The Facts on Lead and Asbestos Abatement

When you begin renovations on a home or office, the last thing you want is surprises. It is often a homeowner’s worst nightmare to knock down a wall and discover asbestos or mold lurking within the framework. The same holds true for the discovery of lead-based paint, which can be fairly common in older buildings. While finding these materials can be alarming from a health standpoint (they’re all dangerous when inhaled or ingested), they can also pose a costly and time-consuming challenge. If you have found yourself in such an unfortunate situation, there is no need to panic. By working with a lead and asbestos abatement professional, you can safely extract these materials from your home or office. Before you hire the first result that pops up on your Google search, though, you should probably learn a bit about what exactly goes into the removal process.

DEALING WITH LEAD PAINT

When it comes to home improvement projects, adding a new coat of paint to a wall or two typically falls within the do-it-yourself category. Still, some jobs are bigger than others, and it is not unusual to contract the job out to a professional. When lead paint is found, however, it will need to be thoroughly removed before any new work can be completed. This is necessary for the safety of yourself, as well as anyone working on your property.

Lead paint was commonly used until about 1978. It dries quickly and often produces bright and vibrant colors. Knowing what we know now, it is far too dangerous for use. Removing lead paint can be done with chemical strippers. Enclosing, encapsulation, and replacement are other methods that can be effective.

THE SAFE REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS

Asbestos was commonly used for insulation during construction because it is fire and heat-resistant. Later, however, it was learned to be a carcinogen, and whenever it is found it must be thoroughly removed by professionals donning protective gear. There is typically a lot of preparation involved in asbestos removal, as the impacted area must be closed off. A proper HVAC system will also be a must.

Once the area is sealed, asbestos will be removed via an extraction method. This can mean cutting out walls, physically removing the asbestos, and placing it within a safely secured container. Asbestos must also be disposed of at a state-designated location. Because of the regulations surrounding asbestos removal, it is best done by trained and certified professionals.

CONTACT A LEAD AND ASBESTOS ABATEMENT PROFESSIONAL TODAY

If you are having an issue with lead-based paint, or there has been a discovery of asbestos in your home, we can help. At SCOPE Environmental Remediation, our team of professionals will visit your location to perform an in-person consultation before providing you with an estimate of the word needed. To learn a bit more about our services, contact us today. You can also reach our team via email by visiting our contact page.

Understanding the Mold Remediation Process

If you are about to take on a home renovation project, you understand that there is a lot of preparatory work. First, you need to clearly identify the work you want done, then hire a contractor to fully gauge the scope of the project. Sometimes, during this process, unwanted surprises can pop up. One such example is the discovery of mold, which is not always apparent to the naked eye. Simply put, mold can flourish anywhere there is an ample amount of moisture. It can be plainly seen on your tile work, or it can lurk behind your walls, growing and festering while you are none the wiser. Of course, mold can also come with an unseemly stench, and in addition to being unsightly, it can also pose major health risks to you and any other occupants. For this reason, if you are having a mold problem, you are going to want to learn about professional mold remediation services.

In southern California, mold can be somewhat common. As previously mentioned, all it needs is a bit of moisture to take root. Most frequently, it pops up on grout and tile work, and it can usually be removed with do-it-yourself methods such as spraying a chemical solution on it and scrubbing it off. Other areas of your home, however, can be a challenge to handle on your own. Wall interiors, crawl spaces, attics, furnaces, and chimneys can also be hotbeds for mold. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises that mold in areas under 10 square feet can be removed by the homeowner. Anything more than that, though, and you are best off contracting the job out to a professional remediation service.

MOLD REMEDIATION: THE BASICS
When a remediation team comes into your home, the first thing they will do is contain the infected area and establish ventilation. Air filtration devices will also be used to ensure that mold spores jostled by the work being done are neutralized in the air. From there, the work will be done to kill the mold. This is often done by coating the impacted areas with moldicide, biocide, or fungicide. Once the mold has been removed, the crew will move on to fixing any problems that allowed the mold to grow in the first place. This means dealing with whatever is causing excess moisture or humidity.

When mold cannot be removed, it can be encapsulated with certain types of paint. It is worth noting, too, that not all mold will be of the toxic variety. Again, a professional can help you identify the specific type of mold you are dealing with before formulating a plan for its remediation. Of course, if it is something like black mold, you should make its removal a top priority.

CONTACT US TODAY TO LEARN MORE
At SCOPE Environmental Remediation, we can assist you with your mold problem. Our team of highly-trained professionals can tackle a wide range of mold infestations. To schedule your initial consultation, contact us today. You can also contact us by email by visiting our contact page.