Who has been following the asbestos issue in Florida?

[Baitball Blogger]

Looking for some background information. Just as I'm about to start a project in the laundry room, I discovered that there might be asbestos in the popcorn ceilings of houses built as late as 1988. Even though there was a national move to eliminate it from construction materials in 1978, some states, like Florida and Texas, allowed usage of the overstock.

Of course, a simple asbestos test would provide some peace of mind, but that test isn't within easy reach. I discovered that I wasn't able to use an out of state company to conduct the test. I tried to get a kit to send a sample out of state and was stymied because the company could not accept samples from Florida. Note: this is not a self-test. It requires sending a sample of the construction material to the company. But, even though it's advertised online that we can get a kit from Home Depot, the company won't send the kit to a Home Depot inside the state, nor to us.

Obviously, there are ways around this limitation, but it's very little comfort knowing that this state does not have the consumer's back.
Surely, this run-around raises red flags. We're in a state with a strong lobbying network in real estate and construction, with a legislator that has a track record that favors business over the consumer.

So, does anyone know why no one in the news is riding front on this issue? Why can't we get an objective look at the building materials that were used to build our homes?

I started another discussion here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029852987

[AJT]

1. I don't know how high your ceilings are, but couldn't you

put a new layer of drywall up, or put some other ceiling type over the existing one? That would be encapsulating it.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. And then, when I sell the house, I leave a time-bomb for the next owner?

Not how I was raised.

[Thor_MN]

3. The preferred method, as far as I know, is to encapsulate it in place.

Removing it tends to spread it around and create a much bigger problem than if it remains sealed away. That said, it's highly dependent on where it is, what form, and what condition. Sealing with paint then another layer of drywall would be probably be the best course of action, IMO. Removing it, if that is what you are going to do, would be best done with a wet method reduce fibers from
becoming airborne. It's also the easiest way to remove popcorn.

The reason that there is no home test is that it is done microscopically, that is, examined under a microscope. There is no chemical test for asbestos. It's hazard is from the microscopic fibers getting into the lungs, the hazard is more mechanical than anything else. I worked as an environmental chemist for 8 years, I can speak with experience on testing for asbestos, but abatement is not something I was involved with.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. First, I think I should get it tested before assuming the worst.

Second, the kit I'm trying to purchase is a sample kit. Not a home detection kit. It would have to be returned to the company for testing.

[Thor_MN]

5. Fine, use a sander and no dust mask if you want to argue with people that have a bit of experience..

Can you send a sample to someone that doesn't live in a state that has doesn't have so many restrictions? The testing company does not really care where the sample comes from. As long as they get paid, they will tell you if there is asbestos or not.

I know what the test involves, I worked in a lab that tested for asbestos.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Yes, we're going to have to send the sample out of state.

The kits include masks and protective gear. My husband also bought an entire suit. We err on the side of caution once we are alerted to a potential danger. And that's the problem. This information isn't easily available. My husband just realized we were potentially at risk when he saw Property Brothers!

I think, in Florida, we need to start watching each other's back because no one is looking after our interests.

Our world would have been better place to live in, if Ralph Nadar remained in the consumer protection business. If he wanted to run for politics, he should have started at a county or state level.