I eat asbestos with my morning cereal....

I spread it like jam on my morning toast

Plumberman · 10-16-2008, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DUNBAR

I spread it like jam on my morning toast

Little bit of acetone to wash it down, gets my creative mind a flowing in the morning.

Scott K · 10-16-2008, 12:37 AM

I thought you guys also ate shat for breakfast too?

But seriously....?

DUNBAR PLUMBING · 10-16-2008, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plumberman

Little bit of acetone to wash it down, gets my creative mind a flowing in the morning.

Ahh yes, VOC's are part of a nervous system's riot!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott K

I thought you guys also ate shat for breakfast too?

But seriously....?

Yes, I do that too, minus the corn for religious reasons.

I'll have to find you a thread I started, different forums, one of which had to do with asbestosis and the other was in response to an already moving thread where I felt a different perspective was needed.

Doesn't mean I made it any better, possibly made it worse.

Wethead · 10-16-2008, 08:24 AM

Ekkk Asbestos, yes it can be messy if not done right and I agree there is much liability involved as well,

Personally I don't mind working with it though, I was taught about it when I first started as a steamfitter when I was younger and worked with it since then.

Here is a few pics of a old 1949 boiler I just removed all the Asbestos from for one of my neighbors. ( Asbestos Removal 1949 boiler ) <- pics if you are interested of course.

and no, never knew anyone that dies from Asbestos, Did you?

**Bill** · 10-16-2008, 07:47 PM

I had worked with a GC who done HUD work. As a licensed plumber and contractor I had to take class's for lead paint and asbestos to be able to do work for the HUD program. Asbestos as long as it is left alone is harmless. BUT if disturbed the fine particles emitted by disturbing it can be breathed in. This is where the damage is done. It gets lodged in the lungs. Infants and expectant mothers can have problems by breathing in the dust from it. It can cause cancer. Older people there is less chance of this due to the fact that it takes so long for the effects to show. The safest thing is if you think it is asbestos, leave it alone. It may not harm you, but it WILL harm someone else.

There is a safe way to deal with it, but I will not go into how to do it here because I am NOT authorized to teach anyone how to do it and do not want to accept any liability because I mis guided someone.

If you think it is asbestos, leave it alone! You may not harm yourself, but you could endanger others

10-16-2008, 12:22 AM	#1
Scott K Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Coquitlam, BC, Canada Posts: 397 My Photos	Asbestos For those of you, many of you I'm sure have been or go to houses that have asbestos in them. Some may be reno's, or service calls. I'm curious how you approach the topic of asbestos in someone's home. How do you conduct yourself around it? Do you have someone who tests for it for you? Do you have an exposure plan? Do you know how to recognize it? Or to hell with it? What do you tell the homeowner? And a little scenario for you: Lets pretend you have 2 renovation contractors coming over to your house. Lets say for example you want to do a complete gut of a bathroom. You have an older type heritage house that may or may not have asbestos but say you don't know much about it. So Contractor 1 comes over to your house, looks professional, not flashy, but a clean looking tradesman type. He impresses you with his attitude, courtesy, and the questions he asks. He has good references potentially from friends, all that. And he gives you a quote. Contractor 2 shows up and lets say he's equally or similarly as impressive as the first contractor, with equal references, and say he gives you a similarly priced quote, but after doing some more investigating, he has an asterik attached. He asks you how old your home is? And you said *** years. So he asks if you know if has asbestos in it? And you say "I'm not sure." So he tells the homeowner that before he can properly give you a quote, he is going to have a guy he uses to come and do some asbestos tests on insulation, those types of things. He mentions that this is standard procedure for his company and that he not only wants to protect his guys, obey state or provincial or national law, but that if he starts opening up walls which may have asbestos that the fibers could contaminate your home. You then seem startled - you ask him what are the consequences if there is asbestos - he says they would have to have (what is normally an expensive) remediation type contractor come and clean it up professionally, which could cost so much. So to sum it up, you have 2 contractors - equally impressive in how they approach the actual renovation, but one has an edge in recognizing potential asbestos in the home and the need to test for it and potentially remediate it. What's your take on which contractor should you use, and what is the reality of the situation? The last question I have for you is: Do you know someone who has died from asbestos? Last edited by Scott K; 10-16-2008 at 12:25 AM..

10-16-2008, 07:47 PM	#10
Bill Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: I have no idea! Posts: 5,867 My Photos	I had worked with a GC who done HUD work. As a licensed plumber and contractor I had to take class's for lead paint and asbestos to be able to do work for the HUD program. Asbestos as long as it is left alone is harmless. BUT if disturbed the fine particles emitted by disturbing it can be breathed in. This is where the damage is done. It gets lodged in the lungs. Infants and expectant mothers can have problems by breathing in the dust from it. It can cause cancer. Older people there is less chance of this due to the fact that it takes so long for the effects to show. The safest thing is if you think it is asbestos, leave it alone. It may not harm you, but it WILL harm someone else. There is a safe way to deal with it, but I will not go into how to do it here because I am NOT authorized to teach anyone how to do it and do not want to accept any liability because I mis guided someone. If you think it is asbestos, leave it alone! You may not harm yourself, but you could endanger others __________________ Virginia Plumbing Codes Virginia Department of Licensing Ones intellect can often be summed up by his own words Everything in the known universe is governed by "Cause and Effect", there is no getting around it. Think about what you do before you do it. Last edited by Bill; 10-16-2008 at 07:52 PM..

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-16-2008, 12:37 AM	#7
Scott K Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Coquitlam, BC, Canada Posts: 397 My Photos	I thought you guys also ate shat for breakfast too? But seriously....?

10-16-2008, 08:24 AM	#9
Wethead Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 1,644 My Photos	Ekkk Asbestos, yes it can be messy if not done right and I agree there is much liability involved as well, Personally I don't mind working with it though, I was taught about it when I first started as a steamfitter when I was younger and worked with it since then. Here is a few pics of a old 1949 boiler I just removed all the Asbestos from for one of my neighbors. ( Asbestos Removal 1949 boiler ) <- pics if you are interested of course. and no, never knew anyone that dies from Asbestos, Did you?