Asbestos Ceiling Tiles

When the parking deck collapsed, killing two on June 23 at the Algo Centre Mall in Elliott Lake, it potentially exposed rescue workers and a large crowd of onlookers to asbestos fibres as they watched the clean-up.

News agencies have widely reported that asbestos was noted and documented in a prior environmental assessment of the mall, built decades ago. One of those locations was in the ceiling tiles.

You may not have a parking garage on your roof, but if your older home has asbestos ceiling tiles, it’s still vulnerable from above.

• leaks can cause deterioration, which can lead to crumbling
• any renovations – for instance to light fixtures or overhead wiring – can cause damage

Asbestos was widely used in ceiling tiles, including drop ceilings and acoustic ceiling tiles, so-called because of their sound dampening properties. Those tiles were produced by many different manufacturers worldwide. Acoustic ceiling tiles in particular will often have a grid pattern of holes over the surface of the tile, but it’s not always possible to determine the presence of asbestos simply by visual inspection.

Asbestos was most widely used in ceiling tiles during the 1960’s and 1970’s, but if you home is more than 40 years old, you should assume it contains asbestos, whether in the ceiling tiles or elsewhere.

Be safe rather than sorry!
If your home was built before the 1970’s, you should assume it contains asbestos in one form or another. If you are looking to buy or renovate an older home then do yourself a favour and include an asbestos inspection on the list of things to do.

The material is very durable and likely to last for many years in bound form or if it’s contained, but it’s also true that many of the asbestos containing elements that you’ll find nowadays have already been in place for a long time. The material does eventually become brittle and break apart, capable of producing the friable – or inhalable – fibres that have been shown to cause lung disease, including mesothelioma.

Please don’t try to handle it yourself!
Get peace of mind from GreenStream Environmental – call us for an asbestos inspection or removal quote today.

In the Toronto area contact GreenStreamEnvironmental.ca at (416) 818-9414.

Featured in Mike Holmes’ magazine, HGTV’s Income Properties, W Network’s Love It Or List It and chosen by Homestars.com as “Best Toronto Asbestos Removal Company” based on customer ratings and reviews, GreenStream Environmental Services are fully-certified, trusted and insured professionals in the removal and disposal of commercial, industrial, institutional and residential asbestos, vermiculite and mould (hazardous and non-hazardous). Providing emergency service 24/7/365 for all of Toronto and the GTA (North York, Mississauga, Markham, Brampton, Scarborough, Ajax, Oshawa, and beyond) GreenStream has over 40 combined years of experience serving clients such as the City of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board and many more. For a free estimate in Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario, call today at 416-818-9414.  You’ll be glad you did.