Common Mistakes People Make When Renovating Their Homes
When it comes to home renovation projects, some aspects should be left to professionals only. Even for those who think they know their stuff, there comes a time to depend on a professional who has the experience and expertise in the subject. Removal of asbestos and mold is one of those fields. If you lack the expertise, skill, and knowledge of the subject, asbestos and mold removal pose all kinds of risks. What you see on the surface may not reveal the entirety of the situation. Therefore, hiring a qualified asbestos removal professional is always advisable.
Before asbestos removal takes place, it is crucial to carry out identification and assessment of the site. This is not something that an average person can or should undertake. The professionals know the extensive list of materials that require analysis, the proper methods for obtaining samples, and of assessing the scope of the project. They are well-versed in the legislation, and industry requirements laid out for asbestos removal and possess the equipment and skills to work safely. Most importantly, professionals know how to keep both the occupants and work crews safe.
To help you avoid some basic errors that could prove to be costly, Power Environmental/Power Vac Services has put together three common mistakes people make when renovating their homes.
1. Initiating a renovation project without a professional’s help
Often, customers start renovations (with or without a contractor) without knowing the type of materials they are dealing with. Many older houses (built before 1990) have the potential to have asbestos-containing materials present. Incorrect disturbance of these materials can cause contamination of the property. Asbestos and mold can both cause illnesses and should only be handled by properly trained abatement contractors. The first step in correcting this mistake is hiring a consulting firm to conduct a test to confirm the presence of harmful materials before disturbing them. Only trained professionals should handle material that may potentially contain asbestos or other designated substances.
2. Not hiring a knowledgeable contractor
When hiring a contractor who is unaware of asbestos and mold issues, such contractors put their health, their workers, and their clients at risk. Ask your contractor if they are planning to do a designated substances survey before starting the work. If they say no, or do not understand what that is, they will likely be ignoring regulations that will keep everyone safe. Suspect material must be sampled according to the requirements of O. Reg 278/05 to confirm that it does not have asbestos or be treated as though it is asbestos-containing material.
3. Taking moldy materials down (disturbing them) by themselves
We have come across many customers who do not know the potential health risks associated with this. A remediation contractor should remove any moldy material greater than ten square feet (one sq meter) within a contained or controlled environment. This will ensure that the mold spores are not spread throughout the occupied area. In all instances, the moisture source must be corrected to reduce the opportunity for future issues. There may be more than one source of moisture contributing to the issue at hand. In some cases, the services of a building science engineer will be required to determine what is needed to eliminate the moisture sources.
Avoiding the mistakes:
To avoid these and other mistakes when renovating your home, reach out to Power Environmental/Power Vac Services. We have the experience and training to ensure the safety of the site and its occupants. Our workers are trained on current legislation and best practices.
Using highly skilled technicians and supervisors, we provide services for the removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials and other hazardous substances. All our key technical team members have the training certificates required by the Ontario Ministry of Labour to work in hazardous environments. These include Health and Safety Awareness Training for Workers and Supervisors, Asbestos and Worker Handler, Asbestos Type 3 Abatement Worker License (AAW), Asbestos Type 3 Supervisor License (AAS), WHMIS, and Working at Heights. Our staff has an in-depth understanding of the current Occupational Health and Safety Legislation and the current Asbestos Regulation (O. Reg 278/05). Our services include custom solutions for every project, whether for asbestos repairs, Type 1 operations, Type 2 operations, or Type 3 operations.
We serve clients across Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Haldimand County, Lake Erie, Brantford, Niagara Region, and the surrounding areas.
For a complete list of our services, please click here. If you have any questions about duct cleaning, asbestos abatement, mold remediation, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us here.