DIY Painting and Asbestos
Asbestos is found in thousands of homes built before 1990. Before you decide to paint your home, watch the following video and ask yourself; is it worth the risk? Or should I get a qualified painter?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral rock that contains strong fibres that have excellent durability, fire resistance and insulating properties. While the use of all forms of asbestos was banned nationally in December 2003 due to severe health risks, between 1940 and 1980 in Australia, asbestos was widely used in the construction industry, as well as in shipyards, power stations, boiler makers and plumbing.
It was also a staple of home building too - used in fibro cement, insulation, fireproofing, pipes, paint, floor coverings, ceiling tiles, and roofing materials. Such was the local and global demand for asbestos that it was mined in Australia and exported.
Materials that contain asbestos can be found in buildings, workplaces and dwellings built before 1990. Even in buildings, workplaces and dwellings built after 1990 it is possible that second hand items installed within them could contain asbestos.
Materials containing asbestos are mostly found in eaves and wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries, in the form of asbestos cement sheeting (fibro). If you're not sure whether a material contains asbestos, it's safest to treat it as though it does. DO NOT sample asbestos yourself. Sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone unless you are appropriately trained.