Asbestos In Your Walls? Here’s How to Find Out

Asbestos is not something the average person will put much thought into. However, when you start exploring your options around home renovations, it can certainly come to the forefront of your mind.

If you’re wondering whether there is asbestos in your walls (and other parts of your home), here’s how to find out.

Your Home Is Built Before 2000

The first asbestos-related illnesses cases were recorded in the British Medical Journal as far back as 1924. Knowing that it might potentially be harmful to work with, the British government imposed regulations to protect factory workers from the dust.

However, it wasn’t until 1978 that asbestos became regulated in New Zealand, and it was only in 1984 that it became illegal to import brown and blue asbestos. Still, asbestos products were used in significant volumes in the late 1980s and 1990s, and as builders may have stockpiled their materials, the advice by officials is to expect it in any New Zealand home or business pre-2000.

Therefore, if you’re about to undertake renovations and have been wondering if your property could contain this hazardous material, it’s a good idea to treat it like it does if it was built before 2000. This means that before you get any alteration or renovation underway, you should consider the likelihood that at least some materials might contain asbestos and are hazardous to your health.

You’ve Found Asbestos In Other Parts of Your Property

It’s not always easy to know whether there’s asbestos in your walls, especially as wall materials don’t tend to come with big ‘caution, asbestos’ warning labels on them.

However, if you’ve found asbestos in other parts of your property, such as Super Six roofing, your vinyl, or even in your fireplace, it’s safe to assume that it might also be in your walls.

In that case, it can be in your best interest to undertake asbestos testing before going ahead with tearing down a wall or altering it in any way.

It Looks Like Asbestos

As previously mentioned, there isn’t always a sure-fire way to know that something is asbestos just by looking at it. However, some wall materials can look like they contain asbestos if you’re an expert and know what you’re looking for.

Some wall types, in particular, were renowned for containing asbestos, such as insulating board (AIB) brands like Asbestolux. Many insulating board brands contained as much as 25% amosite asbestos along with calcium silicate and were a medium-to-soft density in a light and dark grey color. They were manufactured from the 1880s until 1980 and featured in many homes.

As their colouring and texture are reasonably easy for experts to identify, you might be able to gain a sense that your walls contain asbestos just by looking at them.

It’s Written in Your Property Records

While property information can be lacking for older properties, some new owners are fortunate enough to receive extensive information about their homes, how they were made, and what they contain before buying them.

This information can sometimes be found in builder’s reports, old consent applications, and LIM reports. Contact your local council if you’re unsure if your home contains asbestos and haven’t got any files relating to your property’s history before your ownership.

Often, councils provide basic property files free of charge or for a small fee. You may then receive the information you’re looking for to make an informed decision about the changes you make to your home in the future.

Test for It

The most effective, efficient, and safest way to see if asbestos is in your walls is by testing for it. WorkSafe has a list of products that may contain asbestos, such as asbestos cement external roofs and walls, asbestos cement sheet internal walls and ceilings, lagging in penetrations in fireproof walls, and millboard between heating units and walls. However, the only 100% way to confirm its presence is by hiring an asbestos testing company to look for it.

Fortunately, testing is a fast, easy, and straightforward process for any business or homeowner. You simply need to contact an asbestos company, and a surveyor will visit your home to take a small sample of the material you believe might contain asbestos.

Sometimes, some intrusive work may be required, especially if you’re trying to access a wall in a tricky location. Once the material sample is obtained, it’s sent to a lab to undergo a complete analysis and reporting. Before long, you can learn whether asbestos is present, how much there is, and what condition it’s in.

With this information, you can determine whether you require an asbestos removal business like Chemcare to remove it or encapsulate it. Sometimes, removal or encapsulation can be the safest option, depending on where the asbestos is and what your renovation plans might be.