Asbestos is gone!

The asbestos that was a component of the "cottage cheese" ceiling, old floor tiles and ductwork has been removed. AQHI did a great job, securing the permit from the Air Quality Management District, scraping and hauling it all away and disposing of it properly. AQHI specializes in environmental waste remediation, and I could not be happier with the results.

For many years asbestos was used in construction, and the houses in this community built in the mid 1960's were no different. Now it is commonly known that asbestos is a dangerous carcinogen, but in the past the public was kept in the dark for many years about how serious the health effects of asbestos exposure often are. In fact, as early as 1930, an internal report by the John-Manville Corporation reported employee fatalities related to asbestos exposure. Other documents reveal that Owens-Corning, John-Manville and other companies were complicit in supressing information on deaths, illness and general misery brought on by asbestos exposure. This is a sad example of unbridled corporate capitalism where the only interest is the bottom line.


Currently it is estimated that each year 10,000 people die in the United States from asbestos-related disease, which includes one out of every 125 men who die over the age of 50.

Laws have been enacted to limit public exposure and asbestos generally is not used in new construction, although it is still not banned outright. The website for the EPA has great information on asbestos use and mitigation. Luckily, in most cases asbestos can be lived with if it is left undisturbed. It becomes a danger once the tiny fibers get into the air and they are breathed deeply into the lungs.


If you have a house built up until the early 1980's that has a textured "cottage cheese" or "popcorn" ceiling you are considering removing yourself, do yourself a favor and have the material tested for asbestos. Search "asbestos testing" to find a qualified testing facility in your area. They can provide a simple kit where you can provide a small sample to verify if it is contaminated.

Now that the asbestos headache is past, we can get on with the rest of the renovation! Next...moving the furnace and more demolition!