Before You Renovate, Know What's in Your Walls.

Asbestos was used extensively in building materials from the 1920s through the late 1970s — in insulation, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, pipe wrap, roofing, siding, joint compound, and dozens of other products. When these materials are intact and undisturbed, they generally don't pose an immediate health risk. But the moment you cut, drill, sand, demolish, or disturb them, microscopic asbestos fibers become airborne.

Inhaling asbestos fibers causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis — diseases that often don't appear until 10-50 years after exposure. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. This is why Ohio law (Chapter 3710 of the Ohio Revised Code) requires a thorough asbestos survey before any renovation or demolition of commercial buildings and most residential properties built before 1980.

The consequences of skipping the survey are severe. Fines for non-compliant demolition or renovation can reach $25,000 per day under federal regulations, and responsible parties can face criminal charges. Contractors who disturb asbestos-containing materials without proper testing put their workers, building occupants, and neighbors at risk — and assume enormous legal liability.