When testing shows that there is a high amount of radon gas in a home, it will be necessary to have radon abatement procedures performed as soon as possible. Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that seeps into the basement of a home through a foundation that is not very well sealed. The gas is a naturally occurring by-product of radium decay, and because it is radioactive by nature, it has the potential to cause lung cancer in people that are exposed to it.
In the majority of cases, radon abatement will need to be performed by a professional contractor to obtain the desired result of a low radon concentration. Often these services come in the form of either radon mitigation systems, or radon elimination systems. When deciding between the two methods, one must consider the extent of the gas intrusion and the available budget.
The most common radon abatement procedure is called mitigation. Essentially, the radon gas is collected with a series of ducts as it enters the basement, and is diverted to the outside of the home with fans and a vent stack. This method is the more affordable of the two, and it is efficient at lowering the levels of radon gas.
Radon elimination is the other, more expensive, method of radon abatement. The process begins by inspecting the foundation of a home, and removing any crumbling concrete, priming the surface with a special paint, and sealing any joints with a rubber-based compound. Several coats of a rubberized paint are then added as a topcoat, over the foundation walls and the basement floor. This process completely seals the basement, eliminating radon intrusion, and as a bonus, it leaves the basement dry and ready to finish.
Either method of radon abatement will ensure that the occupying family will not suffer the ill effects of radon exposure, and, therefore, the expense is well worth it.
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