It is not uncommon for asbestos to be found in residential buildings, especially if the foundations of the home have not been updated in quite some time.

If you believe that asbestos may be in your home, there are certain things that should and should not be done in order to ensure that your health will not be threatened by the harmful material.

You should…

• Leave undamaged materials containing asbestos alone
• Minimalize activities in any areas having damaged material that may contain asbestos
• Prevent children from coming into contact with materials containing asbestos
• Have removal and repair done by trained professionals qualified in handling asbestos

You should not…

• Dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos
• Saw, sand, scrape, or drill in asbestos-containing materials
• Use a power stripper on flooring that may contain asbestos

Undamaged Asbestos-containing materials are not likely to pose a health risk, so usually the best thing to do is to leave asbestos-containing material alone if it is in good condition and contact a professional to take care of it.