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Should I test for asbestos?-2

By August 29, 2021October 4th, 2021Asbestos
Should I test for asbestos?

You are now living the American dream—buying your first house in a nice neighborhood with good schools and lots of great restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. You plan on raising your family in this house and stay there for the rest of your natural life. But you have an old house built in the 1960s, and you’ve heard about the dangers of asbestos and how it was used in homes from that era, so should you test for asbestos?

Should I test for asbestos?

You should only be concerned with the dangers of asbestos in your home if it is disturbed. For instance, when you decide to remove and replace old vinyl flooring, which may contain asbestos, or when you have a textured ceiling that you want to remove. In the process of removing the aforementioned asbestos-containing material, the asbestos fibers become loose and airborne. They, therefore, can be inhaled and lodge in your lungs, which can cause scarring and cancer. So unless you plan on disturbing asbestos-containing material in your house, yes, you should test for asbestos, but if not, there is no need to test for the presence of asbestos.

Asbestos testing lab

The material is first collected by either you or a professional with an AHERA certification to conduct a survey and gather the asbestos-containing material for testing by an asbestos testing lab. When you need to test asbestos-containing material, the actual testing part (not the sampling) is performed by an asbestos testing lab. The laboratory will examine the sample using Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM). The lab will report the presence, type, and percentage of asbestos in the piece.

Asbestos testing near me

When it comes time to test your house for asbestos, find a reliable inspector with a current valid AHERA certification. Only a professional with this certification can handle the survey part of asbestos testing. Your local building department likely has a list of consultants in your area that you can call for an estimate.

Asbestos testing cost

The average cost to test for asbestos ranges from $25 per sample to $60 per sample, and a professional adds an extra $200 to conduct the survey. But a commercial project in more significant buildings can start from $1500 to $8,000. Get a few estimates but make sure there is no conflict of interest—the company or individual conducting the testing is not the abatement contractor.

Asbestos testing lab near me

If you are looking for a good, reliable, and professional company to test your house for asbestos, talk to the inspectors at 5 Microns Inc. They are true professionals and will provide valuable information. Their hour of operation are Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday from 9 am to 3:30 pm. Standard turnaround time is two business days, with same-day and following business day options.

Call 425-440-8787 Now!

Where can I send a sample for asbestos testing?

5 Microns Inc.

7100 Fort Dent Way #100

Tukwila, WA 98188

IMPORTANT-MUST READ FIRST: All mail-in samples must have a tracking number and include our asbestos chain of custody form to be processed. If the chain of custody form is missing, your piece (s) will not be accepted and processed. Drop-offs MUST have the COC form inside your package but not in the sample bag. DO NOT MAIL YOUR SAMPLES BY FIRST CLASS MAIL. Send your sample(s) via USPS Priority Mail, UPS, and FedEx. It is essential to closely follow these directions so our asbestos testing lab can promptly process your sample(s).

Mail-in asbestos testing

*PLEASE NOTE FOR ALL DROP-OFFS: All samples must be dropped off at the back of the office building located at 7100 Fort Dent Way Tukwila WA outside the Tabor 100 Office and placed inside the black drop-box pictured below. Do not take your samples to the front desk. The front desk will not accept drop-offs over the counter, NO EXCEPTIONS