Where to Find Asbestos

Asbestos in Renovations

Just about every renovation or remodeling project starts with what’s known as “selective demolition.” Old plaster or sheetrock walls and ceilings need to be removed to make way for new wiring and plumbing, or entire walls need to come down as rooms are reconfigured or expanded. Floors are pulled up for plumbing access or just because the old floors, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, have layer upon layer of flooring that was installed over the years. Many people know that in houses built before 1978, Lead Safe Work Practices must be used for the selective demolition. This is required by EPA, OSHA and state regulations, and is a win -win for both the tradespeople and the residents of the home – especially young children who are susceptible to damage from lead dust exposure. But many people don’t know where to find asbestos – a lesser known and more hidden hazard.

Where Can Asbestos Be Found?

Asbestos was used in many building products and is surprisingly still used in some! Pipe and furnace insulation come to mind for most people when they think of asbestos, but you can also find asbestos in many other applications as well. Vinyl floor tiles, particularly the 9″ x 9″ variety from the 1950s and 1960s, are asbestos floor tiles and there is also asbestos in flooring glue. You can find the same old linoleum flooring. Popcorn ceilings contain asbestos, as does sheetrock joint compound. The potential to disturb large amounts of asbestos during a remodeling project is huge, again putting tradespeople, residents and even neighbors at risk.

So, What to Do?

In Massachusetts, the Department of Environmental Protection requires that all remodeling projects must have all suspect materials tested before the project begins – regardless of the age of the house since building materials containing asbestos are still legally being sold. Many cities and towns are now requiring asbestos tests to be completed in order to get a building permit. If they find asbestos, any contaminated materials must then be removed by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor and the area cleared by a licensed asbestos inspector. Once the asbestos is removed and the area is cleared, the remodeling contractor can get the rest of the project underway knowing their team and the residents are safe, their liability is protected. And their project budget and schedule won’t be blown up by any avoidable surprises. 

Scheduling Asbestos Abatement: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Alpine Environmental works with remodeling contractors and homeowners for both small and large projects to get through this asbestos abatement process with minimum impact to cost and schedule.  Whether it’s just a bathroom or kitchen remodel or an entire house, having Alpine Environmental on your team from the beginning will ensure the start of your project goes smoothly.