I can see asbestos!

Earlier this year, I was working with a general contractor to remodel a house with a popcorn ceiling. You know, those textured “cottage cheese” ceilings that were popular in the ’60s and ’70s? As we were walking through the house, the contractor scraped off a small piece of the ceiling, held it up to the light and exclaimed, “I can see the asbestos!”

As I tried to stifle a fit of laughter, it occurred to me that this is not an uncommon assumption. Because asbestos was heavily used in coatings like the cottage cheese ceiling and spray-on fireproofing, many people associate that texture with asbestos.

While building materials like these are easy to recognize as suspected asbestos-containing materials (ACM), it’s a dangerous assumption to think that is what asbestos looks like. Although asbestos was a common addition to these specific coatings due to its flame retardant qualities, you are not actually seeing asbestos, because asbestos is microscopic.

If you’re looking to renovate and don’t have a spray-applied coating on your ceiling, you may think you’re in the clear. But asbestos can be hiding in many other building materials, like roofing, vinyl flooring and pipe wrap.

The only way to tell if something is an ACM is to have it tested by a laboratory. Before you renovate, eliminate your risk of inhaling hidden asbestos fibers that could cause respiratory distress and illness.Call Asbestos Abatement Inc., Denver’s premier asbestos removal contractor, at 303-794-4450 to arrange testing or abatement services.

We will coordinate microscopic laboratory analysis of suspect materials, such as your popcorn ceiling and vinyl floor tiles, to determine whether or not they are ACMs. If an ACM is detected, then we have the tools and experience necessary to keep your lungs asbestos-free during your renovation.