Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos can be fatal. And for that reason, it is recommended that all asbestos removal work is carried out by licensed contractors to reduce the risk of a personal injury. Asbestos was used in a wide range of building applications in the past century, primarily for its thermal qualities, in other words, its resistance to heat and fire. However, in the 1980s more and more medical experts began to speak out publicly, warning of the health hazards associated with asbestos exposure and backing up their data with the increasing number of mesothelioma and cancer patients, who all contracted asbestos induced illnesses.

If you are concerned about potential asbestos exposure in your home, I strongly advise to have the removal and demolition work done by specialized asbestos removal contractors, to make sure that you don't put yourself or your family at an unnecessary risk of contracting a severe health condition. I lost my kidney to cancer and it is absolutely possible that the cause for my Renal Cell Carcinoma was the fact that I inhaled asbestos fibers over a prolonged period of time.


Anyway, let's discuss a few aspects that you should keep in the back of your mind when selecting an asbestos removal contractor. Working with any kind of contractors can be very annoying at times. And sometimes, usually after the damage is done, you realize that you should have probably paid a little more and hired a reputable company or service, instead of someone you agreed to pay off the books, right? So unless you already know someone whom you fully trust, you probably have to start with some Internet research. You will probably be surprised how many local asbestos removal companies are located in your area.

1) Look for a license.
There is a reason why some professions require a license. Would you ever go to a dentist who is not licensed? No, of course not. And you should absolutely expect the same from the asbestos removal contractor you consider to hire. It is actually set forth by law that any contractor who is engaged to remove friable asbestos products amounting or exceeding a total of six feet square, ten feet or a cubic foot. Therefore, as a property owner you also have a responsibility of making sure that the asbestos removal service is in possession of a license.

2) Asbestos Removal Cost.
It is not cheap, that's for sure. And the prices vary from region to region. It depends on how much material needs to be removed and how much time the job will take. In addition to that, usually you may get charged extra for air monitoring and waste management. The asbestos disposal often ends up to be the most expensive part of the whole project, because the waste can only be brought to places that accept hazardous materials.

3) References by previous customers. It might be a little unusual to ask a contractor for references. On the other, wouldn't you feel more comfortable if somebody else gave you an unbiased report on the work the asbestos contractor was hired for?

4) Ask for estimates. My neighbor had recently hired a tree removal service. He asked three different companies for estimates. The offers he got were between $6,000 and $1,500. There you go. Especially in this economy, many asbestos abatement companies are happy to give you a lower price. Make sure that the offer is accurate an truly reflective of all the work that you want to get done.