Hey everyone, I recently noticed some black mold around the wood trim on my windows in my grandparents' house (which was built in the 1950s). I insisted on replacing the windows, but while the contractors were working, I saw them cutting into the walls to enlarge the window spaces they were installing. What really caught my attention was that they weren't wearing any PPE, and now the room is covered with dust and debris that looks like little rocks. Given the house's age, I'm worried there might be asbestos. Should I be concerned about sleeping in this room again? How can I safely clean this up? I'm worried about the costs, as I can't afford a professional clean-up.
3 Answers
You don't have too much to worry about unless you know for sure that they disturbed materials that contained asbestos. It's pretty hard to get a significant exposure to it, so your fears might be a bit overblown. Just make sure they do a good vacuum cleanup once they're done to get rid of any remaining dust, which would really minimize any risk you might face.
Asbestos fibers are really tiny, so you can't spot them just by looking. If you're unsure, it's best to send a sample to a lab for testing since rock lath (what you’re probably dealing with) typically doesn't contain asbestos but could have it in the joint compound. You can get test kits online or check with your local health department! Just remember, whether or not asbestos is present, plaster dust can be hazardous, so if they don't clean up, wear a respirator and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
Most wall finishes from the 50s usually don't have asbestos, even though it's possible to find it in other places like roofing and flooring. Just keep your child out of the room until the work is complete and consider doing a thorough wet clean afterward. Also, watch out for lead in the paint; you don't want to mess with that either! So, just use some common sense and be cautious.