Hazards Of Older Houses Asbestos And Lead

In the years following World War Two, the United States saw a housing boom followed shortly by a baby boom. The housing boom resulted in millions of new homes and neighborhoods across the country that were all brand new and equipped with the latest conveniences. Suburbs became a reality for many people and the 1950s were born.

Many of these homes are still standing and are still occupied by people. Unfortunately, some of these homes have not been renovated. Renovation, aside from cosmetic concerns, is a very important part of owning an older home. Not only does it increase the homes value but it removes the toxic hazards that are part and parcel of owning an older home.

In the 1940s and 1950s, the country had not quite realized the hazards and dangers of paint with lead in it. This means that a number of houses in the country built during this time were painted with lead paint. When a family re-painted, they frequently went right ahead and used more lead paint. As a consequence, an older home that has not been renovated can have many layers of lead paint sitting just under the surface of unleaded paint. This can pose a significant threat to the safety of any children living in the home.

Another hazard of older homes is asbestos. The 1940s and 1950s were, pretty much, boom decades for asbestos use. The fiber, because of its strength and insulation properties, was used in as many places as possible. While many of the locations of asbestos or items that contained asbestos might have been removed in the fifty to sixty years since the home was constructed, many others might not have been. Asbestos has been known to be used in everything from insulation to dry wall and even flooring tiles.

This potential threat makes renovation dangerous. An individual owning an older home who suspects that the home might contain asbestos in some piece of it should not attempt to demolish the walls on his or her own. While much more expensive, it is much safer to have a professional come in and at least test for asbestos, prior to tearing down the wall.

Homes that have been renovated may still have asbestos present in them. If the renovator was unaware of the threat of asbestos and knocked down the walls and tore out insulation haphazardly, the asbestos fibers in those items could have been released into the air. They could still be contaminating the home. As such, it is important to perform an asbestos check before moving in.

Older homes have loads of character and charm but they also have the possibility of having loads of hazards to go with them.