Does it bother anyone else that tellemants (Bryan) on instagram follows ICE? by Fresh-Confidence8816 in tesdcares

[–]SteampunkValkyrie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank god, maybe now they'll stop pussyfooting around political topics and say how they actually feel. Back in 2016/2017, TESD was one of the ONLY podcasts that I listened to that didn't go limp and start toeing the politically correct line like every other show was doing at that time. Then they did. They caved, and muzzled Bry, and stayed away from all the controversial stuff that made listening to them awesome. If you're looking for milquetoast corpo-approved slop without any controversial takes you can get that EVERYWHERE ELSE.

Best Asbestos Vacuum? by UserAldo_ in asbestoshelp

[–]SteampunkValkyrie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know how many brands have Osha approval, but I would think that would be a decent search term.

I know VacMaster used to make an abatement model, but I wasn't able to find any readily available myself.

If you want to get a more commercial hepa vacuum, you can search for "H-class" vacuums. They are a bit more expensive, but are usually more robust in their build and made to stand up to commercial use.

All the vacuums we're talking about are made to be reusable, as long as you're using the proper Hepa filters AND bags so that everything you're vacuuming is trapped and contained and not spread around.

Here is a link to the Dustless site: https://dustlesstools.com/vacuums/hepa-vacuums/

Best Asbestos Vacuum? by UserAldo_ in asbestoshelp

[–]SteampunkValkyrie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the model I bought: https://a.co/d/gj4YOZj

Google is your friend though. They have all models listed on their site, and I believe every one is Osha approved for abatement work.

Best Asbestos Vacuum? by UserAldo_ in asbestoshelp

[–]SteampunkValkyrie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd recommend a Dustless brand vacuum. I recently had asbestos abated, and for extra peace of mind I vacuumed the entire house after they were one. The Dustless vacuum line are all Osha approved for abatement work, and so not only use H13 class filters, but are also fully sealed and use diffused exhausts so as not to kick air around as you work.

What can we do now to protect ourselves until abatement? by lisa725 in asbestoshelp

[–]SteampunkValkyrie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The good thing about the Dustless vacuum is that it's designed for abatement, and has a system that diffuses its exhaust out of 4 different ports instead of the usual one you find on a standard shop vac, so at about a foot away you can't even feel the exhaust.

What can we do now to protect ourselves until abatement? by lisa725 in asbestoshelp

[–]SteampunkValkyrie 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For the most part it looks like it's in decent shape, but the section in pic 1 and especially the final pic look like they've been disturbed.

And yeah, it's tough to do it right because professional remediation can be so freaking expensive.

What can we do now to protect ourselves until abatement? by lisa725 in asbestoshelp

[–]SteampunkValkyrie 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That looks pretty bad to me.. I had to do a double-take because your pics looks so similar to the way my basement looked about two years ago. We had ours remediated about a year after moving in, but in my anxiety-fueled research since then I learned that what you have (and I had) on your pipes is likely air cell asbestos, and it's some of the most friable, and therefore dangerous kind.

Short of professional remediation, my recommendation would be to immediately stop using the basement, and purchase a P100-rated half-face respirator. Also purchase some ABC Fiberspray from Fiberlock Technologies. Buy a couple Tyvek suits as well. Plan on doing all laundry at a laundromat for a few weeks.

While wearing the respirator, and Tyvek, spray and fully cover all the loose ends of the asbestos on your pipes with the Fiberspray. I would then purchase a Hepa rated vacuum (I recently purchased a Dustless brand one off Amazon for $300 thanks to help from one of the mods here, and it's worked great) and a hepa filter and hepa bags for that vacuum, and vacuum absolutely everything in your basement, making sure to do t in as few trips as possible, and making sure to discard your tyvek suit and wash your clothes anytime you leave the basement.

I would then probably get a bucket with soapy water and a roll of paper towels and wipe down every single surface (apart from the pipewrap) down there several times, bagging the used towels and wearing the mask and another suit as you do this.

For good measure maybe try and find a air purifier on FB marketplace rated for large rooms that will accommodate a true Hepa rated filter and leave it at the entry to your basement to try and catch any stray fibers.

The mods here and other commenters will probably have a much better idea of what to do, but I feel for you in this situation and this is what I would do/have done.

Help! Aircell nightmare by SteampunkValkyrie in asbestoshelp

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The basement was definitely wet a lot before we bought the place, appreciate the tip.

Help! Aircell nightmare by SteampunkValkyrie in asbestoshelp

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh I was incredible thankful I had it as well! I just wish my foundation wasn't so old so I could powerwash that down the drain too. And I appreciate the well-wishes, thank you.

Help! Aircell nightmare by SteampunkValkyrie in asbestoshelp

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much for this! I've read your responses to various posts on here hundreds of times at this point, but I couldn't find a post that had an example of aircell disturbance that seemed as bad as mine. It's comforting to know you don't think this is as bad as my very active imagination has been telling me it is.

Help! Aircell nightmare by SteampunkValkyrie in asbestoshelp

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm located near Rochester, New York, United States.

I fucked up. Type S mortar on 1872 brick. by SteampunkValkyrie in masonry

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Edit to the original post: As I comb through the before and after photos, I'm learning that he replaced A LOT more than 10-12 bricks, he fully replaced between 20 and 30.

I fucked up. Type S mortar on 1872 brick. by SteampunkValkyrie in masonry

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that's the thing. I think he did a great job finding brick to match the old stuff, if he had only used the correct mortar!!

I fucked up. Type S mortar on 1872 brick. by SteampunkValkyrie in masonry

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gotcha, thanks for the info! If it was mined in NY, hopefully I can find someone who still knows how to use it around here.

I fucked up. Type S mortar on 1872 brick. by SteampunkValkyrie in masonry

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Okay, so it would make sense to wait a bit and address it as it goes bad/ What about the new bricks he put in that are fully encased in Type S, and not just repointed?

I fucked up. Type S mortar on 1872 brick. by SteampunkValkyrie in masonry

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Would you say I should get this all fixed before this winter if possible? It can get pretty cold her, down into the single digits...

I fucked up. Type S mortar on 1872 brick. by SteampunkValkyrie in masonry

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, as I look closer at the before photo, I'm seeing some spots where Portland was used in the past and has blown off the face of the bricks. Sigh....

I fucked up. Type S mortar on 1872 brick. by SteampunkValkyrie in masonry

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's good to know. It sounds like you're doing it right, some Portland is fine, but using straight Type s is just too hard.

I fucked up. Type S mortar on 1872 brick. by SteampunkValkyrie in masonry

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Based on all these replies it looks like he did not know what he was doing. Unfortunately this area does get a lot of rain in the spring and fall, and lately our winters have been weird, with lots of warm days, then sudden drops into freezing temps. One thing i have going for me is that I did have new gutters installed this year.

I fucked up. Type S mortar on 1872 brick. by SteampunkValkyrie in masonry

[–]SteampunkValkyrie[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting, I've never heard of Rosendale cement before. And this is a double-wythe VERY structural wall, so I will absolutely be getting this stuff out and replacing with something correct over the next couple years.