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Asbestos in older drywall. Do you test for it?

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needs glasses

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've had old plaster and insulation tested before for asbestos, but not drywall.

I'm doing a job and the plumber said to the HO that he wanted the drywall tested for asbestos before he cut the ceiling open.

The place was built in 1978, so asbestos was still around in construction then.

Got me thinking, maybe I too should be insisting on testing. Just wonder how far to go with it. Cutting a 2'x2' hole? A couple sheets ? etc...
 
#2 ·
Always test popcorn ceilings! Flat work can probably be skipped, unless you can tell popcorn has been scraped off, or overlaid. I've never heard of asbestos being in plaster though, was that a thing?

Oh, the lab here can do with a pretty small piece as long as all the layers are there. 1"x1"
 
#5 ·
Anything before 1980 could have it. There were a few buckets still floating around even after is was banned.

I just wish more H/Os And G/Cs would take note That Asbestos actually existed !!:whistling Whenever I bring the matter up of testing ..They all of a sudden become experts !! Telling me how wrong I am.
I tell em to have it tested then get back with me.

My Dad ate that stuff for many years . He said That joint compound was the best ever ! Today's Compound Is a joke in comparison .
He's 68 now . It ain't got him yet ! But It could tomorrow!!

I think Needs glasses ..All you need is a dime size piece . They don't need much .
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
I had it tested. I took two samples, one was wall board, other was tape and joint compound.

She told me not to bother with the board as it doesn't have it in. BUT the compound and tape tested as having 1 to 3% asbestos content.

Anyway too late now as I'd pulled a couple walls down last week, wore a good dust mask most the time. Realistically I'm sure I've pulled walls down with it in the past.

So now the job has come to a stop. HO had a fit, then calmed down, now he's considering getting someone in to take a look.
 
#8 ·
needs glasses said:
I had it tested. I took two samples, one was wall board, other was tape and joint compound.

She told me not to bother with the board as it doesn't have it in. BUT the compound and tape tested as having 1 to 3% asbestos content.

Anyway too late now as I'd pulled a couple walls down last week, wore a good dust mask most the time. Realistically I'm sure I've pulled walls down with it in the past.

So now the job has come to a stop. HO had a fit, then calmed down, now he's considering getting someone in to take a look.
Click to expand...
Job at that age drywall mud is generally presumed to be hot.

blacktop said:
That's gonna cost. As it should! I'm rolling a bet on 10k at the least.
Click to expand...
Mud has been tested as hot, only thing left to do at this point is air sample, then abate remaining compound.
 
#12 ·
blacktop said:
Anything before 1980 could have it. There were a few buckets still floating around even after is was banned.

I just wish more H/Os And G/Cs would take note That Asbestos actually existed !!:whistling Whenever I bring the matter up of testing ..They all of a sudden become experts !! Telling me how wrong I am.
I tell em to have it tested then get back with me.

My Dad ate that stuff for many years . He said That joint compound was the best ever ! Today's Compound Is a joke in comparison .
He's 68 now . It ain't got him yet ! But It could tomorrow!!

I think Needs glasses ..All you need is a dime size piece . They don't need much .
Click to expand...
thanks for the laugh, just recently had a old guy swear that mud was better and easier to put on back in the day, cause of asbestos

I've delt with asbestos a bunch, good racket to get into as far as I'm concerned, and racket it is

Here is what I know about it, but don't quote me, I just pretend to be a contractor and I'm mostly wrong, all of what I do know pertains to colorado asbestos and law

1) You can remove 32 sq ft of asbestos containing material before having to do any mitigation

2) material containing 1% or less of asbestos does not have to be mitigated

3) A tiny little bit of drywall is needed for a sample, samples are usually taken from random spots, I average 5 spots per 1000 sq ft of living space

4) Asbestos may be present in any home built up to 1990

5) Friable asbestos which was used as insulation (and lots of other stuff) will screw you up, I don't think asbestos in drywall will do that much damage to you (opinion)

6) Asbestos is in many things besides drywall, floor and tile adhesives, glues, siding, roofing

7) Most of my hot jobs come back at 2% - 4% asbestos containing, I pay anywhere between 8-12k to have a 1000 sq ft condo demo'd by a certified crew who hauls to a special landfill
 
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