Asbestos
 

Looking to renovate our home and was told we needed to test for asbestos first.

What are the chances that a company can take samples and then just saying that we do have asbestos and charging us for removal?

Anyone have experience?

Proactive Hazmat can help.

Would you risk it? The only thing I could suggest is getting a couple companies to test samples.

We have environmental reports prepared prior to taking on our portions of projects all the time. They take samples of the materials that may contain asbestos and send us back a report that states whether they do or do not. It's a straight forward process.

There are labs you can take samples to yourself for testing if you don't trust a company.

However, dealing with a reputable company who strictly does testing, they shouldnt really have any crooked side dealings with abatement contractors as there are so many out there undercutting each other it would be foolish to try and con a home owner into going with somone they have dealings with, if that made any sense lol

Abatement prices have doubled in the last year, shit ain't cheap. My company used to do abatement with myself being In charge of the projects. I basically told them I'd never do another abatement again for them after our 2nd one. Shit is for people who have nothing to live for, or are crack heads that need their fix.

If you do go with a contractor make sure they do air clearance testing after via a 3rd party company.

Our contractor wanted this testing done and the company they hired does both testing and removal which is why I am skeptical.

Is the air clearance necessary? Is it expensive? Any recommendations? The air clearance is only needed if there was any removal required right?

Anyone work with Kinetic OHS or Eco Hazmat for asbestos before?

The need for an air clearance is based on the type of asbestos / hazardous materials you're dealing with and the related abatement method. It's required to ensure that friable materials/fibres etc. have been removed via the filtered air changes during abatement (again, if required).

The cost of the air clearance will be nominal compared to the actual abatement. It does add time, though.

What do they think has asbestos?

It's pretty easy in an older home to know what does, and does not have asbestos these days considering lots of common building materials way back when used it.

They think every wall, tile or cabinet that I'm removing will need to be tested, they say they think it has it. Just that it needs to be test. House is 1981.

You should only need to test for the rooms you're renovating. I think each sample is supposed to be 2x2" min and have joint compound in it. Cost is ~$15/sample with a 1 week turnaround or ~$80ea for same day.

If the samples pass, whoever does the waste removal will need a copy of the results to show at the dump.

They're reliable and fairly well known in the industry. Also New West Gypsum uses EPOCH Enviromental to test all of their drywall in the yard.

also your hauler will require a clearance letter for the drywall if your home has tested positive for asbestos