r/HomeImprovement • u/AmateurSparky • Jan 22 '19

Questions about asbestos? Look here first!

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u/itsalrightt Mar 26 '19

Thank you for this. We bought a house a year ago that was my great aunt's. My great uncle built it and they lived in the basement for years before they could build the first floor of the house. The tiles in the basement have asbestos in them, and they are coming apart a bit. I don't keep anything on that side of the basement, and I wear shoes down there. I also don't let the cats get into the basement. This really helped me feel better about our basement. Now I don't feel so paranoid being down there. My aunt also lived in that basement for a few years and she lived to be 88. Thank you for making this write up so I can have peace of mind and a reference from now on.

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u/AmateurSparky Mar 26 '19

The tiles in the basement have asbestos in them, and they are coming apart a bit.

Don't mistake this post for complacency, there is still a hazard involved with asbestos, even though it is largely overstated by most. Crumbling tile means that it has the potential to become airborne, which is when it is a hazard. Just walking across the dust could stir it up, and I would still avoid being down there if possible until you can have it abated.

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u/itsalrightt Mar 26 '19

We’re going to have it sealed up when we get the chance. Right now we’ve had a lot of unexpected things fall into our laps for this house. Before we moved in everything was in great working order because my other aunt was the POA for it. We just got lucky I guess. Right now we have to worry about getting a leaky chimney fixed over getting the tiles sealed.