Australia was one of the highest users per capita of asbestos materials and approximately one third of all homes built in Australia contain asbestos products. Asbestos was once considered “the miracle fibre” and was highly valued for its strength, flexibility, insulating properties and affordability. These attributes made asbestos very attractive to the manufacturing industry in Australia. Asbestos is thought to have been used in more than 3000 applications worldwide!
As a general rule of thumb, if your house was built:
- Before the mid-1980s, it is highly likely to have been built with some asbestos containing materials.
- Between the mid-1980s and 1990, it is likely to have been built with some asbestos containing materials.
- After 1990, it is highly unlikely that it was built with any kind of asbestos containing materials.
The only way to know for certain if a material contains asbestos is to have it examined by a NATA accredited laboratory. Accredited sample analysis laboratories can be found on this page – NATA
Having a sample analysed will generally cost around $40-$50. Contact the lab for specific advice on how to collect and send the sample.
Many of these labs can also undertake an asbestos survey or audit of your home. This will help you identify the asbestos materials within your home and provide guidance on the general condition of the materials.
Often the best option when you find asbestos in your home is to leave it in place. If it is in good condition and you have no immediate plans to renovate the area, it usually poses very little risk to you or your family. However, if you are interested in getting asbestos removed from your home you can contact us for a quotation.
The most common places for asbestos to be found in your home are;
- Roofing
- Guttering and down pipes
- Wall and ceiling sheeting throughout the house but especially within “wet areas” such as bathrooms, laundries and kitchens
- Vinyl floor tiles and tile adhesives
- Sheet vinyl backing
- Fencing
- Fascias, gables and soffits
And many other areas. The picture below shows areas that asbestos may be located within a residential home.
