Is this asbestos

[aone]

I am replacing some sheet rocks on the second floor. I opened this part and saw the chimney and this stuff on it (see picture). Started to take it off and notice the power, dust that coming off it.

Does anyone know if this is asbestos?

Thank you.

 

[Musicinabottle]

Really hard to tell from your photos but generally asbestos is gray. To be sure, because you owe it to yourself and family as well as anyone else who will live in the house, to have it professionally examined.

 

[cjcocn]

Really hard to tell from your photos but generally asbestos is gray. To be sure, because you owe it to yourself and family as well as anyone else who will live in the house, to have it professionally examined.

This.

 

[billspit]

Collect a sample and send to a lab. That looks like sheetrock to me, but only a lab can tell you if it contains asbestos. There could be some super duper asbestos sheetrock that was used just for that purpose, but they would likely have used a cement asbestos product.

 

[lakeroadster]

Google "asbestos detection kit"

 

[aone]

A contractor looked at it and said it is concrete containing Silica. It does not make sense to me. He says once it is intact leave it alone but I could take it out using water and do it fast (of course mask up).

If it is silica is that bad as asbestos?

 

[lakeroadster]

Asbestos and silica are both health risks if inhaled.

Google "silicosis"

That being said they are both still used, and used extensively.

 

[tinmanwpk]

It shouldn't be, but anything ingested or inhaled is not a good thing. As far as the pictures and asbestos, if your house was built before 1973 there are strong chances these materials may contain asbestos, but I highly doubt they are asbestos. If something may contain asbestos, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I would have painted it with a glossy oil based paint and left it alone. If the product was friable, that is, if it has raw fibers hanging and blowing in the breeze, then it needs to be removed. If everything is totally intact, then paint it as mentioned earlier and leave it alone.

 

[aone]

Collect a sample and send to a lab. That looks like sheetrock to me, but only a lab can tell you if it contains asbestos. There could be some super duper asbestos sheetrock that was used just for that purpose, but they would likely have used a cement asbestos product.

When I first looked at it I thought it is sheet rock too. It breaks like it, it has paper like it. Can sheet rock fused to the chimney over the years with the heat?

The other sides of the chimney does not have this type of material, just brick. Also I remove sheet rock from these two sides that was not fused to chimney.

Is it normal for people to put asbestos on chimney. The bast of the chimney does not have this, just bricks.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

It looks like your masonry chimney was wrapped with sheet rock and water was penetrating the top of the chimney which is wicking down to where your pictures taken. It looks like it was pretty moist there, and the Sheetrock has been soaked for a long time....as others have mentioned the only way to know is to have it tested.

That being said I doubt it is asbestos


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FJ 432]

It looks like your masonry chimney was wrapped with sheet rock and water was penetrating the top of the chimney which is wicking down to where your pictures taken. It looks like it was pretty moist there, and the Sheetrock has been soaked for a long time....as others have mentioned the only way to know is to have it tested.

That being said I doubt it is asbestos


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree. Someone didn't want to look at brick.

 

[aone]

I googled as posted above and asbestos should have fiber in it. I did not see any fiber in it. It breaks off like old rocks.

 

[cjcocn]

No offense, but it seems like you are trying to talk yourself into believing that it is not asbestos so that the fix is easier and less costly.

That works great if it isn't asbestos, but if it is then you could be opening up you and your family to a whole lot of heartache.

Get a test done and then you will know for sure.

Good luck with everything.

 

[Strouty]

My underwear are made out of asbestos.

Have it tested if you are worried, it doesn't look like any type of asbestos I have seen, looks like someone covered the brick with a mortar, then drywalled over it. The dust is the main issue, if you can cover over the solid stuff, you can wear a respirator and wet down the loose stuff so it doesn't become airborne. Seal it in a bag and mail it to someone you hate (just kidding, that will probably get you in trouble). If asbestos is friable, meaning you can make it into dust with your bare hand, then I would get a crew in to fix it. Solids are not the problem.

 

[rlitman]

... As far as the pictures and asbestos, if your house was built before 1973 there are strong chances these materials may contain asbestos,...

Asbestos is a mineral found in nature. As such, it can be detected in all sorts of things from nature. Particularly vermiculite, and talcum powder. Bananas and Potatoes are also radioactive. None of this necessarily a prima facie health concern.

I googled as posted above and asbestos should have fiber in it. I did not see any fiber in it. It breaks off like old rocks.

This is misleading. Asbestos is fiberous, but when locked into a brittle material, the fibers of asbestos that are released when it is broken up will be of microscopic length. So, when asbestos is found in products like plaster, concrete and tile, it will not appear to have fibers.

Asbestos was often used as a filler in plaster (so was horse hair). That appears to be plaster. It is also often found in trace amounts in old plaster, as asbestos in mineral form is often found in mined gypsum. Nowadays, the asbestos content of plaster (and talcum powder and vermiculite) is generally just about zero, since the gypsum mines that contain the most asbestos are pretty much abandoned, but it still crops up from time to time. The catch here is that if you look for asbestos, you WILL find it. Being that you live in an urban area near well traveled streets, asbestos will be found in the air that you breathe (and therefore in the dust that settles on surfaces in your home), as it is still often used in brake linings. In some ways it is like finding mold. It is everywhere.

In any case, that does not appear to be a solid asbestos product. If that were the case, you might want to take special precautions.

 

[aone]

Asbestos is a mineral found in nature. As such, it can be detected in all sorts of things from nature. Particularly vermiculite, and talcum powder. Bananas and Potatoes are also radioactive. None of this necessarily a prima facie health concern.



This is misleading. Asbestos is fiberous, but when locked into a brittle material, the fibers of asbestos that are released when it is broken up will be of microscopic length. So, when asbestos is found in products like plaster, concrete and tile, it will not appear to have fibers.

Asbestos was often used as a filler in plaster (so was horse hair). That appears to be plaster. It is also often found in trace amounts in old plaster, as asbestos in mineral form is often found in mined gypsum. Nowadays, the asbestos content of plaster (and talcum powder and vermiculite) is generally just about zero, since the gypsum mines that contain the most asbestos are pretty much abandoned, but it still crops up from time to time. The catch here is that if you look for asbestos, you WILL find it. Being that you live in an urban area near well traveled streets, asbestos will be found in the air that you breathe (and therefore in the dust that settles on surfaces in your home), as it is still often used in brake linings. In some ways it is like finding mold. It is everywhere.

In any case, that does not appear to be a solid asbestos product. If that were the case, you might want to take special precautions.

Thank you and thanks everyone. I will call a few more contractors for more opinions.

 

[Siegel1719]

Joint compound can rarely contain asbestos at very low percentages but I have never seen drywall come back containing asbestos. Plaster commonly contained asbestos again at fairly percentages. Not all materials containing asbestos have visual fibers. The only way you will ever know if it is asbestos or not is to have have it tested. Absolutely no other way. (Besides some air-o-cell insulation had the asbestos concentration printed directly on the jacket).

FYI I held a State of Michgan Asbestos Building Inspector license and Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor license for nearly 10 years.

 

[rockettgpw]

This seems a good place to raise this..
A unexpected situation that asbestos shows up in Australia is in old carpet underlay. The hessian sacks that were used to transport asbestos were recycled into underlay back in the 50's and 60's. Renovators would not really be aware of its presence in there.
Not sure if this was done in the U.S. but something to consider.

 

[JimNC]

Consider that if you have this tested, and it comes back positive, what will you do?

Contracted remediation is expensive. I took a ton of it out of my house in Oak Park, including insulation around the hot water pipes. Well, I didn’t scrub the pipe joints well enough and when I sold the house the buyer insisted on a test and remediation. Guys in space suits using $10 toothbrushes and special plastic bags spent a day and $3,000 cleaning a dozen or so joints.

If it was me I wouldn’t think this asbestos, but if I did I’d wet it down and take it out myself, then paint the wall.

 

[6768rogues]

Don't get opinions. No one knows for sure without testing it. If it has more than 1% of its weight in asbestos, it is asbestos containing material.
I was the asbestos supervisor for our county government. I had all kinds of stuff tested and it was surprising where we found asbestos.
Tests are cheap, do it and be sure.

 

[kbs2244]

I second hilltopmasonry's opinion.
I would guess someone tried to fix a fume leak with sheetrock.

I belive it is allowed to "seal in place" with paint if it is determined to be asbestos.

 

[atch]

I second hilltopmasonry's opinion.
I would guess someone tried to fix a fume leak with sheetrock.

I belive it is allowed to "seal in place" with paint if it is determined to be asbestos.

"encapsulated" is the term asbestos professionals use for "seal in place"

 

[malibu101]

A contractor looked at it and said it is concrete containing Silica. It does not make sense to me. He says once it is intact leave it alone but I could take it out using water and do it fast (of course mask up).

If it is silica is that bad as asbestos?

I don't know, but search "osha silica". A new standard is in place tomorrow.

https://www.google.com/search?sourc.....0i67k1j0i20i263i264k1j0i131k1.0.LoI7MO4fRt8

Let's be real, breathing fine particulates can not be good ever.

 

[SMKS]

Here's a company I used for an asbestos test. I recommend them. You generally get results the same day your samples arrive.

http://www.asbestostesting.com

 

[The Cobbler]

lots of good advice here already.
my take on it is, it looks like someone plastered the brick. then wallpapered over it.then painted it
very likely there is asbestos in the plaster . what percentage? dunno.
like stated earlier, you'd be surprised what household building products contain asbestos.

 

[Daedalus]

Don't get opinions. No one knows for sure without testing it. If it has more than 1% of its weight in asbestos, it is asbestos containing material.
I was the asbestos supervisor for our county government. I had all kinds of stuff tested and it was surprising where we found asbestos.
Tests are cheap, do it and be sure.

+1 Why have people guess when you can find out for sure? There's not a person on this earth who can tell you with certainty if you have asbestos just by showing up to your house and looking at your chimney, unless they put it there and know what material was used. I have sent probably 1/2 a dozen samples in for testing and I rest easy knowing I can touch everything during a remodel (and after having a remediation company take care of some mastic that tested positive). Don't be afraid of bad news. What's there is there, and it isn't less dangerous just cause you don't know for sure what it is.

 

[RVDan]

If possible send a control sample for testing. My drywall got labeled as 1% asbestos, even thoughI sent a sample from a piece in the garage that was installed in 1994. maybe they contaminated it by accident. Maybe they're just saying everything has asbestos for liability reasons.

 

[billspit]

Joint compound can rarely contain asbestos at very low percentages but I have never seen drywall come back containing asbestos. Plaster commonly contained asbestos again at fairly percentages. Not all materials containing asbestos have visual fibers. The only way you will ever know if it is asbestos or not is to have have it tested. Absolutely no other way. (Besides some air-o-cell insulation had the asbestos concentration printed directly on the jacket).

FYI I held a State of Michgan Asbestos Building Inspector license and Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor license for nearly 10 years.

This has been my experience as well (30+ years as a SC licensed asbestos inspector). Personally, I have never seen asbestos containing drywall, but it is considered a suspect material and we sample it in every building. Joint compound occasionally has a couple of percent.

 

[kgordon]

You cannot tell by looking at it if it is asbestos. They used asbestos in drywall mud among thousands of other items. Get it tested. I know in Syracuse a home owner can dispose of 10sf of asbestos at a time in there general waste.

Working in construction i have seen pipe wrap side by side and they looked identical. One was asbestos one was not. Do NOT rely on a forum to give you the definite answer.

 

[aone]

Here's a company I used for an asbestos test. I recommend them. You generally get results the same day your samples arrive.

http://www.asbestostesting.com

I emailed these guys for the procedure.

 

[akpingel]

Get it tested!

 

[ezover]

just a little story a neighbor had with asbestos. in the process of tearing down their old house 1920/30 ish, the contractor found asbestos, it cost them another 25k to have the asbestos removed before they would finish the tear down.
nasty stuff.

 

[SMKS]

I emailed these guys for the procedure.

It's here:
http://www.asbestostesting.com/stepbystep.htm

 

[rockettgpw]

What was the finding?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

It shouldn't be, but anything ingested or inhaled is not a good thing. As far as the pictures and asbestos, if your house was built before 1973 there are strong chances these materials may contain asbestos, but I highly doubt they are asbestos. If something may contain asbestos, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I would have painted it with a glossy oil based paint and left it alone. If the product was friable, that is, if it has raw fibers hanging and blowing in the breeze, then it needs to be removed. If everything is totally intact, then paint it as mentioned earlier and leave it alone.

Cancer from ingestion is so rare it is almost considered harmless.

Tommy

 

[c39er]

Extremely dangerous situation.
Rhino coat the chimney. Seal it/contain it.
Never speak about what you did to anyone .... ever again.
Done.