Asbestos Removal, Surveys & Testing

Asbestos is a serious health hazard when its microscopic fibres become airborne and are inhaled. These fibres are incredibly durable and can become lodged in the lung tissue and respiratory tract. Over time, this can lead to severe and often fatal diseases.

The primary health risks associated with asbestos exposure include:

Asbestosis: A chronic, progressive lung disease caused by the scarring of lung tissue. This scarring makes it difficult to breathe, and the condition is irreversible.

Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer, and this risk is even higher for individuals who smoke.

Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, chest cavity, or abdomen. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma.

Other Cancers: Exposure has also been linked to an increased risk of cancers of the larynx and ovaries.

It's crucial to understand that these diseases typically have a long latency period, often developing 15 to 40 years, or even longer, after the initial exposure. This is why it is vital to prevent exposure today.

When you breathe in asbestos fibres, your body's natural defence mechanisms may not be able to expel them due to their microscopic size and sharp, needle-like shape. The fibres that remain can embed themselves deep within your lungs and other tissues.

Once lodged in the body, these fibres can cause persistent inflammation and cellular damage. Over many years, this constant irritation can lead to the formation of scar tissue (asbestosis) or cause genetic mutations in your cells that can lead to the development of cancerous tumours (lung cancer or mesothelioma). There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure.

One of the biggest challenges with asbestos is that you cannot identify it just by looking. Asbestos fibres are microscopic and are always mixed with other materials like cement, vinyl, or plaster.

In a cement sheet (fibrolite), it will look like any other fibrous cement product. Sometimes older sheets have a dimpled, golf ball-like texture on the back.

In textured ceilings, it is mixed in with the plaster compound, making it impossible to see the individual fibres.

In vinyl flooring, it can be part of the tile itself or, more commonly, in the black mastic adhesive or the white paper-like backing.

Because it is so well-integrated into other materials, there are no clear visual-only signs to confirm its presence.

The only way to know for certain if a material contains asbestos is to have a sample of it tested by an accredited laboratory.

It is impossible and unsafe to try and identify asbestos by sight. Attempting to break or disturb a material to "get a better look" is extremely dangerous, as this is precisely how the hazardous fibres are released into the air. Please, do not take this risk.

For your safety, we strongly advise against taking a sample yourself. Improper sampling can release dangerous fibres into your home.

As a professional asbestos testing company, we follow a strict, WorkSafe-compliant procedure:

Professional Sampling: One of our qualified and licensed assessors will visit your property. We wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and use specialised tools.

Safe Collection: We carefully take a small, representative sample of the suspected material while minimising fibre release, often by wetting the area. The sampled area is then sealed to prevent any future exposure.

Secure Transport: The sample is double-bagged and labelled according to strict protocols for safe transport.

Accredited Lab Analysis: We submit the sample to an independent, IANZ accredited laboratory for analysis using Polarised Light Microscopy (PLM).

Formal Report: Once the results are available, we provide you with a formal report that clearly states whether asbestos is present and, if so, what type.

This professional process guarantees safety and provides you with a definitive, legally defensible result.

If you have any concerns about potential asbestos in your home, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to provide professional advice, testing, and safe removal solutions. Your peace of mind is our top priority.