By law, Australian homeowners have the legal right to remove up to ten square meters of non-friable asbestos from their property. The amount is fairly substantial, but not comprehensive. Some larger homes might have much more than that.
Also, even within that ten square meter allowance, some laws and regulations apply. These might make the amount you can remove much smaller.
First, you can’t just leave it lying around. That’s just as much of a hazard as having it in your home. You’re just spreading the problem further, arguably making it worse. You need to take it to a landfill.
The catch is that a dump needs to have the material wrapped in plastic and sealed. Thepeople therearen’t going to take it otherwise. If you didn’t hire even the cheapest asbestos removal in WA, that means wrapping it yourself and exposing yourself to the fibres if you get it wrong.
There’s also the problem of transportation. Asbestos that’s already been damaged might get worse on the way to the dump. Even whole chunks are better off transported by the cheapest asbestos removal Perth can provide, rather than by you personally.
Here’re a few things to keep in mind when clearing out asbestos on your own. They’re the same precautions that even the cheapest asbestos removal WA have to deal with, but they have equipment that’s specifically for handling the situation.
You’ll first need to confirm there is asbestos. No point in tearing up the walls if there’s no asbestos there.
You naturally need to isolate the area. You can’t let the asbestos get out of that area, even when you come in or out to do work. The cheapest asbestos removal in Perth might use ordinary plastic curtains for this, while the best ones have specialised gear.
Don’t wear anything you don’t want to lose. You’ll most likely have to dispose of your clothes because the fibres could have gotten on them.
Wear a breathing apparatus. Being Darth Vader for a brief period is better than being Darth Vader for a lifetime – especially since you don’t get all the cool toys he had.
Avoid the use of power tools. These devices are more likely to inadvertently damage and spread the fibres. The exception is if they’ve got dust suppression or extraction attachments, helping reduce the risk.
Water all surface areas, to help reduce the asbestos dust.
Clearly label anything and everything that touches, contains, or may have encountered asbestos. I don’t think I need to reiterate that even the cheapest asbestos removal in Perth people will want these sealed up tight.
Do not use domestic vacuum cleaners after. They’re not strong enough. Consult with specialists or get a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Worst-case scenario, a wet mop is a decent last resort.
Dispose of asbestos the way even the cheapest asbestos removal crews do – by taking them to an approved landfill site. Don’t place them anywhere else.
Now that it’s all laid out, it seems like a bit more work than you bargained for, isn’t it?