Category: Asbestos

Winchester, VA, known for its beautiful Historic District along with its fine dining, museums, arts and entertainment, and farmers markets, still houses and employs many people with homes and businesses that were built years ago when asbestos was used for insulation, shingles, cement, and tiles. If you live in a home built before 1980, the possibility of having some sort of asbestos in your home is almost certain.

Are you at risk?

Possibly. If you find something in your home that you think might possibly contain asbestos, leave it alone. As long as you do not disturb asbestos-containing materials, you should be safe. If you are indeed uneasy or if you see any asbestos-containing materials falling apart, you need to call an asbestos contractor in Winchester, VA.

An asbestos contractor will have a team of professionals who will come to your home, do an inspection of your home for asbestos-containing materials by taking samples and then send them to an independent lab for evaluation. Depending on the results, your asbestos contractor may then design a plan for the removal of the asbestos-containing materials.

Process of Hiring an Asbestos Contractor

• Are they licensed and insured?
• Can they provide you with references with other customers in Winchester, VA who have had similar work done for them? They should be able to provide you with several references which you should contact to see if these customers were satisfied with their work.
• Consider the costs that that an asbestos contractor is quoting you for an asbestos removal and understand what services it includes such as inspection, air monitoring removal, clean up, waste removal and repairs.
• Obtain bids from several different asbestos contractors in Winchester, VA to cover all labor costs, materials, insurance, bonding, air monitoring costs, and asbestos waste disposal fees. Request a written plan from each contractor with a description of their plan for the asbestos removal.

Compare the services of each asbestos contractor in Winchester, VA to the cost in their bids and make sure you take into consideration the references of how each customer rated each of the contractor’s work.

An asbestos contractor in Washington, D.C. can inspect your home in Washington, D.C. for asbestos. They can take samples, access the situation and then give you a plan to rid your home of asbestos. When hiring an asbestos contractor, you need to inquire about their certifications and licenses required by your state. You can check with your state’s department of environmental protection or health for a list of accredited professionals.

What An Asbestos Contractor Can Do For Asbestos?

• Non-contaminated movable items will be removed from the work area.
• Plastic sheeting will be applied to walls and floors to isolate the work area from the rest of the home or basement. This is known as containment or enclosure.
• A three-chambered decontamination unit equipped with a working shower connecting to the work area will be set up. This is known as a “decon.” Workers who wear protective clothing, such as respirators and protective suits, must use the “decon” when entering and leaving the work area.
• A HEPA filter equipped negative air machine, known as a HEPA unit, creates negative air pressure within the containment area to keep airborne asbestos fibers from leaving the containment
• An airless sprayer will be used to keep the asbestos containing material wet during the removal process.
• Air sample pumps will collect air samples during the removal process.
• Any asbestos materials being removed will be put into a sealed plastic bag.

Choosing a professional to remove asbestos is not going to be the same contractor who does home repair or remodeling. They do not have the proper certification nor employ certified workers who are equipped to work with asbestos safely. If you hire someone who is not qualified, you put your family in great danger.

Proper equipment and the expertise to do the work properly will prevent the spread of asbestos fibers throughout your home.  An asbestos contractor in Washington, D.C. is professionally trained in environmental safety to remove asbestos safely and document the complete removal for future reference should you decide to sell your home.