A Home Owners list of Frequently Asked Questions for Asbestos

I may have some asbestos in my home, how do I test for it?

In California you should hire a Certified Asbestos Consultant to do the test. It is illegal for a contractor to collect samples or test for asbestos. California Business and Professions Code specifically states 7180(e). No licensed contractor or asbestos abatement contractor may provide professional health and safety services or perform any asbestos risk assessment. Only a licensed California Asbestos Consultant (CAC) or a Certified Site Surveillance Technician (CSST) working under the direction of a CAC can collect asbestos samples or as the law says perform any asbestos risk assessment. There is an exception, if a contractor has completed the AHERA/ASHARA Building Inspector Course and has taken the annual refreshers the contractor can collect up to ten samples as long as they do not disclose to anyone else what the results were. So if a contractor wants to collect samples they should not tell you what they found. It is against the law for the contractor to charge you for the testing. If you are worried about paying a professional to test, you should realize that the CAC does not have a financial interest in finding asbestos and is impartial. The Contractor on the other hand needs to find asbestos so that he can make some money by removing it.

I still want to find out if the ceiling or flooring in my home has asbestos, but I do not want to hire anybody, how can I find out?

I do not recommend that you do your own testing. If you went to a Doctor and asked how you could do your own blood test, it would be the same sort of idea. That being said, You can collect the sample yourself and send it to a laboratory that is qualified to test for asbestos. Be very careful to not disturb the ceiling or flooring. Do not use a vacuum cleaner to clean up, use a damp paper towel and put it in a plastic then put it in the trash. Lastly, remember my Dad’s advice “A stingy person always pays more”.

I found out that my neighbors had asbestos in their ceiling, should I just assume mine is the same?

You should test your ceiling anyway. What is in the neighbors may or may not mean anything. If you have a Condo or homes that were built at the same time by the same builder, perhaps there could be a trend. Asbestos is dangerous enough so that it is worth the peace of mind to just get it tested by a professional. The right professional is a Certified Industrial Hygienist who has their state asbestos consultant certification, not your friendly asbestos removal contractor. See the first question.

I had my asbestos ceiling removed and the contractor damaged the walls with tape and glue. What should I do?

Thank the Contractor, they did a good job. If the walls do not have some tape damage, the contractor did not do a good job protecting the rest of the house. Expect some superficial damage, you are going to have to re-plaster and repaint anyway.

I do not want to move out when they do the asbestos removal, what can I do?

Take a vacation, get real-- these people are going to disturb a Class 1 human carcinogen. You will move out, and you will get all your stuff out of the house when they do the removal. Otherwise you risk getting all your stuff contaminated. If you trust the contractor to remove all your furnishings and clothing, you will pay a lot more for the removal. You just might find that some of your furnishing and clothing will disappear or get damaged. When you remove asbestos from your home, it is as if you moved out and then moved in to a new place. There are no easy answers. 

Where do I find a Good Asbestos Removal Contractor in California?

That is difficult, the definition of the lowest bidder is (The guy who is wondering what he forgot to charge for or left out). Use the DOSH database to find a Contractor near you-–You can search by City. If they are not listed by DOSH do not hire them under any circumstances. Then check if they have any OSHA Citations, if they have citations consider other more capable contractors. Be careful about recommendations from exuberant clients, often a removal contractor who is not qualified or very sloppy has a good reputation simply because asbestos contamination is invisible. There have been cases where contractors have dumped asbestos illegally and contaminated the home and front lawn. The homeowner never knew or understood how badly the job was done. Asbestos at dangerous levels is invisible and will remain for long periods of time. There are no immediate effects from asbestos exposure, but it can cause cancer after twenty to thirty years.

Are there any other places that I can find out about asbestos?

Yes, try the EPA Site.  The EPA has a good article written by the American Lung association titled "Asbestos in Your Home".

What about the home asbestos test kits?

IMHO They are a real waste of your money, and dangerous to boot. Have a licensed person conduct the testing.