If you just found out you have asbestos in your property, you may be anxious about the safety of your loved ones. Asbestos is a harmful material whose fibres cause a host of respiratory conditions when inhaled. It's vital to take immediate measures to contain the fibres and protect property occupants from inhaling them. However, you may be wondering if there is a right and wrong time to remove asbestos. Keep reading to find out the best time to get rid of asbestos in your property.
What's the Best Time for Asbestos Removal?
The best time of the year to remove asbestos is spring and summer. These two seasons tend to be the friendliest for remodels and restoration projects. With warmer weather and fewer showers, removal contractors can put in long hours and complete the project fast. Although you may be forced to move out during the process, it will only take a few weeks to get your property back.
Winter and autumn tend to be the least favourable months for asbestos removal. The freezing weather and winter rains tend to undermine restoration projects. If asbestos is in your roof or home's exterior, the project may take longer. Additionally, if you live near the highlands and mountain ranges where it tends to snow, removing asbestos during winter may be a challenging task.
Can You Remove Asbestos in Winter?
What if you find out you have asbestos just at the onset of winter? Can you remove it? The answer is yes! Just because there are certain times that favour removal doesn't mean the project cannot be undertaken in winter. Leaving free asbestos fibres in the air can adversely affect the health of your home's occupants. Therefore, it's best to get rid of it immediately.
While remediation during winter is difficult, it's not entirely impossible. Even with snow, the removal experts can find ways to manage the weather and eliminate the harmful fibres. The only downside is the project may take longer, and this will translate into increased removal costs.
Can You Wait for Spring or Summer Removal?
Since asbestos removal is difficult in the winter, you may consider waiting for spring or summer to undertake the project. This should only be an option in the following circumstances:
- You're dealing with bonded asbestos whose fibres are still hard-bonded to other materials
- Your home has friable asbestos, but you don't intend to live in it until after the removal project
If you have friable asbestos and plan to live on the property, it's advisable not to hold off the remediation. While it may be a little costly and inconveniencing, it will protect your household from asbestosis and other respiratory conditions associated with the inhalation of asbestos fibres.
While there's a good and bad time to remove asbestos, your health should always be the priority. Talk to a company that offers friable and bonded asbestos removal services so they can inspect the materials and give you advice on how to perform remediation procedures.
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