You have a house with popcorn texture on the ceiling that you would like removed and add recess lighting, but you are afraid of disturbing the popcorn surface if it contains asbestos. A friend gave you the idea to cover the ceiling with sheetrock to avoid disturbing the material. As a measure of precaution, you want to make sure to get it tested before doing anything.
If your project involves removing popcorn texture and installing new recess lighting in a house pre-1978, you should test for asbestos to protect the occupants. Test the insulation and the popcorn texture for asbestos as these two building materials are classified as asbestos-containing. You can cover the popcorn texture with sheetrock, but you may still disturb the material in the process, however. By covering the ceiling texture with sheetrock, you are only saving money on asbestos abatement.
How to test for asbestos
When you want to test for asbestos in the popcorn texture, you can choose to do it yourself or hire a professional. If you hire a contractor to do the remodel, they will usually want the testing performed by an asbestos professional to ensure that it was done correctly. The contractor may also want an AHERA report—an asbestos survey report—that shows the consultant’s certification, but not all contractors will require it. In that case, you can collect the samples yourself and get them tested for asbestos. Get a good ladder, a knife, a half-face mask with P100 filters, some latex gloves, a spray bottle with soapy water
Asbestos testing lab near me
You decided to take the samples by yourself and did an excellent job, now comes the best part—finding out if the material is hot or not. To do this, you’ll need to take them to an asbestos testing lab. Fiding a lab that will test your pieces for asbestos in your local area can be found online. Search for “asbestos testing lab near me” to find a good lab. Ask the asbestos testing lab what type of certification they hold for asbestos testing. The laboratory will test the items using the Polarized Light Microscopy method. The results will reveal the presence, type, and percentage of asbestos.
Asbestos testing near me
When you’re not comfortable with getting the sample yourself, or you are in a situation that requires professional assistance, find an experienced asbestos consultant through your local building department’s asbestos office. You can also do an online search for “asbestos testing near me.” 5 Microns Inc. can help you with all of your asbestos testing needs. We offer lab testing, and asbestos surveys, and inspections. Our consultants are AHERA certified and will treat your home and business with respect. We collect samples inconspicuously. We are available Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM. Call 425-440-8787 Now!
Asbestos testing cost
A professional asbestos cost will include the survey, a full report, and testing for about $450, but if you need testing from an asbestos testing lab, the price will be around $25 per sample layer.
