DIY home repairs are more popular than ever, thanks to endless YouTube tutorials and home makeover shows that make it all look so easy. While many repairs are easy enough to do yourself, before you break out that sledgehammer, it’s worth considering the potential risks.
There could be serious health hazards lurking beneath your old floors and walls – specifically asbestos, lead paint, and mold. These are invisible dangers that can make you and your family seriously ill, and knowing how to manage the risks can be life-saving.
Asbestos Is A Silent, Deadly Threat
For decades, asbestos was commonly used for insulation because of its fire-resistant properties. It was often used for insulation and in the coating used to make popcorn ceilings, but if your home is older, it could also be hiding where you least expect.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral ground into a fine powder for use in construction, but despite the powdery appearance, asbestos fibers are actually sharp. When inhaled, the fibers get lodged into the soft tissue lining the lungs and remain there for years, building up inflammation the entire time until it turns into a cancer called mesothelioma. Unfortunately, it takes decades for mesothelioma symptoms to appear, so most people don’t even know they’re sick until it’s too late. You don’t want to put your family at risk for developing this disease later on in life.
Home Renovations Can Disturb Asbestos
When left undisturbed, asbestos doesn’t pose a threat. However, during a home renovation when you have to break things up, that’s where you can unknowingly create danger.
Just swinging a sledgehammer into the walls is enough to send asbestos fibers flying throughout your home. It’s advised to have a professional do the job while you and your family leave the area because they’ll have all the proper protective equipment and will make sure to clean the air to make it safe to breathe again.
Where Is Asbestos Found In Older Homes?
If you own a home built before the 1990s, asbestos is likely to be found in your walls, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, roofing materials, and HVAC ductwork. It’s unfortunate, but it’s a big possibility. Before doing any home renovations that involve these areas, it’s worth consulting a professional to test for asbestos.
Lead Paint Is Still Hanging Around
Lead-based paint was banned for use in residential properties in 1978, so you need to be concerned about lead paint if your home was built before then. Peeling paint can pose a slight risk, but demolishing walls and ceilings painted with lead-based paint creates a toxic dust that can cause neurological damage, especially in young children.
How To Identify And Deal With Lead Paint
If you suspect your paint might be lead-based, don’t sand or scrape it. Instead, hire a certified lead abatement professional to test it and remove it safely. There are DIY kits, but they’re not foolproof. You’ll still need to know how to use the kit properly, wear protection, and know what you’re doing.
You Might Have Mold In The Walls
Mold isn’t just disgusting; it can be hazardous to your health. Although it looks ugly and isn’t fun to clean, mold spores can trigger allergies, asthma, and more serious respiratory conditions. Certain types of mold, like black mold (Stachybotrys), release mycotoxins that can be extremely harmful to your health.
During a home renovation, just tearing out drywall or flooring can release mold spores into the air and contaminate your entire home. If there are any areas with existing water damage, those are the most likely places you’ll find mold, and they should be handled carefully.
Renovation Dust In General Is Hazardous
The cloud of dust that gets kicked up consists of old insulation, sawdust, paint particles, and drywall dust, all of which can carry hazardous substances into your lungs. One of those substances happens to be silica, which can cause silicosis when inhaled. You might not care about breathing this in, but you don’t want to subject your family to this hazard.
If you must do your own renovations, use plastic barriers to seal off work areas, wear a respirator rated for fine particulates, and use HEPA filters on your vacuum and air purifiers to keep the air clean.
Know When To Call The Pros
DIY home renovations can make big projects more affordable, but they come with serious risks that can’t be ignored. The presence of asbestos, lead, and mold isn’t always obvious, and disturbances can put your family’s heath at risk. If your project involves potential hazards, it’s worth bringing in the pros to protect your health.
