{"id":7935,"date":"2022-05-30T00:38:28","date_gmt":"2022-05-30T00:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/?post_type=blog&p=7935"},"modified":"2023-02-13T23:54:56","modified_gmt":"2023-02-13T23:54:56","slug":"can-you-cover-over-asbestos-soffits","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/es\/asbestos-blog\/se-pueden-cubrir-los-sofitos-de-asbesto\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Cover Over Asbestos Soffits?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Short Answer: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decorative soffits made before 1980 can release harmful asbestos fibers to anyone below, potentially leading to health problems. Property owners can be liable for hazards on their property, and that can include not inspecting and removing (or covering) asbestos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Removal and replacement by a professional with protective gear is the best option, despite the cost. But PVC pipe can generally be used to cover asbestos soffits. Having a professional<\/a> conduct an asbestos air test<\/a> after is always a good idea, and can guard against anyone developing health problems (as well as liability by the land owner or resident).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to Address Asbestos Soffits in Your Home, Workplace or Other Building<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Generally, superficial solutions never work. However, this rule of thumb usually doesn\u2019t apply to asbestos-laced soffits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A soffit, which means \u201csomething fixed underneath,\u201d is any finishing material, such as wood or fiber cement, that covers the underside of a roof overhang. Back in the day, builders used asbestos in soffits as both a fireproofing material and as a filler. Most soffits aren\u2019t very durable, since they\u2019re mostly decorative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roofs with Asbestos Can Degrade and Release Harmful Asbestos Fibers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As for PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), there are some very good reasons why this polymer is one of the most widely-used<\/a> outdoor coverings in the world. It\u2019s completely impervious to water, which means it never breaks down in the elements. Most of the world\u2019s PVC comes from China, Japan,and Taiwan. Factories in these countries usually add plasticizers to PVC, making it more flexible and softer without sacrificing durability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens when you mix these two things? PVC permanently covers any soffit hairline cracks which could allow asbestos fibers to escape into the air.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Asbestos Exposure Illnesses<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Asbestos, a fibrous mineral that\u2019s chemically similar to talc, isn\u2019t inherently harmful. However, a single airborne microscopic fiber<\/a> could cause many serious illnesses<\/a> which are usually fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mesothelioma, perhaps the condition most commonly associated with asbestos exposure, is a good example. This rare form of heart-lung cancer, which only asbestos exposure causes, is very aggressive. Once these tumors fully develop, cancerous cells quickly spread to other organs, mostly because the heart and lungs supply oxygen to the entire body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These tumors are also very difficult to treat. Mesothelioma\u2019s latency period is up to seventy years<\/a>. Most people show no illness symptoms until it\u2019s too late. Furthermore, doctors often don\u2019t perform routine diagnostic tests in this area of the body. Bombarding the heart and lungs with X-rays isn\u2019t a good idea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This location also affects traditional radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy treatments<\/a>. Most patients cannot tolerate extensive radiation treatment in the meso lining between the lungs and heart. There\u2019s too much collateral damage. Because strong radiation therapy isn\u2019t an option, surgery and chemotherapy aren\u2019t effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making matters worse, misdiagnosis issues are common. If a patient shows signs of lung cancer<\/a>, doctors usually assume NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer), the most common form of lung cancer, is the culprit. The treatments that control NSCLC do nothing to contain mesothelioma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other asbestos exposure illnesses, like asbestosis<\/a>, have similar issues. Asbestosis is a lung scarring disease that also has a very long latency period. At first, victims are simply out of breath following periods of intense exercise or other physical exertion. Eventually, as scar tissue blocks breathing passageways, these victims are short of breath even when they are at rest. By the time a doctor diagnoses asbestosis, the only treatment is usually a risky radical lung transplant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Asbestos Soffit Removal Issues<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Decorative soffits made before 1980 are serious property hazards. They almost certainly contain asbestos, and they almost certainly have some wear-related structural flaws. As mentioned, if one microscopic fiber escapes into the air, anyone who comes into contact with it<\/a> could develop cancers like mesothelioma<\/a> or another serious condition. The risk is too great, and for homeowners, the liability potential is too great. More on that below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PVC Can Be a More Affordable Solution for Asbestos Roofs and Soffits Containing Asbestos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

PVC usually comes in sheets. Therefore, it\u2019s pretty easy to completely cover soffits, especially if plasticized PVC is used. Use caulk or another sealant on any PVC seams. At that point, hairline fissures and other such issues aren\u2019t a hazard anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The covering method guards against stray fibers that seep through tiny openings. If the soffit is rotten or otherwise unsound, all the PVC in the world won\u2019t provide adequate protection. Removal and replacement<\/a> is the best option in these cases, unless you intend to immediately sell and vacate the building. Asbestos removal is quite expensive, given the risks to workers and cost of disposal. But the cost is usually worth paying.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Liability Matters<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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If the decorative soffits on your home were made before 1980, there\u2019s a presumption that the owner knows about the danger of asbestos exposure. As a result, if the owner had a duty of care, the owner could be financially responsible for mesothelioma and other asbestos exposure diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Landowners Can Be Liable for Not Inspecting a Building for Asbestos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In most states, this duty applies to business invitees, like shoppers, suppliers, and vendors, as well as invited social guests. A lesser duty of care could apply in some situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These owners may be able to pass the buck to the company which built and\/or installed the soffits. Of course, that\u2019s assuming this company is still in business. In the 1980s, many U.S. companies which used asbestos-laced products declared bankruptcy. Many such foreign companies are still in business. The strong civil court system in the United States forced asbestos companies to change the way they do business. That deterrence didn\u2019t happen in countries that have more industry-friendly legal systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For landowners, addressing the hazard head-on is definitely the best approach, in terms of liability. It\u2019s also the only way to protect the health and safety of business invitees and social guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you may have been exposed to asbestos, speak with your healthcare provider about tests and screening to help detect the presence of asbestos fibers and asbestos-related damage<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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AsbestosClaims.Law<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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AsbestosClaims.law is your comprehensive resource for all things asbestos. We hope this information helps you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you believe that your home was contaminated with asbestos, you could be entitled to significant compensation<\/a>\u2014money you could use to cover the costs of asbestos removal services, pay for medical treatment, and preemptively protect your physical well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to legal claims<\/a>, veterans disability<\/a>, social security<\/a> and employment protection like workers compensation<\/a>, FELA<\/a> and The Jones Act<\/a> for maritime workers, there are asbestos trusts<\/a> that have been set up to compensate those harmed by asbestos without having to file a lawsuit.
If you have any additional questions or concerns related to asbestos, including testing<\/a> for exposure or how to file a claim, please get in touch<\/a> by email at help@asbestosclaims.law<\/a>, or call or text us at (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378)<\/a> or (206) 455-9190<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":7987,"template":"","blogtag":[65],"class_list":["post-7935","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blogtag-health-and-safety-tips"],"acf":[],"x_featured_media":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Header-Soffits-pano-mobile-220x220.jpg","x_featured_media_medium":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Header-Soffits-pano-mobile.jpg","x_featured_media_large":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Header-Soffits-pano-mobile.jpg","x_featured_media_original":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Header-Soffits-pano-mobile.jpg","x_date":"mayo 30, 2022","x_metadata":{"image_header_blog":"7986","_image_header_blog":"field_5f86255998692","name_author":"AsbestosClaims.Law Staff","_name_author":"field_5fa027bb365d8","image_author":"6020","_image_author":"field_5fa02869365d9","alternative_link":"","_alternative_link":"field_5faae1f7dd7d1","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"[]","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"[\"\"]","_yoast_wpseo_estimated_reading_time_minutes":"6","_thumbnail_id":"7987","_wp_old_date":"2022-05-28","_yoast_wpseo_wordproof_timestamp":"","name_location":"","_name_location":"field_63347737c6caa","image_location":"","_image_location":"field_6334775ac6cab","_trp_translated_slug_es_ES":"se-pueden-cubrir-los-sofitos-de-asbesto","_yoast_indexnow_last_ping":"1676332496","title_location":"Asbestos Lawyer:","_title_location":"field_63dad6e7d72c9"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/7935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blogtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blogtag?post=7935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}