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Hey I’m looking at a job that is in a late 1800’s home. I’m basically going to be remodeling a bedroom and upgrading some of the electrical. Here’s the hitch, the basement where I’ll be doing alot of the rewiring (probably upgrading from a hodge podge of fuse panels to a 200A service panel) has a bunch of plumbing pipes that are wrapped in a cloth type insulation that I fear is asbestos. I shouldn’t have to disturb the pipes but am worried that this stuff will dislodge and float around just due to me drilling and pulling wires and such. I’m not sure what the rules are regarding what to do if one encounters asbestos. does it HAVE to be removed? can I just wear a respirator and be safe? the owner is an older lady and was telling me that at one point she was just ripping the stuff out by hand with no protection! It seems she had a contractor tell her a couple of years ago that asbestos isn’t so bad if you don’t breathe a whole lot of it. Anyway I told her (politely mind you) to stay the hell away from that stuff cause it is nothing but bad for your health.
So what is it? remove it? (which means bringing in another contractor cause I don’t want to be playing with that stuff) or just work around it and don’t disturb it? I seem to recall if you coat it or somehow encapsulate it (paint or varnish) that it becomes much less of an issue. Any and all feedback is welcome here gang. Thanx
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Hey I'm looking at a job that is in a late 1800's home. I'm basically going to be remodeling a bedroom and upgrading some of the electrical. Here's the hitch, the basement where I'll be doing alot of the rewiring (probably upgrading from a hodge podge of fuse panels to a 200A service panel) has a bunch of plumbing pipes that are wrapped in a cloth type insulation that I fear is asbestos. I shouldn't have to disturb the pipes but am worried that this stuff will dislodge and float around just due to me drilling and pulling wires and such. I'm not sure what the rules are regarding what to do if one encounters asbestos. does it HAVE to be removed? can I just wear a respirator and be safe? the owner is an older lady and was telling me that at one point she was just ripping the stuff out by hand with no protection! It seems she had a contractor tell her a couple of years ago that asbestos isn't so bad if you don't breathe a whole lot of it. Anyway I told her (politely mind you) to stay the hell away from that stuff cause it is nothing but bad for your health.
So what is it? remove it? (which means bringing in another contractor cause I don't want to be playing with that stuff) or just work around it and don't disturb it? I seem to recall if you coat it or somehow encapsulate it (paint or varnish) that it becomes much less of an issue. Any and all feedback is welcome here gang. Thanx