What asbestos abatement involves
Asbestos abatement starts by sealing off the work area. We hang plastic sheeting and tape off every opening. The heating and air system gets shut down so nothing moves through the ducts. Negative air machines with HEPA filters pull air out of the space so fibers stay inside.
Workers go in with suits and respirators. Material gets wetted down before it comes off, which keeps the dust low. It then goes into sealed and labeled bags for the trip to the landfill. After the consultant clears the area, interior demolition work can begin.
Where asbestos hides in older California buildings
Most of our asbestos removal work is on buildings put up before 1980. Popcorn ceiling asbestos is the one people ask about most. Spray-on ceiling texture with asbestos was banned in 1978, though crews sprayed leftover stock for years after that.
Under old carpet you often find 9 by 9 inch tile set in black asbestos floor mastic. Duct wrap, pipe insulation, drywall joint compound, and some stucco can hold it too. A survey before any residential demolition tells you which of these are in play.
What California requires before the work starts
In California the survey and the removal are two different jobs. A Cal/OSHA Certified Asbestos Consultant takes the samples and writes the report. We are an asbestos removal company, so we read that report and work from it.
Your local air district also needs notice before the work starts. The usual window is 10 working days ahead, and a demolition needs that notice even when the survey finds nothing. Each district runs its own program, so asbestos abatement in Sacramento files separately from asbestos removal in San Francisco.