Prep Work For Removing Asbestos

While asbestos removal by untrained, unlicensed, inexperienced personnel is never advisable, those who are curious about the procedure may be interested in learning how a contaminated area is prepared prior to the actual abatement work.

It Depends on Where It’s Located

There are basic procedures that apply to all asbestos removal jobs; building a containment area and wetting the contamination down with water are two of the most important things to do before getting started with the actual removal. That said, there are specific preparations for an asbestos abatement jobs that differ according the specific location inside (or outside) your home, whether it is in the siding, among roofing materials, used as pipe insulation or is present in the ceiling texture.

General Preparations

The first step is always to remove all furniture (indoor or outdoor) and light fixtures in the contaminated areas. This is particularly important if the furniture has a porous fabric covering.

The second step is to insure that absolutely no asbestos fibers are released into the atmosphere, either indoors or out. For that, you’ll need to construct a containment area.

Building an indoor containment area is a big job, but it’s a fairly simple and straight forward one. Basically, you will cover all non-contaminated surfaces with heavy polyethylene plastic, which will then be sealed with duct tape. This will need to include an "air-lock" – a transition area between the contaminated work area and the remainder of the house or apartment. This is where workers will remove and dispose of protective clothing when exiting the job area.

For outdoor areas (or if the exit of the contaminated room leads outside), it’s a little more complicated; you’ll need to build wooden frames upon which plastic sheeting is to be attached.

Regardless of whether the job is indoors or out, the principle of the "airlock" still applies; all contaminated equipment, gear and clothing must be left here, and there should be a water spray bottle, clean wet rags and an approved asbestos disposal bag available. More specific information can be found under "Building a Containment Area."

Specific Procedures

In the case of a textured ceiling, the first step in actually removing the asbestos is wetting the area. The water used should contain a few drops of liquid dish detergent; this has the effect of making the water "wetter," allowing it to spread and penetrate the surface. (NOTE: If the ceiling has been painted and you are unable to thoroughly saturate the area with water, STOP IMMEDIATELY and call a qualified asbestos abatement contractor.)

Thoroughly wetting the material insures that the asbestos fibers will not enter the air. After about twenty minutes, scrape off a bit of the ceiling material and make sure the water has penetrated all the way to the plasterboard or other substrate. If this has not happened, re-apply the water and wait another twenty minutes or so.

Once the material has reached the consistency of clay, it may be scraped off with a putty knife.

Removing floor tiles is a bit more difficult. While it is still important to wet down contaminated surfaces thoroughly, you’ll need a razor scraper and abrasive scrub pads in order to remove the old adhesives and residual linoleum.

Regardless of where the asbestos comes from, it is necessary to contain it in approved disposal bags, properly sealed, and taken only to specific disposal sites. Your state’s Department of Ecology or the regional office of the EPA will have information on these approved landfills.

'Prep Work For Removing Asbestos' Sources:

  • Minnesota Department of Health. "Asbestos Work Practices – Work Area Preparation." (State of Minnesota, 2005).
  • Utah State Department of Air Quality. "Asbestos Removal Procedures for Home Owners." (State of Utah, 2007).
  • Olympic Region Clean Air Agency. "Asbestos Procedures For Homeowners" (2007).