This Bizarre Discovery In Old Crawl Spaces Could Mean Trouble
December 17, 2024
source: Reddit
Why Is There Asbestos in My Crawl Space?
If you’ve ever traveled into the crawl space of an older home, you can tell it’s not exactly the kind of place visitors are warmly welcomed into. It’s dim and dusty and filled with surprises you’d probably rather not make. Credit…Tony Cenicola/The New York Times Imagine shining a flashlight and seeing something peculiar: a mesh-covered box packed with a material that resembles insulation. Turns out, it’s asbestos.
Yes, asbestos — which was once considered a wonder material but has since become infamous as a health threat. So, why is it there? And what can you do about it?
Why Builders Used Asbestos
Asbestos was ubiquitous in the dog days of the mid-20th century. Builders loved it: It was inexpensive, fireproof and good for keeping homes warm. Back then, people didn’t realize how hazardous it was, so they employed it freely in construction.
The draftiness and heat loss of older homes, particularly those built before the 1980s, tended to be so severe that accommodations had to be made. Cold floors were an issue during the winter months. To correct it, builders packed asbestos insulation into mesh boxes and suspended them between floor joists.
This approach solved the problem for a couple of reasons:
- Warm Floors: The boxes packed with asbestos insulated the floors and trapped the heat inside.
- Fireproofing: Asbestos didn’t catch fire, so it was a fire-retardant element of the house.
Back then, these boxes felt like a clever solution. Today, we know better.
Why Is Asbestos Dangerous Now?
Asbestos isn’t a threat as long as it remains undisturbed. The trouble begins when it’s aged, becomes fragile or is damaged. Asbestos, when disturbed, releases tiny fibers into the air. If you find an asbestos box in your crawl space, don’t disturb it. Even a minor disruption can result in toxic fibers swirling in the air.
What Should You Do If You Find Asbestos?
So, you see one of these boxes — now what? Here’s how to do it, safely:
- Leave It Alone: Keep your hands and body off the box. Unsafe abatement disturbs the asbestos and poses a potential risk of exposure.
- Call a Professional: Call a professional in asbestos removal. They will test the material and remove it safely if necessary.
- Avoid the Area: Don’t go in the crawl space until a pro says it’s okay.
Attempting to manage asbestos yourself is not a risk worth taking. Professionals have the equipment, protective gear and know-how to take it out safely.
A Reminder of the Past
Finding an asbestos box in your crawl space is like finding an archeological relic from a time long past. Heads up The new frame is hangs over the original frame, only to make you mourn the construction process. What the developers felt was a neat solution ended up having severe downsides.
If you’re in an older home, antics like this are just a fact of life. That eccentric wallpaper, dodgy wiring or insulated shoebox with only a single window surely has a story to tell. Asbestos is the single story that we cannot possibly afford to lose.
Balancing Safety and Nostalgia
There’s never a dull moment when you own an older home. You want to keep the history but make it safe for your family. Asbestos may seem like a scary find, but with the proper assistance, you can handle it.
When you stumble upon something like an asbestos box, back up. Don not bother, bring in the big guns and let them do the heavy lifting.
A box of wire mesh containing asbestos might seem like a strange object from the past of just about any house, but it had its reasons. Now, it’s a matter of managing it safely, and keeping that story from becoming dangerous. Stay curious, stay informed, stay safe!