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Building an extension for my mother-in-law

I love my mother-in-law but I never planned on living with her permanently. I have been enjoying her living with us now that we have kids but I feel like we all need some extra space so I am getting a granny flat built at the back of our block. This should allow us to have some extra space to make sure everyone has the privacy that they need whilst we can still be a family. This block has some tip on the process of building a granny flat including how to choose a contractor and how to get the council approval for the build.

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Building an extension for my mother-in-law

Could That Old Popcorn Ceiling Hide Something Dangerous?

by Chloe Cooper

An older, undeveloped home can be a fantastic challenge for those who love to renovate and do not mind getting their hands dirty. This property may have been vacant for some time or have been occupied by an elderly person and may have been largely untouched for a generation or more. Of course, it may take a lot of work and effort to bring it up to modern standards and to get rid of old-fashioned or out-of-date decor. However, you should exercise some caution before you start such a task in earnest and especially when it comes to those ceilings. Why do you need to think about carefully first?

Ugly and Potentially Dangerous

Many older homes that were decorated in the 70s may feature a textured ceiling, sometimes known as a popcorn ceiling. This has an irregular or bumpy appearance and may have been applied if the ceiling in question was imperfect. Unfortunately, this texture may well contain asbestos, and this could represent a significant risk if you do not approach the job properly. Certainly, the asbestos is fine if left as it is, but microscopic fibres could be released if it were to be disturbed.

Challenge Ahead

Of course, that popcorn ceiling look is very out of date and has to go, but this is not a simple job. You need to make sure that all of the texture is removed carefully with no residue and that the room is sealed off from the rest of the house as you work. You will also need to make sure that the person responsible for doing the job is protected. They will need to wear overalls, gloves, a high-quality respiratory mask and eye protection. Furthermore, all the residue will need to be carefully bagged, sealed and taken to a facility that is licensed to handle such waste.

Exercising Care

Remember, you have a duty of care to ensure that your property is as safe as possible and does not represent a risk to occupants or visitors. Consequently, you need to guarantee that this work is done carefully and with full regard to safety before you can even think about any further renovation.

Doing It the Right Way

Most people in this situation will call in a licensed asbestos removal expert. They will have a lot of experience in dealing with popcorn ceilings like this and will be able to advise you about other potential risks as well. If asbestos is indeed contained within your textured ceiling, it may also be found behind drywall, in linoleum, kitchen tiles and elsewhere.

Talk with a professional who provides asbestos removal for more information. 

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