Removal of Contaminated Materials
Popcorn ceilings, old carpet, damaged insulation — the finishes most likely to hide asbestos, mould or volatile compounds.
Some finishing materials are far more likely than others to carry a hazard. Textured « popcorn » ceilings applied before the mid-1980s frequently contain asbestos. Carpet and underlay hold years of embedded dust and, after any water event, mould. Thermal and acoustic insulation degrades and sheds fibres. Older adhesives and coatings release volatile organic compounds as they break down.
The risk is almost always created by the removal, not by the material sitting in place. Dry-scraping a textured ceiling is the single most common way a homeowner contaminates an entire house — the fibres travel through the return air system and settle in every room.
We test first, then remove under conditions matched to what the testing found. That may mean full containment with negative air for asbestos, or antimicrobial treatment and controlled drying for mould. Either way the material leaves the building bagged and sealed, and the substrate underneath is left clean and ready to refinish.
How this service works
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1
Identification and sampling of the material
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2
Selection of the removal method based on the result
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3
Isolation of the zone and shutdown of air circulation
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4
Controlled removal — wet methods, no dry scraping
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5
Substrate cleaning and preparation for refinishing
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6
Sealed disposal appropriate to the contaminant
What is included
- Testing before any material is disturbed
- Isolation of HVAC returns to stop cross-contamination
- Wet removal methods and HEPA filtration
- Antimicrobial treatment where mould is confirmed
- Substrate left clean and ready for refinishing
- Documented disposal
Standards and compliance
- Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code, Part 4 — Harmful Substances
- Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual for friable material
Not sure whether you have asbestos?
Send us a photo of the material and the age of the building. We will tell you whether testing is warranted — at no charge.