GreenStream – Asbestos Removal In The News

A CBC Toronto Radio programme – Here And Now – recently had a show on asbestos and what the troublesome mineral means for homeowners. When they looked to an expert to provide some context, they looked no further than our own Manny Oliveira, owner of GreenStream Environmental.

As the show and the interview highlighted, asbestos is a problem in the GTA simply because there are so many older homes in our area. As Manny pointed out, there are still many homes in the GTA built between 1900 and 1979 – when asbestos was banned from most residential uses.

Asbestos can show up in many places in your home, and is often mixed with other substances to create “asbestos containing materials” (or ACM). These include:

• Insulation – usually attic insulation as asbestos contaminated vermiculite;
• Mixed with plaster and drywall compound;
• Vinyl floor tiles;
• Acoustic ceiling tiles;
• Insulation on heating and boiler pipes, typically in the basement.

As Manny told the show hosts, it is often impossible to determine if these compounds contain asbestos with a visual inspection. A comprehensive survey and professional testing is the only sure way.

Asbestos Removal – Don’t Do This At Home!
Asbestos removal is a regulated industry with good reason. You may be tempted to remove certain substances yourself, but you should be aware that anytime you are creating asbestos dust, your health is in danger without the proper protective equipment that a professional uses.

Some types of asbestos removal are fairly straightforward. Floor tiles using a mixture of vinyl and asbestos can simply be removed by professionals wearing the proper gear. If it is mixed with plaster or drywall, then the process gets more complex. In addition to protective equipment, the asbestos removal technicians have to shower on site before they leave to avoid spreading that dust outside the contained work area.

It’s not just about removing it, it’s about properly and safely disposing of the material. It can get complicated, as you can see!

You Can Trust GreenStream
You can trust the experienced asbestos removal experts and asbestos remediation experts at GreenStream Environmental to take care of the issue for you. In the Toronto area contact GreenStreamEnvironmental.ca at (416) 818-9414. Contact us for a quote today.

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.