Portland Home Demolitions Reveal Asbestos

Like a zombie on Halloween night, a terror has been unleashed on Portland this fall, one that homeowners thought was safely sealed away.
While not quite as threatening as the undead, asbestos is a public health threat that hasn’t been well controlled by government regulators. Asbestos, a material that was commonly used in buildings until the 1970s, isn’t harmful unless it enters the human body, usually by inhalation. Although older homes with asbestos hidden in floors and ceilings pose little to no threat to those who live in them, the problem arises when the homes need to be torn down.

Every home has its lifespan, and as the City of Portland seeks to expand housing options for its growing population, it is encouraging infill, which means tearing down homes that no longer serve the needs of the neighborhood. Unfortunately, since 2002, contractors have not been required to test for asbestos in older homes before conducting a demolition. As The Oregonian explains in an in-depth report released late last month, only 33% of asbestos-containing homes in the Portland area have had asbestos removed before being torn down. The resulting dust poses a health risk to workers as well as neighbors to the site.

Luckily, Portland residents aren’t the kind to keep quiet about public health risks, and new legislation has just been passed that will require an asbestos inspection before a demolition of an older Portland home, starting in 2016.

With the renewed attention on asbestos, it’s a good time for home sellers to review the facts about this contaminant and be prepared to answer buyers’ questions about whether asbestos removal is necessary in your home.

Is your home at risk? Asbestos has not actually been banned by the EPA so there’s no specific cutoff date like there is for lead. Most experts say that anything built before 1990s has some chance of containing asbestos. If your home is more than 20 years old, beware of crumbling popcorn ceilings, broken floor tiles, siding made out of asbestos, or exposed insulation around pipes — all could contain asbestos.

What’s so bad about asbestos? Like I said, it won’t turn you into a flesh-eating monster, but airborne asbestos has been directly linked to a number of lung conditions, including cancer. A small amount of exposure could have severe health consequences. So, if you have a suspicion about asbestos in your home, have the material tested before you tear into it, and be sure to check out the EPA’s asbestos guide.

What if I see a home being demolished in my neighborhood and I’m worried about asbestos? The law says that homes that have asbestos in them may only be demolished after asbestos-containing materials have been removed. Ask the contractor doing the demolition for proof that the home doesn’t contain asbestos. If they can’t provide it, contact the Department of Environmental Quality.

Knowing all there is to know about asbestos in your home will protect you in the long run, whether you’re buying or selling a home in Portland. A knowledgeable real estate agent can help you navigate the waters, so let me put my experience to work for you!