Top Categories
- Garden / Landscaping / Patio — 237
- Kitchen / Bathrooms — 222
- Appliance / Repair — 177
- Interior Design / Decor — 174
- Real Estate / Finance — 161
- HVAC / Air Conditioning — 134
- Cleaning / Maintenance — 124
- Improvements / Remodeling — 113
- Floors / Tile / Hardwood — 107
- Doors / Garages — 105
- Plumbing / Basements — 102
- Safety / Security — 102
Latest Articles
Important Roofing Regulations to Consider
Having a home you can truly enjoy that is not only liveable, but safe, sturdy, and a delight to inhabit requires more than picking out the right...
on Feb 24, 2021
What to Consider When Choosing a Furnace Service Contractor
HVAC systems are among the costliest systems that you can install in your house. Therefore, you would probably want to do all possible things for...
on Feb 19, 2021
Choosing a Reliable Furnace System for Your Home
Either way, it would be great if you can invest in something you will benefit from for a pretty long time. If that is the case, you would know that...
on Feb 19, 2021
Lawyers vs. Real Estate Agents: Who to Hire When Buying a House
Because buying a house is already so expensive, most buyers would want to spend as little extra money as possible. Consequently, some may balk at...
on Feb 18, 2021
6 Home Repairs to Leave to an Expert
Being able to repair things around your home is a point of pride. When you can take something that isn’t working, or doesn’t look great and restore...
on Feb 17, 2021
Popular Articles
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
60884 Views
Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
58231 Views
Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
53700 Views
Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
35455 Views
Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
23204 Views
Home Asbestos Exposure: A Modern Menace or Just a Threat of the Past
by Guest on Jul 16, 2015
Most people believe that asbestos is a thing of the past, but that’s not true. It’s used in many consumer products, from brake pads to reinforced concrete to everyday consumer items. Here’s what it means to you and what you can do about it.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that separates into strong, thin, fibers that are not visible to the naked eye. It became a commonly-used building material in the mid-1970s due to its strength, fire resistance and corrosion resistance. It’s also an excellent insulator.
It’s usually added to other materials to add strength to the base material, like concrete. It may be added to asphalt, vinyl materials in roof shingles, piping, siding, wallboard, flooring tiles, and joint compounds. It may also be used in adhesives.
It can be used as fireproofing material, applied directly to steel beams and columns during the construction phase.
The material is so common that almost everyone in the U.S. has been exposed to it at some point.
When Does It Become A Problem?
Asbestos is not inherently dangerous, contrary to commonly-held opinions. It becomes dangerous when the tiny fibers become airborne, however. If the asbestos is in good condition and left undisturbed, it poses no risk to humans.
Once airborne, fibers can become lodged in the lungs for a long time and eventually can cause cancer through scaring and chronic low-grade inflammation.
This type of cancer affects the mesothelium - a thin tissue layer that lines the cavities and surrounds internal organs - and is appropriately named “mesothelioma.”
Working Around Asbestos
If at all possible, you should not work around asbestos unless you’ve been trained to do so and you have the proper safety gear. Likewise, you should not permit contractors to work in your home without proper asbestos training.
For example, if you are having a new HVAC unit installed, you should work with a professional that has installed many systems and has experience working around potentially hazardous materials.
Should You Remove It?
Removing asbestos should be a last resort. Most contractors and professionals in the construction and home repair industry will advise you to simply seal it up with a non-permeable layer and protect it from becoming airborne.
How To Remove It When Necessary
While keeping it in place is usually your best option, when it does have to be removed, you should use a special team of specialists for the job. This is most definitely not a DIY project, and there are many local and state regulations that control how asbestos can be removed and how it must be disposed of.
Since the fibers can become airborne and travel on the wind, improper removal could also endanger the lives of others, like neighbors. The National Emission Standards For Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) do not apply to privately owned homes and apartments with four or fewer units in them.
However, a licensed contractor should still do the job. Choose someone with experience and that knows all of the risks and safety procedures.
Most Recent Articles
- Jan 29, 2021 Is Regular Roof Cleaning Bad for a Home? by Fred Johnson
- Dec 20, 2020 A 7-Day Plan to a Clean Entryway by Tammy Emineth
- Dec 14, 2020 Black Mold Inspection and Remediation in Your Home by Kevin Matthews
- Nov 30, 2020 5 Tips for a Quality Water Damage Restoration Project by Matthew Bennett
- Nov 2, 2020 Best Tips for Home Maintenance on a Budget by Bates
Articles Archive
Featured Articles
What Type of Licensed Contractor Should You Hire?
on Feb 28, 2017
Hire Contractors / Estimates

Looking for a specialty project? There are many types of contractors available for your home improvement needs. Finding the right type of...
Contractor State Licensing Requirements
on Mar 14, 2013
Hire Contractors / Estimates

List of contractor license requirements by state in the US. How do you find out if a contractor is licensed with links to each state's licensing...
Random Articles
How to Pick the Best French Door Refrigerator for You
So you have decided to upgrade your kitchen by purchasing new French door refrigerators. This type of refrigerator has become very popular recently...
3 Humid Subtropical Household Pests and How to Spot Them
While much of the north and midwest is still buried in snow and winter storms, the southern states are moving into spring and summer. Warm...
Quick Tips for Staging Your Home for Open House
The process of putting your home on the market happens quite fast. Before you know it, potential buyers are asking about an open house so they can...
How to Fund Your Home Improvement Project
Planning to have your home remodeled anytime soon? You better prepare for it financially. A good amount of money is needed to push through with a...
Stop Garage Door Problems Before They Become Your Nightmare
It's a fact! Electric garage door problems cannot be avoided altogether. Parts will wear, the opener will need upgrading or replacement, the bottom...