Asbestos

[Shanequa J.]

To the investors that buy and renovate a lot of homes, how do you tackle the threat of asbestos in homes? Do you avoid certain time periods or do test samples? I know it's not dangerous if it's not disturbed, but some houses already have walls, ceilings, floors, or insulation that have holes or need to be completeley replaced.

[Rob K.]

Years ago, I had a house that was built in 1880. The steam boiler pipe was covered in asbestos. An inspector told me to wrap all of the asbestos in duct tape. I went to Home Depot and bought about a dozen rolls of it. The cashier looked me up and down and asked what I was doing with all this tape. With a straight face, I told her that I was going to kidnap 30 people. She had a weird look on her face and said, "Don't get caught." I told her I was just kidding and she seemed to relax a little. Then I told her I only had enpugh tape to kidnap 20 people and I left. I put on a respirator and wrapped all of those pipes and sold that old haunted looking house.

The main places you find asbestos that most people don't realize is in the old 9x9 tiles that you find in basements or hallways of old schools. Anytime I have basements with those tiles, I have them removed. I tell the guy that works for me to wear a mask, but he refuses. He wets the tiles down and says they're fine. I disagree, but he always has a mouthful of tobacco so I figure cancer is in his future anyway.

Home Depot no longer installs carpet over those tiles. My friend explained to them that the asbestos is sealed and the carpet installers won't be affected, but they won't do it. The insulation company I deal with won't spray insulation into the walls if there is asbestos under the vinyl siding.

I would recommend leaving asbestos alone anytime you can, but if you must deal with it, wear a respirator. Mesothelioma is real. That's why you see so many commercials on TV about it.