How to Treat Undamaged Asbestos

Undamaged asbestos containing materials, such as sprayed asbestos ceilings, furnace duct tape, linoleum flooring, pipe insulation, boiler coverings, wall board joint compound, vinyl flooring and acoustic ceiling tiles, if undisturbed do not pose a health risk. If they are at risk of being disturbed during remodeling or demolition, the best course of action is to test for asbestos levels and if necessary remove the materials. You can take your own samples of the asbestos containing material, but actually removing asbestos materials presents a health risk, as the asbestos may become damaged. Leave the actual removal to the pros.

Things You'll Need

• Individually fit-tested, air-purifying respirator equipped with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA)
• Hand-held spray bottle filled with water
• Ziploc bag
• Paper towel
• Asbestos encapsulant
• Protective equipment

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Instructions

• 1

  Wear your air-purifying respirator.

• 2

  Wet the surface of asbestos material with water from a hand-held spray bottle. Wet material will not release asbestos fibers.

• 3

  Scrape a 50-cent piece-sized piece of material --- taking a complete cross section, down to the dry wall --- into your ziploc bag. Seal immediately.

• 4

  Wipe up any loose material with a soaking paper towel. Flush down the toilet.

• 5

  Seal the wet patch with an asbestos encapsulant (available from an asbestos inspector or from a hardware store) or latex paint, if you do not have an asbestos encapsulant.

• 6

  Collect at least one asbestos sample per room if asbestos is present in more than one room. Take your samples to a lab for analysis to determine if asbestos concentrations are sufficiently high that asbestos must be removed.

• 7

  Isolate the asbestos containing room. With protective equipment, get an asbestos professional to remove and replace the faulty ceiling, floor or other surface.