Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in building construction due to its heat-resistant and insulating properties. However, it was discovered that exposure to asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Asbestos-containing materials were widely used in homes built before the 1980s, including insulation, ceiling tiles,...

Homes in the United States are older than at any point ever recorded and Americans are spending billions of dollars to improve them. According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, the median age of owner occupied homes is 41 years and almost 50 percent were built before 1980. Along with...

Asbestos is a dangerous group of minerals that was banned in the United States in the 1980s after research confirmed its carcinogenic properties. This information came too late, however, to prevent millions of homes and businesses from being built using materials that contain asbestos. Today, these materials may need to be removed to protect...

Asbestos is a dangerous substance that was widely used to manufacture building materials in the 1800s and 1900s, before it was confirmed as carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and regulated in the United States. One of the many construction materials that used asbestos as an ingredient is textured ceiling sprays, including “popcorn” ceilings. If your home or...

Popcorn ceilings, or ceilings that are decorated with a bumpy spray-on texture, were popular in homes built between 1950 and 1990. The textured spray was common due to its soundproofing abilities and resistance to heat. Unfortunately, many popcorn ceiling sprays contained asbestos – a dangerous mineral that can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and...

Asbestos is a dangerous mineral that was used widely for manufacturing purposes in the 1800s and 1900s until it was confirmed to cause cancer and was banned in the United States. One of the most common products created using asbestos was floor tiles. Today, new floor tiles in the U.S. cannot contain more than...