The Costs of Asbestos Removal in St. Louis

Decades ago, home builders used asbestos in construction since the material possesses high fire resistance, making it an ideal building material. Today, many of those homes still stand, and the asbestos used to build them remains as well. Recognized as a harmful substance today, asbestos removal in St. Louis tops most homeowners’ lists of necessary house refurbishment.

Many homeowners don’t know the cost of removing asbestos from houses or how much work goes into the removal. Below, St. Louis’s top environmental contracting company shares the reasons that asbestos removal can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Asbestos Square Footage

Asbestos removal prices start by determining how much of the material needs removal. Construction specialists charge by the square footage of asbestos, with higher amounts of the material raising the removal cost.

Asbestos Location

If removal specialists can easily reach the asbestos, they won’t charge as much. Should removal require demolition, such as digging up a floor pipe, the team will need to use more equipment and preparation before removing the material.

Asbestos Type

Asbestos comes in three different types. Health hazards associated with asbestos exposure differ considering which type of asbestos a home’s construction used. 

• Chrysotile: The most common type of asbestos found in older homes, chrysotile fibers measure at about .5 or .6 microns. 
• Crocidolite: Measuring in at .7 to .9 microns, experts consider crocidolite asbestos as the most dangerous type. The fibers in this asbestos commonly cause mesothelioma if handled unsafely.
• Amosite: While appearing less than the other types of asbestos, amosite measures at .2 to .26 microns, making this the only asbestos that passes through HEPA vacuums used for asbestos removal.

Cost of the Asbestos Test

While an asbestos test can inform a homeowner of the presence of the material, following up the removal with another test provides peace of mind that the removal worked. A professional asbestos inspector can conduct initial testing and recommend removal if necessary. Homeowners wanting to ensure they have the best air possible might consider a full air quality test that looks for other air contaminants as well.

Setup for Asbestos Removal

Pulling asbestos out of a home requires multiple levels of safety and security. The priciest part of the job consists of setting up the house for the project. Plastic sheeting, placing fans and vacuums, and other preparations can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Asbestos Removal Labor Costs

Depending on a home’s amount, type, and location of its asbestos, asbestos removal labor costs range between $75 and $200 an hour. The more experienced the company, the more expensive they might rate themselves. However, especially in the case of dangerous material like asbestos, working with an experienced team minimizes the chance of missed asbestos or too much of the material kicked up into the air.

Asbestos Disposal or Encapsulation

Homeowners dealing with asbestos might choose to encapsulate the asbestos instead of removing it. Encapsulating can cost up to 20% less to perform. This procedure consists of covering the asbestos with a material too strong for the fibers to break through, ensuring a safer, healthier environment for the homeowner and their family.

If the homeowner prefers total removal, they should prepare themselves to find out how much it costs for asbestos disposal in their specific state. Since asbestos disposal requires following EPA guidelines, pricing includes purchasing specific permits to remove the material and a disposal price per cubic yard.

Why Pay for Asbestos Removal?

Many homeowners believe that they can handle asbestos removal themselves. However, asbestos fibers require special equipment and handling for safe removal. Two major reasons that homeowners choose to have asbestos removed from their homes include preventing the symptoms of illnesses caused by asbestos and planning to renovate a home.

Residents living in homes with asbestos often develop multiple symptoms of asbestosis. While most of these symptoms can also appear with other illnesses, chronic problems often indicate the presence of asbestos in the home. Symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest Pain
• Shortness of Breath

In addition, updating an older home often includes building onto the house or doing major renovations on walls, windows, or floors. These renovations can cause asbestos to kick up into the air, creating a dangerous environment for everyone in the home. Homeowners with houses built before 1979 (the year the EPA banned asbestos in building materials) should consider testing their homes for asbestos before moving forward with home renovations.

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Trust the Asbestos Removal Professionals in St. Louis

Homeowners who know their homes' construction includes asbestos or who suspect that they may have asbestos building materials in their homes should start with an air quality test. If the test reveals asbestos in the air, they should next find a reputable asbestos removal company.

For professional asbestos removal in St. Louis, MO, contact ABC Environmental Contracting Services at 314-833-8642.