Asbestos Testing

When is it most important to get asbestos testing performed?

When you are planning to buy or sell a property.

If you have started looking into buying or selling a property, hiring a licensed inspector to test for and identify the presence or absence of asbestos, in building materials, can be an important step.  This is especially true if the structure is an older one. If you are considering investing in a property, it is important to identify asbestos hazards prior to the purchase, in order to plan for the financial expenses involved its removal. As a buyer, requesting an asbestos inspection can give you peace of mind. On the other hand, as a seller, it can prepare you to ease the selling process of your home by having it ready so that you move along more quickly.

Before remodeling.

When planning your upcoming projects such as knocking out a wall, changing your flooring, tearing down part of a structure, adding on to a structure, or any large scale remodeling project, it is wise to have a licensed inspector perform an asbestos inspection before beginning to avoid any unnecessary exposures and unknown expenses (asbestos abatement). 

How is asbestos detected in a structure?

Unfortunately, asbestos cannot be detected by sight or smell. In order to detect asbestos fibers in building materials, samples must be collected and analyzed by a NVLAP certified laboratory by use of different methods such as Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) or Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Once identified, a plan to remove the asbestos containing material (ACM) under EPA and OSHA regulations can be drafted.