A Simple Guide to Attic Insulation Asbestos Removal

Posted in Asbestos Removal, on October 21, 2022

Hidden beneath the roof of nearly every house in Canada is attic insulation, used to improve the heat retention of the property in the cold winter months and the overall energy efficiency all year long. When property owners conduct home inspections, asbestos testing reveals a dangerous secret - asbestos embedded in their attic insulation. To prevent the chance of exposure, prompt asbestos abatement is required. 

For safe asbestos removal in Toronto, Vaughan, Mississauga, and other major Canadian cities contact a trusted abatement company. Canada’s Restoration Services has over a decade of experience working with the mineral in both commercial and residential properties, from asbestos testing to asbestos abatement. 

What is Asbestos Doing In Your Attic Insulation?

Asbestos was popularly used in building materials in the mid to late 19th century for various reasons, primarily its durability, affordability, and fire resistance. As a result, it found itself in not just thousands of attics, but HVAC systems, drywall, tiles, and plumbing. Vermiculite attic insulation, one of the most common materials contaminated with the mineral, was mined where there were unknown asbestos deposits, leaving traces of asbestos in the attic insulation even after manufacturing. 

Discovering Asbestos Attic Insulation 

Today, asbestos-containing attic insulation is discovered in one of two common scenarios. The first is when homeowners begin projects to retrofit their property to repair their roof and attic, where replacing attic insulation is a key step, especially in houses built between 1960 and 1990. The second instance where the mineral is uncovered in the attic is during attic inspection and asbestos testing when informed homeowners suspect or know that there is a threat of asbestos lurking in their homes. 

If you have any suspicion that you may need asbestos abatement for your attic insulation, you must verify your concern with restoration professionals near you. Canada’s Restoration Services offers comprehensive asbestos testing and asbestos removal in Toronto, starting with a free visible asbestos inspection. 

Asbestos Testing Attic Insulation 

While all types of asbestos should be regarded as dangerous, there are different categories of the mineral which have increasingly detrimental effects on the health of those exposed. At a high level, asbestos is divided into two categories – serpentine and amphibole. Serpentine asbestos fibres are curly and softer than amphibole, with rigid and straighter fibres. The asbestos found in Vermiculite mines and, as a result, attic insulation was tremolite which belonged to the amphibole category. When inhaled, tremolite was connected to many cases of mesothelioma and cancers. To spare yourself and the people in your home the risk of asbestos exposure, asbestos inspections, testing, and abatement before beginning any attic work is critical. 

Safe Asbestos Removal in Toronto & the GTA 

Government-approved and trained professionals should always handle asbestos, such as the Canada’s Restoration Services crew. Before moving into a new place or starting renovations, you can detect asbestos in your attic and throughout your home before it puts you at risk with asbestos testing.

To facilitate asbestos removal in Toronto and throughout the country, Canada’s Restoration Services offers free asbestos inspections.

Schedule your inspection.