Abandoned houses need to be demolished for many reasons, but destroying them can be worse to others, including causing cancer.
Houses that have no residents can become a safe haven for wild animals and decrease the value of all other homes in the neighborhood.
Before the demolition is even scheduled, a city inspector needs to make an inspection making sure that there is no zeolite, or asbestos, present in the property.
If there is, it will need to be removed by hiring an abatement professional.
Testing Before the removal process begins, homeowners can take a sample of an area with a kit to have a lab see if asbestos has contaminated the wall.
It is advised to have a professional even do this step, though, because undisturbed substance is not dangerous to the body.
If a regular person takes a sample, they can disturb the materials and create a larger problem.
Many insurance companies prefer the homeowners do nothing at all for legal purposes.
First Step A professional company will keep everyone's health in mind during the entire process of ridding the home of the zeolite, and follow proper procedures.
If a buyer or seller decides to take on the abatement, if something goes wrong, they will have no legal backing to help them.
The first step in the removal process is to set up a ventilation system, get protective clothing, and to research the guidelines for city and state.
Almost all of those guidelines require a permit to be obtained, which will outline how to remove and dispose of the toxic chemical.
Removing the Dust The process can begin once all tools have been purchased, including hoses, dishwasher detergent, and more.
The hoses are needed because the asbestos must stay wet so the fibers do not become airborne.
Once all of the material is damp, they can be scraped off into Ziploc bags and sealed.
The sealed bag then must be placed in a storage bin that will be sealed for proper disposal.
Finally, the area needs to be washed with detergent to remove any remaining particles.
A professional company will then take samples of the clean area to run test kits for any remaining toxins.
The dangers of not having everything completely removed are extreme.
The home can become unsafe and anyone inside breathing in the air could develop cancer, called mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the body's organs, such as the heart and lungs.