We are considering a complete renovation to the downstairs. \u00a0What I didn’t think about was what might happen when we take down the plaster walls and ceilings and expose the electrical, plumbing, and insulation.<\/p>\n
It just so happens that we have a hole in our ceiling in the closet (that’s another story). \u00a0So, this weekend I took out a step ladder to take a look at the insulation that might be there. \u00a0As it turns out, houses that were built in the early 1900s may not have any insulation or may have newspaper stuffed into the walls.<\/p>\n
We have some insulation that looks like batts and I noticed a “JM” on the insulation. \u00a0A quick google search for JM insulation took me to this page on Asbestos.com<\/a>. \u00a0Yikes! \u00a0It is quite possible that the insulation actually contains asbestos. \u00a0So, before we have a company come in for renovation, we are going to have the sample tested.<\/p>\n I found Ecosystems Environmental Services<\/a> in Montpelier, VA. \u00a0They test for asbestos and have the ability to do a complete abatement. \u00a0I’ll send our sample over to them to see what our next steps might be.<\/p>\n There are a lot of things to consider when purchasing an older home. \u00a0This link from the This Old House<\/a> about a couple that had to remove lead, asbestos and fix termite damage went through, is rather frightening.<\/p>\n