Asbestos pre-renovation survey

Test it before you tear it out.

Remodels, flips and repairs on older Michigan homes disturb exactly the materials that used to contain asbestos. A survey before the work tells your contractor what is safe to cut and what is not, and keeps one dusty afternoon from becoming a long problem.

Book a pre-renovation survey

Person walking an empty renovated room with a tablet

Room by room, what gets sampled

We test the materials your scope of work will touch, not the whole house by default.

FloorsVinyl and asphalt tile, sheet flooring and the black mastic glue under them.Common in pre-1980 homes

CeilingsPopcorn texture, acoustic tile and plaster that is about to be scraped or removed.Often 1950s–1980s

WallsPlaster, joint compound and wall texture, tested before sanding or demolition.Dust is the problem

Siding & roofCement siding shingles, roofing felt and roof cement ahead of a re-roof or re-side.Durable until it is broken

Pipe & duct wrapInsulation on older heating pipes, ducts and boilers in basements.Frequently crumbly

AtticLoose-fill insulation, including vermiculite, which can contain asbestos.Do not disturb it

Windows & doorsOld glazing putty and caulk that gets chiseled out during replacement.Easy to overlook

Furnace & ductworkGaskets, tape and wrap around older heating equipment.Check before replacing

Why testing first pays for itself

If a lab confirms asbestos, you can plan: abatement first, or work around the material. If nothing is found, everyone starts work with a written all-clear.

Protects your crew, your family and your neighbors
Avoids stop-work surprises halfway through a job
Gives lenders, insurers and buyers a paper trail
Lets you bid abatement and renovation as one plan

Contractor in a hard hat reviewing an inspection report on a tablet

Hand it to your contractor

The survey is written so a contractor can scope the work from it. Results by room and material, no jargon.

Before you remodel

Do I need asbestos testing before a remodel?

If the house is older and you will sand, cut, drill, demolish or tear out walls, ceilings, floors, siding or roofing, testing first is the safe and often required move. It also protects the contractors working for you.

Which materials get tested?

Only the materials your project will actually disturb: flooring and mastic, ceiling texture, plaster and joint compound, siding, roofing, pipe insulation and similar.

Can I test the material myself?

Taking a sample disturbs the material, which is the very thing that creates risk. An inspector collects samples with controls in place, and a lab confirms the result.

What if my contractor says it is fine?

Appearance cannot confirm asbestos. Ask for lab results in writing before any work that disturbs the material begins.

Keep reading: what asbestos is · when it is dangerous · what not to do · all asbestos services