Where is asbestos often found in homes and buildings?

Whether you own, lease or are looking to buy a home, there are certain hazards that you must be on the lookout for. Often, people think about faulty plumbing, poor insulation crumbling foundations, older roofs and outdated appliances as some of the more significant issues in a home. But these issues can be even more troubling that people may realize.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, asbestos can commonly be found in these areas of the home. Knowing where asbestos may be and what to do about it can be crucial for homeowners to understand, or they can face the possibility of being exposed or exposing others to the toxic material.

Asbestos is not often used in modern homes anymore, but it was very widely used for decades through the 1980s. This means that unless a home has been recently built or renovated, it still may contain materials that were made with asbestos. These materials include:

• Roof shingles
• insulation
• Paint
• Siding
• Pipes for hot water
• Vinyl flooring
• Construction adhesives
• Gaskets

If asbestos is found in these or other materials in a home, owners should be prepared to deal with it accordingly. In some cases, asbestos can be covered up or left alone; in other cases, it must be removed and disposed of according to state and federal regulations.

Home or building owners who neglect the responsibility to maintain a safe and hazard-free environment can face serious penalties if and when a person develops an illness stemming from asbestos exposure. Premises liability claims can be difficult to prove, but with legal support victims of exposure and their families can pursue the financial damages they may deserve.