If you plan to do renovations to your old house, some things may require demolition. You may have to remove old flooring, exterior finishes, insulation, plumbing and other building materials. When you do this, there may be several hidden hazards in the walls of your home. Sometimes, covering the materials is fine, but more often than not, you will have to have them removed. Here are some of the hidden dangers that you should be aware of when doing renovations to your home:

1. The Hidden Dangers Of Asbestos Building Materials

One of the most common hazardous materials that you can find in your home are asbestos products. This mineral can be found in insulation, pipes, wiring, roofing, siding and even flooring materials. It has been used in many building products for decades and can even be found in some materials up until the 1990s. If you suspect you have asbestos materials in your home, you will want to have them tested and removed by a professional service. For more information, contact Infinity Enterprises or a similar company.

2. Lead Paint And Having It Safely Removed From Your Home

Lead paint is another common hazard that is found in buildings with old paint. It can be very dangerous because children can easily ingest paint materials. It has to be removed by a professional service and disposed of properly. To protect your family from high levels of lead exposure, you will want to have any lead paint removed from your home. Sometimes, old lead paint may be covered with newer materials, which you will still want to have removed if it has been exposed to prevent any problems and ensure that your home is healthy.

3. Valuable Lead As Old Shower Liners And Waterproofing Membranes

Lead can also be found in other places that you may not expect. In many old showers and bathrooms, thick lead sheets were used as shower pans. They can also be used as membranes to protect from moisture such as in a sauna or in a bathroom with a custom tub or tile flooring. This material is very valuable, but still hazardous. If you can remove it yourself, you can take it to a recycling center and get a lot of cash for it. You will just want to wear proper clothing and protection when removing the lead sheeting. Requirements for removing it are not as strict as with lead paint and other materials, so you can do it yourself. To be safe, you may want to check with your local regulators before doing this yourself.

4. PCBs In Different Types Of Building Products

PCBs are another type of hazardous materials that can be found in many building materials.  These organic compounds can be found in materials such as electrical systems, caulking and rubber building products in your home. They were banned in the 1970s, but can still be found in many building products, especially when renovating a home that predates their ban.  These materials cause a variety of health problems and need to be removed by a professional hazardous materials service.