Peak Basement Systems
723 S. Sierra Madre St Colorado Springs, CO, 80903
Asbestos and Colorado Crawlspaces
2010-12-01 12:58:10
If you think asbestos may be in your client's home, don't panic! Usually the best thing is to LEAVE asbestos material that is in good condition ALONE. Have your clients check material regularly if you suspect it may contain asbestos. Don't touch it, but look for signs of wear or damage such as tears, abrasions, or water damage. Damaged material may release asbestos fibers. This is particularly true if the material is disturbed by hitting, rubbing, or handling it, or if it is exposed to extreme vibration or air flow.
One important area to check is the crawlspace. This is true for two reasons: many houses in Colorado Springs that were built between 1930 and 1950 have crawlspaces and many of those crawlspaces have insulation either on the walls or between the crawlspace and the subfloor. If you believe that the insulation contains asbestos, it's best to have asbestos testing done. Contact Hazardous Waste Technologies to find out more about testing. After testing, your clients can determine if they need to remove the insulation.
Now, There's No Insulation in the Crawlspace: Is This a Problem?
Not necessarily. The bigger concern is with vented crawlspaces, which constantly introduce cold winter air into the crawlspace environment, making the floor above chilly, increasing heating costs, and possibly freezing and breaking pipes. In fact, try this at home (with either a basement or crawlspace): open the crawlspace cover or window a bit. Feel cold air rushing in? Close the window. Now go upstairs and crack a window open an inch. Don't feel any cold air? That's because the warm air is blasting OUT. The low air pressure on lower floors sucks in air from the outside, then blows air out of the upper levels due to the higher pressure.
CleanSpace Can Help Heating Costs and Resale Value
It's pretty obvious that previous owners had insulation put in the subfloor or walls of the crawlspace to keep the home warmer. This may be well-intentioned, but without sealing the outside air vents and thoroughly encapsulating the crawlspace, the homeowner is unknowingly asking for problems! Such actions will usually result in more moisture in the crawlspace, leading to problems with mold, odors, wood rot, and insects. However, CleanSpace is a solution that is not only longer lasting than insulation, but is more effective and it also increases the overall look and appeal of a home with a crawlspace not to mention that buyers won't be concerned about asbestos! CleanSpace material is durable, insulates the crawlspace and the entire home from the ground, and lowers heating and air conditioning costs. The overall cost of a CleanSpace project is around $5 a square foot, so it's a cost effective way to recover equity that can be lost due to an ugly, dangerous crawlspace. Plus, Peak Basement Systems guarantees that all CleanSpace Systems will be free from holes and tears, and groundwater on top of the liner when a complete system is installed for 25 years and this promise is nationally backed and fully transferrable to the new owners.
*All information courtesy of Hazardous Waste Technologies, the American Lung Association, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
