What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral that can be woven into fabrics and materials. Since it separates into long, strong fibers that are durable and heat-resistant used to be a common building material, but it did not turn out to be as safe as we thought it would be. People can develop health problems related to asbestos when they breathe in microscopic asbestos fibers.

How can I be exposed to asbestos?

• Living in an Old House: While modern homes are no longer built with asbestos, many older homes were. If you live, or are planning to move into, an older home you should be aware of whether asbestos was used to build the home, call a specialist to have your home tested.
• Failing to Seek Testing: If you think you might have asbestos in your home, there’s no reason to ignore it. Especially if you know that your house was built several decades ago, as there is a higher chance that asbestos materials were part of the construction process.
• Blind Remodeling: Asbestos can be safe when it’s not disturbed, you’ll want to find out if there is any in your home before you start any renovations in your home. A simple test from your asbestos testing company can let you go through your remodel with confidence.

What are the health risks of asbestos?

People can develop health problems related to asbestos when they breathe in microscopic asbestos fibers. These fibers can then irritate the lungs and cause issues like lung cancer and asbestosis, which is a type of lung disease. In some cases, it can take decades for symptoms to appear, so you might not know that you have any of these health effects until many years later. While minimal exposure to asbestos might not be a significant hazard, asbestos can cause serious health hazards. Be sure to call for asbestos remediation and continue reading for a look at the health risks to asbestos.

I have been living in a home with popcorn ceilings for years, should I be concerned?

Asbestos becomes harmful when disturbed. If you have not disturbed the popcorn ceiling, it is not hazardous. If you decide to remodel, be sure to call a professional agency to test the area and advise on how to move forward.

How Are Commercial and Residential Asbestos Removal Different?

Asbestos is dangerous in any setting, but it presents different hazards depending on where and how it’s found. Commercial buildings have different problems to deal with than residential homes, due to the size and structures of the building. When you look for a remediation professional, make sure the company has experience in the specific type of remediation you’re looking for.

How Will I Know If There’s Lead or Asbestos in my Home?

Lead and asbestos testing is now commonplace, and it helps homeowners keep their families safe and healthy. Here’s how to find out if there’s lead or asbestos in your home

• Consider the Age of Your Home: Lead and asbestos fell out of favor decades ago, so you’re probably safe if your house was only built over the past few years. If you live in an older house that was built during the 1990s or earlier, then you might want to have your home checked out.
• Know Where to Look: It’s wise to have an inspection so you can get a professional opinion, but it also helps to know where to look for lead and asbestos. Lead was commonly used in household paint, and asbestos was often used in piping and floor tiles.
• Have It Tested Before You Move In: You can save yourself a huge amount of stress by having your new home tested for lead and asbestos before you move in. When you have the professionals test the house for these issues, you can deal with them while the house is still empty, and easily treated.

How do I take a sample to test for asbestos?

The tricky part about asbestos is that it is typically harmless unless it is disturbed. If you want to make sure your family is not at risk for asbestos exposure, don’t take matters into your own hands. Instead, call for professional asbestos testing and removal.

What are the first signs of mold in a home?

• Reduced Indoor Air Quality: A mold issue can quickly become a factor that influences your indoor air quality, much like other contaminants like dust and pet dander. If it feels like you are experiencing aggravated symptoms of asthma, allergies, and similar conditions when you are at home but not when you leave, there might be a mold problem in your house.
• Visible Mold Growth: Mold isn’t invisible, so sometimes you can recognize a mold problem simply by seeing it. It typically takes on a green or grey color, but mold can be black as well. Make sure you call your mold remediation professional immediately if you can visually detect mold in your household, as the issue may already be advanced.
• Moisture and Darkness: It doesn’t take much for mold to grow in your home, which is why it can be a rampant problem. All mold needs in order to survive is darkness and dampness, and many areas can provide these conditions. A leak, a flood, or water damage can lead to mold growth in your home.

I had a plumbing leak; how do I check for mold?

Small plumbing leaks can contribute to water damage as well as mold growth, both of which can be dangerous for your building.

Hidden plumbing leaks are particularly tricky, because they set the stage for mold growth. Mold isn’t invisible, so sometimes you can recognize a mold problem simply by seeing it. It typically takes on a green or grey color, but mold can be black as well. Make sure you call your mold remediation professional immediately if you can visually detect mold in your household, as the issue may already be advanced.

Where Is Mold Most Likely to Accumulate in my Home?

It’s easier to find a mold problem if you know where to look for it, which means you can seek mold remediation quicker. Read on and learn where mold tends to accumulate in the home.

• Bathrooms: Wherever there’s moisture, there’s typically the potential for mold growth. For this reason, bathrooms are among the most likely areas for mold to develop. This is especially true for households that share one bathroom among many people. Water can spill over from the sink or the toilet and create problems, but the main threat is the shower area. Clean your tub, your walls, your shower curtain, and your showerhead regularly to avoid a mold problem in your bathroom.
• Kitchens: Just like the bathroom, the kitchen is another area where moisture is typically present. Whether you’re preparing food or cleaning your dishes after your meal, you may encounter mold. Mold can spring up in your sink or in your dishwasher, and sometimes you can even find it underneath your kitchen floors.
• Attics and Roofs: Bathrooms and kitchens are susceptible to indoor water from your plumbing appliances, but your roof and attic are vulnerable to water from outside. A leak in your roof may allow water to seep into your attic and create water spots on your ceilings. This can turn into a full-blown mold problem if it isn’t addressed.

WHAT IS LEAD, AND HOW IS IT AFFECTING YOU?

Lead has been used in a variety of products, and it can still be found in many homes despite modern building regulations prohibiting the use of lead-based products. Unfortunately, exposure to lead can lead to a wide range of health effects.

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF LEAD EXPOSURE?

Exposure to lead can lead to a myriad of issues, especially if it is ingested. Ingesting lead often leads to lead poisoning, which comes with a range of symptoms. When children suffer from lead poisoning, they may experience irritability, vomiting, constipation, and delayed development. Adults may be more likely to experience headaches, pain in the abdomen, high blood pressure, and trouble remembering things. If you notice any of these symptoms and think you might have lead poisoning, contact the appropriate authorities right away.

HOW DO I REMOVE LEAD PAINT MYSELF?

Though lead is a naturally occurring substance, it can cause significant damage to people when it is found in high concentration. Therefore, lead paint removal may be at the top of your to-do list if you own an older home, but you may not want to take this on as a DIY task—even if you are handy around the house. Here’s why it’s best to leave lead paint removal to the pros:

• You need special equipment and materials: Lead paint removal should be a highly controlled process to reduce the spread and inhalation of harmful lead dust, and it requires a good deal of safety equipment and materials to do right.
• You may expose your family to health risks: A wall covered in lead paint may not pose many risks until it’s disturbed, which is why it’s essential to understand the right abatement method and control techniques for containment of dust. If you do not perform the abatement procedure correctly or choose the wrong technique for your home, you may put your family in more danger for lead exposure than if you had done nothing at all.

WHERE CAN I FIND LEAD IN MY HOME?

Lead is a highly toxic material that can cause significant health problems for both children and adults. If you want to make sure that your family members are protected against the dangers of lead poisoning, consider scheduling a lead abatement procedure for your home. Your lead specialist can determine whether some of the items and materials in your home are contaminated with lead.

• Lead Based Paint: Until the late 1970s, lead was a common ingredient in both interior and exterior household paint. If your home was constructed prior to 1978, there is a high likelihood that your paint contains some level of lead in its chemical composition.
• Plumbing Pipes and Fixtures: Along with looking for evidence of lead in your household paint, your lead abatement professional may also test your plumbing for lead contamination. Older plumbing pipes and fixtures often contain some amount of lead-based material. As your household water supply flows through lead pipes, it can pick up dangerous levels of contamination.
• Children’s Toys: Children are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of lead exposure. Unfortunately, older children’s toys and toys that have been crafted in unregulated countries may be contaminated with lead. To protect your kids against the dangers of lead poisoning, always check to make sure that you are purchasing toys that are certified lead free.

WHY SHOULD I HAVE MY ROOF INSPECTED?

Inspecting for hail damage takes a trained eye. There are a lot of coatings and shingles out there that look normal when you look at the roof after the storm. It can take months for some of the cracks/bruising to become more noticeable after a storm. The larger the hail, the more obvious the damage is, but that’s where having someone trained to look makes the difference in all the details of what was actually damaged.

Do insurance companies really pay for hail damage?

Most policies include coverage for hail. When you find out you have hail damage, you can get in touch with your insurance company and make sure that you have proper coverage.

I have a roofer, why should we use your company?

SCBS LLC has years of experience analyzing hail and wind damage. This is our passion. It is our detailed monitoring and assessment of properties that sets us apart

DOES IT REALLY HAIL IN ARIZONA?

Yes! In 2018 alone, Arizona had over 50 different locations hit with 1 inch hail or larger. In some locations up to 3 inch hail was recorded. Although hail does not hit every city or area for years at a time, there are always monsoons dropping hail somewhere across the state.

WHICH ROOFING SYSTEMS CAN BE DAMAGED BY HAIL?

All roofs should be inspected after a recent hail storm. Roof damage depends on the size of the hail and age of the roof. 1 to 1.5 inch hail will damage most foam or coated roof systems. 1.5 – 2 inch hail will damage most shingle roof systems. 2 inch or greater will potentially damage metal, tile, slate, or most other premium roof systems. The older the roof system, the more susceptible to hail it will become.

WHY SHOULD I MAINTAIN MY ROOF?

We recommend you join a roof maintenance program to receive a scheduled routine inspection of your roof system that will come with an inspection report and minor maintenance is included. It also can extend your existing warranty, the lifespan of your roof, and offers peace of mind.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED A NEW ROOF?

It depends on the type of roof system, the quality of the products, the initial installation, and the climate your roof is in. Figuring out if a new roof system is needed may be a bit difficult to determine by the building owner alone. By contacting one of our roofing specialists, we can provide you with an inspection free of charge. The inspector will let you know if your roof is good, needs some repair/maintenance, or a complete new roof system.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO REPLACE A ROOF?

The price to replace a roof varies from the type of roof system being removed, to the square footage you need replaced, to what type of roof system you want installed.

HOW DO I REPLACE A ROOF ON MY OWN?

Performing any untrained work on your roof without knowing proper material handling, adhesive application or correct trajectory for material placement could cause incremental damages instead of becoming a temporary cure. Always consult with professional roofing contractors for cost-effective solutions done by experienced roofers.

WHAT WEARS OUT ROOFS?

If you are wondering what causes commercial roof systems to wear out prematurely, you may wish to consider the following causes:

• Your roofing system having long-term and short-term exposure to certain elements like sun, water, or constant freezing and thawing temperatures.
• Structure movement such as building settlement or expansion/contraction not accommodated by the roofing system
• Biological growth such as vegetation in areas of standing water or algae growth on dark areas of the roof system

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CAUSE OF ROOF FAILURE?

Forgetting About Maintenance – Neglect is perhaps the single biggest cause of premature roof failure. A small amount of attention to your roofing system twice a year can extend a roof life by 35% or more.

HOW CAN I EXTEND THE LIFE SPAN OF MY ROOF?

It may come as a surprise but roofing systems do have a life span. Regular maintenance will extend a roof’s performance, but at some point the roofing system will require something much more extensive to truly extend its life. Liquid-applied coating/roof systems are ideal for extending the life of an existing roof. Liquid-applied systems consist of elastomeric, acrylic, urethane and other roofing-specific durable coating systems. This new layer of protection guards the roof from the harmful U.V. rays of the sun, helps seal all small cracks and defects in the original roof system, and adds an additional layer of weathering protection.

WHAT ARE HELPFUL TIPS FOR INSPECTING MY ROOF?

To ensure that you receive the highest quality of roofing services you should partner with a trusted and experienced roofing professional, discuss your roof performance goals with your roofing professional and research and verify any buildings with current roof warranties in place.

WHAT SHOULD A ROOFING INSPECTION INCLUDE?

When hiring a company for a roof inspection, your roofing inspection should include the following:

• Accurate square foot measurements of roof and wall areas
• Roof type and any known manufacturer information
• Overall roof condition and life expectancy
• Core cut taken of the roof system to determine the roof composition, attachment and deck construction
• Evaluation of slope and drainage conditions
• Any observed roof defects or deck defects Report on any observed signs of leaking
• Photo documentation of all of the above
• Recommendations for repairs, continued maintenance or replacement

WHAT ITEMS SHOULD I DISCUSS WITH MY ROOFING PROFESSIONAL WHEN CHOOSING A COATING OR LIQUID-APPLIED RE-COVER SYSTEM?

When choosing a coating your roof professional should go over the following topics with you:

• Repairs or maintenance will no longer provide enough leak protection
• Complete roof replacement is not a fit for the current roof budget
• The owner requires a short-term (1-5 year) solution that does not involve replacement
• Roof replacement will cause excessive noise, dirt, or logistics problems that can not be allowed at this time