Example Asbestos Removal Projects in Menifee

Scope of work

A visit to cut two small samples, one of the tile and one of the adhesive, sealed sample bags, lab fees and a short written report. The cut spots are wetted first and patched after. Removal, if it were needed, and the new floor would be extra.

Project overview

In this example, the owners of a 1970s house in Menifee want a floating vinyl plank floor in the kitchen and breakfast area. Their installer asks for a test of the old floor first, because the plan was to scrape it up.

The tile itself is clear, but the adhesive under it contains asbestos. Scraping would have disturbed it, so the plan changes. The new floor floats over the old tile, which stays whole and in place, and nothing needs removing.

The goal

The goal is a lab answer before any scraping, so the new floor goes in without disturbing the asbestos adhesive.

Process

1. Visit Two small squares cut out wet, bagged and labeled; the spots patched.
2. Two or three days later Lab results and a short report.
3. Then The installer floats the new floor over the old tile, with no sanding or scraping.

Planning right

• Test before the installer scrapes. Scraping is what would release the adhesive.
• A tile and its adhesive are separate samples. One can be clear while the other is not.
• Keep the report with the house papers, so the next floor job starts with the answer.
• If the old floor is loose or broken, it may need to come up after all. We check that on the visit.

Scope of work

A survey of the ceilings and the other materials in the remodel, rooms sealed with plastic and a HEPA air unit, the texture misted and scraped off room by room, sealed bags, a HEPA vacuum and wet wipe, and disposal. The district notice fee is a separate row in the price table. The remodel, new texture and paint are extra.

Project overview

In this example, the owners of a 1970s house in Canyon Lake are opening the kitchen to the living room and want smooth ceilings in the living room, hall and three bedrooms. Because a contractor will remove well over 100 sq ft, the air district rule asks for a full survey and a notice first.

The texture is positive in every room. It comes off before the remodel starts, one sealed room at a time with a HEPA unit running, and the crew and the waste hauler are cleared at the community gate each day.

The goal

The goal is bare ceilings throughout the remodel area, ready for the new layout, with the asbestos texture gone.

Process

1. Week one Survey of the ceilings and other materials; lab results and a written report.
2. Next Notice filed with the air district; work can start 10 working days later.
3. Removal days One room after another is sealed, wetted, scraped and bagged.
4. Last day Final clean and check, then the remodeler takes over.

Planning right

• Arrange gate access for the crew, the hauler and any tester before the start date.
• Plan where furniture will go while each room is sealed.
• Doing every ceiling at once costs less per foot than room by room over years.
• Keep furniture out until the last room is clean.

Scope of work

A survey of every material in the house and in the fire debris, from the roof and siding to each floor and ceiling, about 20 samples, lab fees and a written survey for the demolition permit. Clearing the positive debris and texture and the demolition cost extra.

Project overview

In this example, a kitchen fire at the back of a small 1950s house in Hemet has left it unsafe, and the owner plans to demolish it. A building damaged by fire, and its debris, still falls under the air district rule, so the survey and a notice 10 working days ahead come first.

The survey finds asbestos in the ceiling texture, including the burned pieces lying in the kitchen, and nothing in the siding, roof or floors. The debris is wetted and bagged before the demolition, and a copy of the notice goes with the permit application.

The goal

The goal is a written survey that lets the demolition go ahead safely, with the burned asbestos texture cleared first.

Process

1. Visit Samples from the roof, siding, walls, ceilings, floors and the fallen debris.
2. Within a week Lab results and the written survey.
3. Next Debris and ceiling removal booked; demolition notice filed.
4. Ten working days later Demolition can start once the positive material is out.

Planning right

• Keep people out of a fire-damaged house until the debris is tested. Burned texture crumbles easily.
• Ask your insurer early whether the survey and removal are covered.
• The demolition permit application asks for a copy of the notice.
• Wet down debris before anyone moves it, and do not sweep it.

Scope of work

A survey of the floor layers, the carpet and pad taken up, the rooms closed off with plastic, the tiles lifted whole and wet, sealed and labeled bags, a HEPA clean and disposal. Budget the district fee from the price table as well. The new floor is extra.

Project overview

In this example, the owners of a 1960s house in Sun City want one smooth floor with no edges or thresholds, so a walker rolls easily from the living room to the dining room and hall. Pulling back the carpet in front of the fireplace shows old tile on black adhesive.

The tile is positive and the adhesive is not, and the new floor needs a flat base, so the tile comes up. At about 900 sq ft the job needs a full survey and a notice first. The tiles are lifted whole and wet, and the clear adhesive is left for the installer to level.

The goal

The goal is a clean, level base through all three rooms, ready for a step-free floor.

Process

1. Week one Survey of the floor layers and lab results.
2. Next Notice filed; the 10-working-day wait runs.
3. Days one and two Carpet and pad out, rooms closed off, tiles lifted whole and bagged.
4. Days three and four Last tiles out, the floor cleaned and checked for the installer.

Planning right

• Do not pull up old tile to see how much there is. A cut-back corner of carpet is enough for the survey.
• The installer decides how flat the base must be; we stop at that point.
• Plan where to live during the work if the main rooms are closed off.
• The hearth tiles are a separate material. Tell us if they will change too.

Scope of work

Samples of the tape and the board, plastic over the closet floor and doorway, the collar tape removed wet and bagged, a HEPA clean and disposal. The new furnace, air conditioner and duct connection are on the installer’s bill.

Project overview

In this example, the installer has taken the old furnace out of a hall closet in a 1960s Sun City house and stopped at the old white tape around the duct collar and the gray board lining the back wall. The tape tests positive; the board turns out to be a newer cement board with no asbestos.

Because the job is far below 100 sq ft, the air district needs no notice. The tape comes off wet inside plastic in one morning, the board stays, and the installer fits the new equipment to a clean closet.

The goal

The goal is a clean closet ready for the new system, with the asbestos tape gone and the clear board kept.

Process

1. First visit Samples of the collar tape and the closet board go to a lab.
2. Removal morning Plastic over the floor and doorway, collar tape removed wet and bagged.
3. Same day Closet vacuumed and wiped, ready for the installer.
4. Next day The new furnace and air conditioner go in and the collar is resealed.

Planning right

• If an installer finds old tape or board, it is right to stop and test.
• Gray board is not always old. Here the test cleared it, and it stays.
• Ask the installer to seal the new collar with foil tape or duct mastic.
• Ducts that stay keep their sealed joints. We do not open what is not being replaced.

Scope of work

A lab test of the floor, the bathroom sealed with plastic, the toilet pulled by the plumber, the sheet vinyl and its backing removed wet, sealed bags, a HEPA clean and disposal. The subfloor repair and new floor are extra.

Project overview

In this example, a leak under the toilet in a 1970s single-wide has left the bathroom floor soft. The subfloor has to be replaced, and the old sheet vinyl on top has a backing that tests positive.

At about 45 sq ft, the job is under 100 sq ft, so it needs no air district notice. The vinyl and backing are cut and lifted wet inside plastic, and the floor is clean before the subfloor comes out.

The goal

The goal is a dry, clean bathroom floor frame ready for a new subfloor, with the asbestos backing gone.

Process

1. First visit Sample of the vinyl and backing goes to a lab; the soft area is checked.
2. Before work Plumber pulls the toilet; park manager told the dates.
3. Removal day Bathroom sealed, vinyl and backing removed wet and bagged, room cleaned.
4. Then The subfloor is replaced and the new floor and toilet go in.

Planning right

• Stop the leak first and let the floor dry before any work.
• Do not tear wet vinyl. The backing comes apart and sheds fibers.
• Water damage often spreads under the wall. The repair crew checks before closing up.
• Tell the park office about the dates and where the waste will be kept.