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Asbestos testing lab—how do you take drywall samples?

By September 17, 2021October 4th, 2021Asbestos
Asbestos testing lab—how do you take drywall samples?

Call 425-440-8787 Now!

So you’re planning on doing some home renovating—taking out the wall separating the kitchen to the dining room and expanding the main bathroom. Your contractor gives you a bid and also informs you that he will not be able to start the project until you get the walls tested for asbestos. After talking to a few AHERA consultants and getting bids, you decide to do it yourself to save some money. But you don’t know how to take drywall samples. Let’s talk about that.

How to test for asbestos

You may be surprised to find out that current drywall has the potential to contain asbestos, especially the imported drywall from the far east. The asbestos is added for strength, and you wouldn’t want your walls splitting or detaching where they join while the home is settling, would you? If you’re going to test the drywall at your house for asbestos, get yourself a good sharp knife, a couple of jars, latex gloves, a half-mask P-100 respirator, safety eyewear, and a sharpie®. Next, clear the area making sure you are alone, turn off fans, and close windows. Cut about a 3 square inch piece of the material, make sure you get all the layers, place it in the container, and label it with the location and number.

Asbestos testing lab

All your samples are now ready for testing, but who will do the testing part? An asbestos testing lab will perform the testing for the presence, type, and percentage of asbestos. The laboratory will utilize the Polarize Light Microscope or the Transmission Electron Microscope for analysis.

Asbestos testing lab near me

Don’t know an asbestos lab in your area? Get online and search for “asbestos testing lab near me,” and you should get plenty of results, and don’t limit yourself to labs in your local area; there are plenty of accredited labs that accept mail-in asbestos testing. Ask them for their terms of service and pricing. You can also contact 5 Microns Inc. for asbestos testing. Call 425-440-8787 Now!

Asbestos testing near me

If you don’t feel comfortable collecting the drywall sample yourself, you can hire a consultant with an AHERA certification to handle the matter. The professional will be able to do things properly and could save you quite a bit of money in the process. Let the experts at 5 Microns Inc. assist you. Call 425-440-8787 Now!

Mail-in asbestos testing

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).

Where can I send a sample for asbestos testing?

www.5microns.tech/forms

*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