Asbestos was long used in buildings due to its natural fire-retardant ability. It has been used in a wide array of applications, such as ceiling and floor tiles, walls, and even on Christmas trees. Unfortunately, in the 1940s, news about asbestos causing lung cancer started to spread and people began realizing that they had been subjected to a dangerous substance for most of their lives. Despite this realization, asbestos-containing building materials continued to be used well into the 1990s. This means that many homes and buildings standing to this day may have some form of asbestos in them.
You can plaster over asbestos, as long as the asbestos surface is in good condition. Remember that great care should be taken not to scrape, chip, or grind the asbestos surface during the process as this can release asbestos fibers into the air, which is extremely dangerous.
In most cases, asbestos isn’t harmful if the item it is in, such as a ceiling or floor tile, isn’t broken. However, even damage done to that tile, including drilling a hole, breaking, or scraping, can release the asbestos fibers into the air.
If you come across asbestos that is damaged, refrain from trying to sweep or vacuum it up as this will also release any settled fibers back into the air.
If you suspect you have been exposed to asbestos, immediately consult medical professionals. They can discuss your specific situation and help to determine if additional medical testing and/or treatment is needed.
Should You Put Plaster Over Asbestos?
While it is possible to put plaster over asbestos, that doesn’t mean it’s always the right thing to do. Asbestos has the potential to lead to serious and life threatening illnesses that can put you and your family at risk.
Whether or not you should put plaster over asbestos really depends on the current condition of the asbestos-containing surface. If the surface is damaged in any way, you shouldn’t bother with the area until you research your local and state regulations.
Asbestos is considered a hazardous material and is legally required to be treated as such. This means your area may require special permits that you will have to obtain to remove the asbestos. This typically also includes a specific way to deal with asbestos removal.
For more information about regulations and permits for removing asbestos in your area, contact your local courthouse. They can assist you with the specific rules and laws for your city and state.
What Tools Do You Need To Put Plaster Over Asbestos?
Asbestos is no joke and shouldn’t be taken lightly. This substance has the potential to cause cancer, and if you think you have asbestos in your home, you should reach out to a professional. They can inspect the area and determine if it is really asbestos, as well as advise you on the best course of action. If you do decide to plaster over it, however, there are a few tools that you should have on hand.
The tools required for plastering over asbestos include PVA bonding agent, plaster trowel, plaster, drop clothes, paper towels, and water. Remember, however, that you shouldn’t try to plaster over asbestos if it is damaged in any way.
What Preparations Do You Need To Put Plaster Over Asbestos?
Because asbestos has the potential to be highly dangerous to your health when broken or damaged, the preparations that you need to make for the surface are much less than what is needed for a surface not containing asbestos.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on December 2, 2022.
If the asbestos surface is in good condition, you will still need to apply a PVA base coat carefully over the surface. This not only makes it easier for the plaster to adhere to the surface, but it also puts a protective coat over the asbestos.
You should consider applying multiple base coats of the PVA, allowing the surface to dry completely between coats. This will help form a thick coating over the asbestos.
Because cleaning the asbestos surface can potentially break or damage it, it’s best to simply skip the cleaning preparation and go straight for the base coat.
Keep in mind that most experts recommend leaving asbestos-containing materials alone as long as they are in good condition. The risk of accidently damaging the item and releasing the fibers is much more dangerous than simply leaving the item alone. In fact, unbroken asbestos-containing materials that are still intake pose little to no risk. The risk doesn’t come into play until the material is disturbed.
How To Put Plaster Over Asbestos
Knowing how to properly put plaster over asbestos can help lower the chance of coming into direct contact with this cancer-causing substance.
The first thing to do when putting plaster over asbestos is to ensure the surface isn’t damaged in any way. If it is, immediately stop what you are doing and seek the help of a professional. If the asbestos isn’t damaged, apply several coats of PVA bonding agent over the asbestos surface.
You should allow each coat to dry between applications. Once the base coats are applied and dry, scoop up some plaster on your plaster trowel and skim it over the surface.
Pull the trowel away from you and toward you, spreading the plaster about 1/4 inch thick over the surface. Take care not to scrape the asbestos surface with the trowel. Continue in this manner until you have completely covered the surface with the plaster. Wait for at least one week before painting the plaster surface.
Remember that if you come in contact with asbestos-containing material that has been broken or damaged, you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible.
Additionally, you should refrain from trying to clean up broken asbestos materials until you have spoken with your local courthouse to find out their rules and regulations for cleaning and disposing of hazardous materials.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on December 2, 2022.
No matter what, however, you should never sweep, dust, or vacuum up the materials, and instead should use a wet mop and an HEPA air filter to help reduce the chance of breathing in the airborne asbestos fibers.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on December 2, 2022.