COST OF ASBESTOS REMOVAL

Evaluate the need for asbestos removal with help from a licensed asbestos abatement contractor

October 19, 2010 – The cost of asbestos removal can vary widely depending on the extent of its presence, but it is seldom cheap.

Asbestos is a hazardous material once used extensively in many building products, including attic insulation, ceiling and floor tiles, heating pipe and boiler insulation, asbestos wallboard, and many others. Consequently, the toxic material is deeply embedded in most public and residential buildings constructed before 1980, when the government began regulating its use.

Depending on the work involved, the cost of asbestos removal can range anywhere between $500 to $30,000 or more.

Certain asbestos removal companies require a minimum fee as high as $2,500, even for small jobs. Others will charge $500 or more for a small amount of asbestos ceiling removal or to remove insulation around a 10-foot section of pipe.

But if your home has asbestos in the ceilings, basement, floors, walls, roof and pipes, the complete cost of asbestos removal could be as high as $30,000 or more. However, it is an unusual case when asbestos is found everywhere.

Complete removal in a 2,000-square-foot home will usually cost about $2,000 to $4,000, on average. If you shop around for licensed contractors on the Internet, you’ll find competitive prices.

Asbestos was once prized for its intrinsic properties but is now condemned as a carcinogenic material. Valued for properties that include resistance to flame, heat, electricity and corrosion, the building and construction industries used it abundantly throughout the 20th century.

The United States is one of the very few countries that has not totally banned its use. And to this day asbestos is still used in the U.S. construction and automotive industries, and continues to be an ongoing health threat to workers in both fields.

To reduce costs, hire two contractors

To help keep the cost of asbestos removal to a minimum, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises hiring two different contractors: one to inspect the property and another to perform the asbestos removal. If the same company performs both activities there could be a conflict of interest, says the EPA, and costs could escalate.

Identifying asbestos is just one job of a licensed asbestos control professional. First ask an independent inspector to identify any asbestos on the property, where it is located, and if it causes a potential health problem; this evaluation will help eliminate unnecessary removal work. An inspector can evaluate whether the materials can be contained (encapsulated) instead of removed, a choice that will help lower the cost of the actual asbestos removal.

Weitz & Luxenberg

Weitz & Luxenberg is known coast to coast for obtaining record-setting verdicts and settlements for asbestos-injured workers who come to us for legal representation.

Protect your family's financial future today. If you have been diagnosed with an occupational asbestos disease, obtain a free, comprehensive and private consultation with an asbestos cancer attorney at Weitz & Luxenberg through the communication form at left.