Renovations Archives - A&M Abatement Services

Asbestos in your Property

Aug 15, 2023 | Asbestos

Asbestos is a hazardous material that can cause serious health problems if disturbed or handled improperly. It is commonly found in homes built before the 1990s in materials such as insulation, floor tiles, and roofing. Asbestos fibers are invisible to the naked eye and can be easily inhaled, leading to lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other respiratory diseases.

Disturbing asbestos in your residence without proper precautions of HEPA filtered DOP Tested Equipment, Proper PPE and not following industry approved practices and procedures can put you and your family at risk of exposure.

The first step in ensuring your safety is to identify whether your home contains asbestos. If you are unsure, it is best to hire a professional to conduct an asbestos assessment. They will determine the location and extent of the asbestos, and advise you on the best course of action.

If you need to undertake work that could potentially disturb asbestos, such as renovating or demolishing, it is advised to never attempt to remove or handle asbestos yourself. Always hire a licensed and trained professional who is equipped with the proper equipment and knowledge to safely handle asbestos. They will follow strict protocols to ensure the asbestos is removed safely and disposed of properly.

In Alberta, it is essential to adhere to the regulations set forth by the Occupational Health and Safety Code, which outlines the proper handling, removal, and disposal of asbestos-containing materials. Failure to follow these regulations can result in fines and legal consequences.

In conclusion, the health hazards of disturbing asbestos in your property without proper precautions cannot be overstated. It is essential to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family from the dangers of asbestos exposure. If you suspect your home may contain asbestos, contact a licensed professional for an assessment and follow industry-approved practices and procedures for safe handling, removal, and disposal.

Interior Demolition and How is the Cost Estimated?

Nov 14, 2022 | Interior Demolition, Renovations

When you decide to renovate one of the first and most underappreciated steps is interior demolition. You may believe interior demolition is a simple matter of smashing down a few walls and tearing out a ceiling or floor, but there are several key steps to ensure the job is done safely and the old surfaces are properly left to receive new finishes. At A&M Abatement Services we take care of your demolition projects efficiently without damaging the remaining finishes.

What is Interior Demolition?

Interior demolition is the process of removing finishes or other features inside your home or business, this can include, cabinets, flooring, appliances, the removal of walls, and even stripping the walls right down to studs so you can completely update your space inside and out. Why should you hire a professional demolition expert and what does it involve? There are several dangers associated with demolition, and I don’t just mean slivers and pinched fingers. In addition to the inherent dangers associated with this work, you must also consider if you know how to properly disconnect and isolate water and electricity, can you identify which walls may be load-bearing? Do you understand how certain things are installed and what may be damaged if they aren’t removed properly?

How do we estimate the cost of your interior demolition project?

There are several factors to consider when estimating the cost of demolition and it is more than just the cost of sledge-hammers and screwdrivers.

Size and Scope of the Project
- How big or small and complex or simple is your project? We will look at what you are removing and how much time and effort it will take to remove your old finishes.
Waste
- What can be salvaged and reused or recycled? What needs to be disposed of and how much disposal is required; will it fit in a pick-up truck, will you need a large trailer to transport it, or do you need a bin or several bins on site?
Hazardous Materials
- Asbestos – Did you know that asbestos can be found in several materials inside your home including linoleum, vinyl floor tiles, ceiling or wall texture, drywall joint compound, pipe elbows, and vermiculite insulation? Proper safety procedures must be followed when dealing with asbestos-containing materials to ensure the safety of workers and of occupants after the renovations are complete (asbestos fibers are so small that they can remain airborne indefinitely, even after the area has been cleaned up). Proper procedures and final air clearance are critical when dealing with Asbestos.
- Mould – If any parts of your home have been exposed to a lot of moisture over time possibly from flooding, leaks, or steam you may find mould when you open up walls or attic spaces. We can safely remove and clean up any mould as part of our abatement services.
- Lead Paint – Lead paint is common in older homes and needs to be removed in such a manner that the lead won’t be inhaled or allowed to absorb into your bloodstream, proper lead removal procedures must be followed when working around lead paint. If you are renovating an older space in the Edmonton area and need professionals to remove the old materials hazardous or not call A&M Abatement Services

If you’re looking for abatement professionals in the fields of demolition, mould removal, and remediation in the Edmonton area, give us a call at A&M Abatement Services Ltd.

Can Mould Removal Be Covered by Insurance?

Nov 13, 2022 | Mould

Mould on your home’s walls can, if left to its own devices, become a serious problem. Unless it’s been explicitly added to your home insurance policy, however, most basic homeowner policies won’t cover mould damage. That being said, there are many cases where the event that caused the mould in the first place (damage to your plumbing or a flood, for example) will be covered by insurance and mould remediation or abatement may be covered within that context.

At A&M Abatement Services Ltd. in Edmonton, we want everyone to know about the potential hazards that unchecked mould growth can pose to your property and family, as well as the importance of protecting yourself against these threats through insurance or common-sense safety measures.

What Causes Mould on Walls?

Mould is a kind of fungus that likes to grow in very specific places. Rather than getting its energy from the sun, as plants do, mould gets its energy from breaking down other materials. To grow, mould needs two things: a material (often organic) to eat and water. When it comes to your home, damp, dark places are often great targets for mould. Basements and crawlspaces, for example, frequently have mould in them. Specific materials that are great food for mould include:

Wood
Drywall
Cardboard
Damp textiles (like carpets or furniture upholstery)

Mould, if it has become a bad enough problem, can even pose a threat to human health. In order to reproduce itself, mould introduces spores into the air (similar to the way in which plants use pollen). These little spores can cause a number of different problems in humans when we breathe them in, depending on what kind of mould you have. Symptoms associated with mould include:

Irritation of your eyes or throat
Coughing or wheezing
Asthma-like symptoms
Allergic reactions

The best way to protect your home against mould is to take away the conditions that help it grow. That means regulating the moisture in your home. Making sure your plumbing is in good condition, ensuring that your basement never floods, and keeping your air conditioning and other air filtering units in good repair are all great ways to keep the moisture levels in your home under control.

At A&M Abatement, we have a combined 25 years of experience in the mould removal business in Edmonton. If you have mould problems in your home, it’s best to take care of it sooner rather than later, before things get any worse. Contact us today to find out how we can help you keep your home safe and mould-free.