| homes are frequently built with materials that we | | | | need to go about collecting the samples for |
| now know to pose serious health consequences. | | | | evaluation. After collecting the sample and placing |
| Asbestos is one of these materials, and | | | | it in the bag, you simply seal the bag securely and |
| unfortunately it was a very popular building | | | | label it. If you are taking samples from several |
| material throughout the seventies and eighties for | | | | different areas, make sure to label each sample |
| residential homes. You can find asbestos | | | | distinctively enough that you can tell exactly |
| throughout these homes as it was used in all | | | | where it came from just in case one some of |
| facets of the building. You can find it in the tile, | | | | your samples test positive while others test |
| the insulation, the roofing material, the piping | | | | negative. If your tests do yield positive results, call |
| wraps and ceiling treatments. Asbestos was used | | | | in an expert to do the removal and cleanup. |
| in building materials to add strength, and it | | | | Never remove asbestos yourself. |
| provided insulation and fire resistance. While these | | | | There are many different types of kits available |
| materials were originally added to residential | | | | on the market. Compare kits for price and |
| homes to make them safer, they have actually | | | | contents. Find out if the lab fees are included in |
| caused the opposite effect. | | | | the price of the kit or if you have to pay for |
| Kit versus Professional | | | | them separately. Also find out how many samples |
| If you think that you have asbestos in your | | | | you may submit. Usually you will have to buy the |
| home, you can have your home tested by a | | | | kit as well as pay up to twenty dollars for the lab |
| professional, or you can test it yourself. There | | | | fees. Find out up front what is included in the price |
| are many kits available that you can use to test | | | | of the kit and what will be regarded as an extra |
| your own home for asbestos, and using a kit to | | | | fee, so that you do not have any unpleasant |
| do the testing yourself is generally cheaper than it | | | | surprises. |
| is to have a professional do the testing for you. If | | | | Testing without a Kit |
| your tests come up negative, then you are done; | | | | If you do not have a test kit, you can still collect |
| whereas when you call in experts, they may | | | | and send samples off for evaluation. There is a list |
| continue to probe. By doing the test yourself, you | | | | of labs that are government approved to |
| can simply check the area of your home that you | | | | perform asbestos testing. However, most labs |
| are interested in, and if you do get positive | | | | prefer to deal with other companies and not with |
| results, then you may want to call in the experts. | | | | private parties, so you may find that your lab |
| Test Kits | | | | fees are higher when you have your testing done |
| When you are looking at test kits they often | | | | without a kit. For example, you may find yourself |
| contain protective coverings for you and sample | | | | paying in the twenty to forty dollar range for |
| bags for the material in questions. The kit will also | | | | testing whereas a company would pay six to ten |
| have detailed instructions that explain how you | | | | dollars for the same tests. |