There was a time when some contractors would simply ignore their asbestos abatement and licensing obligations. If they got caught by authorities, they could avoid responsibility—and penalties—by pleading ignorance. “They can’t play that game anymore,” says Kim MacFarlane, marketing manager at P.W. Stephens Environmental, Inc. in Fremont. “Today, everyone knows about asbestos.”
Ms. MacFarlane says it’s crucial to hire a contractor with proper abatement licensing and insurance. Otherwise, both the contractor and homeowner risk being fined. She recommends hiring a large company with the in-house resources to handle projects of every size. When small companies take on jobs, particularly large ones, they subcontract to outsiders who might lack the skills—and even the certifications—to work in the tightly regulated abatement industry.
If you suspect you have asbestos in your home, it’s best to contact a professional for immediate testing and removal. Before the work begins, consider the following precautionary tips:
• Don’t dust, sweep or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos.
• Don’t saw, sand, scrape or drill holes in asbestos materials.
• Don’t use abrasive pads or brushes on power strippers to strip wax from asbestos flooring. Never use a power stripper on a dry floor.
• Don’t sand or try to level asbestos flooring or its backing. When asbestos flooring needs to be replaced, install new floor covering over it whenever possible.
• Don’t track material that could contain asbestos through the house.
Once asbestos is removed from your home, there are numerous Green replacement options to consider, including cotton fiber, cellulose and Icynene foam (a nontoxic, water-based polyurethane spray). These recycled building materials can simultaneously reduce landfill waste and decrease annual energy costs up to 25 percent.
