Moving to a new home is an overwhelming experience, and many prefer buying an old classic home over a contemporary one. The current scenario of the housing market also makes it more economical to buy an already built and renovated house than a brand new one. But, one thing you have to consider when buying an old house is the time when it was built. And if it’s built before the 1970s, you need to check a few things before making the purchase.
One of the most important things you need to look forward to in an old house is the presence of asbestos. Asbestos is really harmful to your health, and if you find the presence of this material in your newly bought house, you need to find a company specializing in asbestos removal in Sydney.
Why Should You Test the House for the Presence of Asbestos?
Asbestos is a raw material that was widely used for construction until the 1970s. After realizing the health issues related to asbestos, the house owners removed this material from their houses. Then the government banned the use of asbestos in Australia. Even today, the presence of asbestos in their dwellings is causing many health issues for individuals. Because of this, you should make plans to remove those asbestos-containing materials as soon as possible.
So, if you hire a company for this purpose, they will send the staff who will look for the presence of asbestos in your house. If found, they will note the areas where the asbestos is present. Meanwhile, asbestos is usually present in the roofs, walls, ceiling, pipes, floor tiles, etc. Hence, chances are, you will find the presence of asbestos in many components of really old buildings. If the house you bought in Sydney is 50 plus years old, the probability of finding the building materials made of asbestos is high.
The Little Bay Beach in Sydney (eastern suburb) was closed for two weeks in April after people found more than 1000 pieces of asbestos-containing material on the beach.
The Randwick City Council ordered the two-week closure to have a detailed study of the site. It is assumed that the nearby gullies may have been used as landfill sites before 1988 in Sydney.
What to Do If Your House Has Asbestos-Containing Material?
If you have been living in a place where it is tested positive for asbestos, you must immediately seek medical advice from your doctor. It would help if you went through a few tests to see whether the asbestos has affected your body in any way.
On the other hand, if you are purchasing an old house to renovate and live there, you must consider doing asbestos testing first. And if there are asbestos-containing materials in the place, contact an agency specialising in asbestos removal.
How Harmful Is Asbestos-Containing Material?
Asbestos fibres are hazardous to your health, and exposure to asbestos-containing material has been linked to several potentially fatal health conditions. Children and senior citizens face severe consequences from asbestos exposure.
The health issues caused by asbestos are mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. There are many other health issues resulting from asbestos exposure that will cost you thousands of dollars to treat. Hence, it is advised to find an agency that has experience in asbestos removal in Sydney. You can contact them and schedule a date to test the presence of asbestos in your place.
So, to wind up: be careful about purchasing old properties, and always do testing for asbestos before you move in.
