If your house was built before 1983, there is a strong possibility that it does contain asbestos in several areas—in the ceiling (popcorn texture), flooring, roofing, drywall, and textured walls, to name a few. So how can you tell if your old house has asbestos?
The best way to tell if your house has asbestos is to collect samples of the material and have it examined by an asbestos testing lab for the presence of asbestos. You can do the work yourself or hire a certified AHERA building inspector—someone who has been trained to work around asbestos-containing material—to perform a survey of your home and collect the samples for analysis to determine if they contain asbestos.
How to test for asbestos
The good news is that it is not too difficult for you to perform asbestos-containing material collection and get them to an asbestos lab for testing. You must make sure to follow some critical steps before you start. First, figure out what it is that you want to be tested for asbestos. For example, wood is not considered an asbestos-containing material. Get a good knife, small jars, a marker, latex gloves, a spray bottle with some soapy water, and wear a mask if possible. Then clear the area and close any doors, turn off fans and any other ventilation system in the room. Cut about a three-inch square of the material, make sure to get all the layers, place each in a jar, label them with a number, and write down the location. Get two samples for each type of building material from different sections.
Find a local asbestos testing lab where you can drop off your samples or locate an asbestos testing lab online. The lab will provide you with an asbestos chain of custody form to fill out. Make sure to follow their instructions so they can best assist you. The asbestos testing lab will examine each sample under PLM for the presence of asbestos and deliver results that will indicate if there is asbestos or not. If asbestos is detected, the results will show the percentage and type of asbestos in the material.
Asbestos testing cost?
When you collect the material yourself, you will save at least $200—the cost to have a certified inspector do the job instead. But you will pay anywhere from $25-$45 per sample to test the models for the presence of asbestos.
Asbestos testing lab
If you need an asbestos lab to test your building material for asbestos, 5 Microns Inc can help. We provide asbestos testing and deliver the results within 24-hours from receipt and same-day service. Our standard turn-around time is 2-3 business days. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for details at 425-440-8787. You can also email us: clientservices@5microns.tech. The chain of custody form can be found at
Where can I send a sample for asbestos testing?
5 Microns Inc.
7100 Fort Dent Way #100
Tukwila, WA 98188
Mail-in 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 sample(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).
*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!
5 Microns Inc. Sample Drop Box
Asbestos testing lab near me
5 Microns Inc.
7100 Fort Dent Way #100
Tukwila, WA 98188
O 425-440-8787
M-F 9-5, Sat 9-3:30
Asbestos
Mold
Drinking-Water
Radon Gas
Air Quality
Testing Lab
MBE, DBE: D3M0026650
Asbestos testing near me
If you have a big remodeling project or a demolition, you need to hire a professional asbestos survey of the property. Your local building department will likely require it. Don’t hesitate to contact 5 Microns Inc. for assistance. We can perform a complete asbestos survey by our certified asbestos inspectors.
