Sterling Heights, Mi
Homeowners constantly ask us what items they need to be concerned contain asbestos—but the answer is more complicated than you think! See, it was widely used in a variety of ways prior to it being commonly known as a carcinogen. It has no equal in terms of soundproofing, heat resistance, and chemical resistance (depending on the exact type.) Even the first rockets to space contained asbestos to help with fireproofing! So, we thought it'd be interesting to share a few odd places we've found it.
The first case we'd like to talk about is more of a conglomeration of the most common household materials that contain surprising amount of asbestos. Keep in mind, this is typically for older homes, but people don't always check the age of the materials they're installing. "Deborah" had a house in Sterling Heights she wanted to test for asbestos; built in the 1950's, she was worried about unknown hazards for her upcoming renovation. She asked us what might be a good idea to test. So let's talk common materials that can contain asbestos. Floor tiles, particularly 9x9's, have a propensity to contain a shockingly high amount of asbestos, sometimes exceeding ten percent! This is usually for the sound dampening aspect. Pipe wraps usually contain an extremely high amount, over sixty percent sometimes, usually because of chemical and heat resistance. Finally, transite siding almost always contains asbestos; if you have this siding and see white tufts/fibers sticking out, that is probably your standard 12-25% chrysotile.
Sometimes materials happen to be at-risk because, when mining, veins of asbestos may be mixed with other common minerals. Most people do not realize that asbestos is, in fact, a rock; a very weird rock, granted, but a rock nonetheless. This is the reason why vermiculite, a common insulation, often contains. It's just so likely that there was some asbestos mined with it that you should almost always lean on the side of caution and test it. This is also the case with talc, gold, and other minerals.
The second case is about an antique car. "Charles" was a well-known Sterling Heights motorhead who wanted to test his project's break lines for asbestos. He was very excited to work on it, but wanted to make sure the model he purchased wouldn't expose him to something particularly hazardous. We took the sample, and it turned out to be a bit higher than ten percent asbestos. This one may not be as shocking for enthusiasts. After all, the first car ever made contained asbestos in the breaks to prevent sparking and to increase durability. Still, it was surprising for those of us who were unaware that was a possibility!
The third and final case is... a piano! "Carol" inherited her mother's home in Sterling Heights, but wanted to test something concerning for asbestos. She dropped off a white, fibrous material she'd found inside the piano in the old home. We tested it, and it was almost entirely asbestos. Not the first place you'd think of to find a carcinogen, huh? But it makes sense when you think about it. As stated previously, asbestos has been used for soundproofing as it makes for an excellent dampener. This is actually the same reason you can find asbestos in textures and walls of homes!
When it comes to where you can find asbestos in odd materials, here's a handy guide! If the object is older than 1980 and needed to be heat resistant, it may contain. Soundproofing is a bit harder to look at but doing research into your exact model and whether asbestos has been used as a dampener. For cars, again, research the make and model. And if you're just not sure, bring your sample on down to us! If you're in Sterling Heights and need asbestos testing, whether for a car, piano, or a tile, we're always happy to help.