I live in a 1960s house in the SF Bay Area, and while we were getting our roof replaced, the roofer accidentally fell through the ceiling. I'm concerned about potential asbestos exposure. How serious should I be about this? And what kind of coverage can I expect from the roofing company for repairing the damage?
3 Answers
I wouldn’t be worried either. Just clean up the mess, patch the hole, and don’t stress about it. A single exposure like this is unlikely to cause any health issues. Just make sure to avoid inhaling any dust while cleaning up.
From that photo, it doesn’t look like asbestos at all. But if you're still worried, just vacuum everything up using a HEPA-filtered vacuum, spray the area with water, and clean it with paper towels. I’d actually be more concerned about any rodent droppings than the insulation. A bleach solution should do the trick for cleaning. The roofing company or their insurance should definitely cover patching the hole and replacing some insulation.
Honestly, the company should handle this with their insurance. If they have coverage, they’ll file a claim for the damages just like you would. If they don’t have insurance, it may be trickier, and you'll need to push them to take responsibility.