
Cost to Remove Asbestos Insulation in Your Attic: 2023 Update
Asbestos is a material that used to be often used as insulation, but only recently have people realized that this material can cause serious health risks and problems. That is why it is necessary to get rid of insulation with asbestos.
Asbestos is dangerous for the lungs and respiratory tract. It can cause cancer and other diseases. If you have found asbestos waste in your insulation and want to get rid of it, then this article is just for you. So, what is the cost to remove asbestos insulation in your attic?
The Asbestos Removal Cost Insulation in Attics
To begin with, no one will tell you the exact cost of remove asbestos insulation. There are many factors that can affect it. In this article, we will indicate the average price tags for asbestos removal methods work.
Factors affecting the price
But first let’s see what factors can influence the formation of prices:
- Place of residence – depending on which region you live in, the price tag may vary. This is due to the remoteness of your home from the office, weather conditions, etc.
- The experience of handymen – depending on the work experience, the price tag for services may increase. For example, a novice master can take 40% less in cost than an experienced one. But there are also certain risks, a beginner may lack experience and the work will be done poorly. Therefore, we recommend choosing employees with experience.
- The size of your attic – depending on the size of the attic, the area of work and the amount of materials increases, so the price for the work increases.
- The amount of insulation that you need to cost to remove asbestos insulation in your attic – depending on which perimeter you need to remove, the price will depend. If you need to remove only a certain part, then the price will be less, and if the entire insulation, then the price is more.
- The type of new insulation – depending on what new material you want to supply, the material costs also depend. For example, cellulose is the cheapest material, everything else will be more expensive.
Well, we’ve told you what the price depends on, let’s now see how to choose the best digging to change your insulation.
Step 1: Understand Your Insulation
You already know that asbestos abatement is very harmful, but why is it harmful? You need to understand this well so that you do not have a desire to leave the old insulation.
Asbestos abatement is a carcinogenic substance when it enters the respiratory tract. There is no evidence of carcinogenic effects when asbestos is ingested with food and water. The fibrogenicity and carcinogenicity of fibers of different types of asbestos contamination is very different and depends on the diameter and type of fibers. Asbestos material abatement is the cause of asbestos, pleurisy (including mesothelioma) and cancer (cancer of the bronchi, ovaries, kidneys and larynx).
That is why it is so important to remove asbestos material as soon as possible and install new insulation.
Batt insulation
It is rare where asbestos abatement is found in batt insulation. If asbestos abatement is found in such attic insulation, it is only in old-type samples that need to be replaced due to the expiration date. Therefore, when isolating batt, you do not lose anything, except to get the necessary heat.
To make sure that your insulation contains friable asbestos, you can do a laboratory test that will show the presence of asbestos fibers.
Vermiculite insulation
Vermiculite attic insulation itself is not harmful. It was actively used as an insulating material and coped well with maintaining heat in the last century. But where did the asbestos fibers come from?
Unfortunately, more than 80% of vermiculite was added in one mine, in which asbestos fibers particles were present, hence the insulating material has asbestos fibers in its composition, which leads to human disease. Therefore, we advise you to check your vermiculite insulation for friable asbestos content.
Step 2: Avoid Disturbing Your Vermiculite Insulation
If you suspect that there is asbestos abatement process in your vermiculite insulation material, then close the attic and do not let anyone in there, do not touch the asbestos pipe insulation material. This is necessary in order not to destroy asbestos, because its main harm is manifested in those moments when it breaks. Small particles and molecules from the air get into your lungs and cause various diseases.
Therefore, be extremely careful and do not come close to isolation. Taking the following two steps will help you to protect yourself and your family a little before a specialist arrives.
Special warning:
- keep the boxes as far away from insulation as possible so that they do not affect asbestos when moving.
- do not allow children to be in the attic if they can somehow interact with vermiculite.
Step 3: Before Removal, Hire an Asbestos Inspector
Although we recommend that you leave vermiculite and asbestos testing alone, there are situations when removal is necessary immediately, these include in asbestos removal project:
- infection by rodents or other pests;
- damage to the attic by water or fire;
- reconstruction, requiring significant interventions in the attic.
In such a situation, you need to quickly hire a licensed asbestos inspector so that he can establish the scope of work before the arrival of specialists. Asbestos inspection will perform laboratory analysis and develop a plan of further action together with you.
Step 4: Hire an Asbestos Removal Contractors
Next, you need to hire a contractor asbestos removal company who will deal with the legally remove asbestos. You need to choose carefully, paying attention to reviews and work experience.
Check the documents and qualifications of the employee to make sure that the removal of asbestos will take place according to all the rules and nothing will compromise your safety. Do not skimp on choosing a worker, since 90% all the asbestos of success depends on his actions.
Step 5: Monitor the Home
Next is the most important step. After the inspector asbestos professionals and contractors have finished asbestos removal process work, it is necessary to evaluate the work done. Carefully examine all the details and moments in which contractors could mess up. An independent contractor should monitor the quality of your attic air. Air quality indicators should not exceed the norm.
Also pay attention to:
- the asbestos contractor who will perform the air analysis is hired independently and separately from the main team so that there is no conflict of interest.
- he has no ties with the asbestos removal contractor for you, so as not to overstate the expected results and you received the most honest report.
Let you pay extra save money for the visit of the many asbestos professionals, but you will be sure that your attic is asbestos test safe.
Step 6: Install New Insulation
And the final step in the asbestos institute process of removing vermiculite and asbestos containing materials will be the installation of new insulation. New insulation is needed to maintain the necessary heat in the house as before. This is very important to save electricity.
Properly installed insulation helps you not to freeze and keep warm. It also protects you from mold and high humidity. All this helps to reduce the electricity bill and get more comfortable conditions for your home. We do not advise you to use it in your work free asbestos removal services.
But do not forget that all your insulation needs depend on the climate in which you live. Ask for help from specialists to learn more about the conditions necessary for you. To start, read on What Is an Attic Insulation Calculator.
Average Asbestos Removal Costs in 2023
National Average Cost | $2,050 per square foot |
Typical Price Range | $1,165 – $2,950 per square foot |
Extreme Low-End Cost | $435 per square foot |
Extreme High-End Cost | $14,525 per square foot |
You can find out more specific amounts from managers when applying for blue asbestos mechanical removal. The total amount will depend on the areas where the fibers are located and the amount of work. The removal costs can range from $435 to $14525.
The biggest price tag for the fight against asbestos can be if asbestos siding, tiles, ceilings, drywall, attics, garages and other details are included in the work.
Asbestos removal costs estimator by size
So, to begin with, asbestos removal costs ranges from $5 to $20 per square foot. The price tag may be higher, but this is in rare cases. For example, with severe asbestos ceiling tiles. Multiply the cost of the work by the number of square feet of work and you get the cost of just the work.
Most likely, you will have to add $ 1300 to this asbestos removal cost for pre-cleaning and inspection of the premises, as well as for the disposal of asbestos. Let’s take a closer look at the price list for these services:
Affected Flooring Area | Average Overall Cost |
100 sq. ft. | $500 – $2,000 |
250 sq. ft. | $1,250 – $5,000 |
500 sq. ft. | $2,500 – $10,000 |
1,000 sq ft. | $5,000 – $20,000 |
Several Factors that affect cost
Let’s now look at how much the factors we talked about earlier affect the pricing asbestos removal cost of all work.
The factors we will include for asbestos removal cost: labor, location, pre-cleaning and settings, encapsulation, asbestos removal and type of asbestos.
Labor
Payment for the asbestos removal pro is made on average by the hour. Since the asbestos removal is considered dangerous work, the price for such activities will be high, the price varies from $ 70 to $ 180 per hour. On average, you will have to hire two workers for 8 hours.
If you calculate, then you will have to pay removal costs $ 1120-2880 for the work of the masters by asbestos removal for an 8-hour job. Of course, this is an approximate amount, it may take more workers and more hours, and perhaps, on the contrary, less. Then the price asbestos removal tag from this will either rise or fall.
Location
How much you will give for the work also depends on where the asbestos removal is located. If this is a hard-to-reach place, then the price asbestos removal is likely to be higher. If the place is easy to get from, then the price will be lower. Let’s take a closer look at how and what the price asbestos removal depends on.
Ceiling tiles
Asbestos in floor and ceiling tiles is usually hard and stable because it is asbestos that is not writable. This means that it won’t crumble and fall apart if you leave it alone. However, if you are planning to redo or add additional elements to your ceiling, you should consider hiring a professional to remove asbestos remediation from the tile.
Removing asbestos coatings from the ceiling removal costs from $4 to $12 per square foot.
Popcorn ceiling
The popcorn ceiling was often used in the 80-90 years. Therefore, asbestos can often be hidden in them. If you do not have stretch ceilings and roof shingles, then we advise you to pay attention to the popcorn ceiling. Removing asbestos testing from such a ceiling can asbestos removal cost you an average of $5 to $10 per square pound.
An alternative option is to apply an encapsulation spray that will help you eliminate asbestos removal, its cost starts from 2 to 6 dollars per square pound.
If we take the cost of such a service in companies, then the price tag will be around $ 1300 for all the work with an average space.
Flooring tiles
The asbestos removal cost of removing floor tiles containing asbestos is similar to the cost of ceiling tiles and ranges from $4 to $6 per square foot. However, this may not be easy, as a professional needs to scrape the glue off the asbestos laden tiles, which can lead to particles entering the air.
When the floor is not damaged, some homeowners prefer sealing, covering asbestos removal $2 to $6 per square foot.
HVAC system ducts
HVAC system installations usually do not contain asbestos. However, the ducts are likely to contain asbestos remediation, especially if they were made in the 1970s or earlier. The presence of non friable asbestos-containing material (ACM) in the ducts is alarming, as it can lead to contamination of your entire home. So we have to act as soon as possible.
Removing asbestos from the ducts costs $35 to $55 per square foot, but sometimes it may be better to replace all the ducts and air conditioners.
Pipe insulation
If you need to remove asbestos disposal fees insulation from pipes or something else, you can expect between $5 and $14 per square foot. The costs will depend on the ease of access to the pipes and on whether the installation is carried out on glue or independently.
If the asbestos is glued to the pipe, it is more expensive to remove it, because you will have to cut off the pipe itself. On the other hand, it is cheaper to remove it if it is taped to the pipe, because you only need to cut the tape and then scrape off all the remaining debris.
Drywall
Removing asbestos from drywall is a simple job because pieces of drywall are removed in large sections, minimally damaging the asbestos. The only difficulty arises when the drywall consists of several layers, which makes it difficult to accurately cut out the contaminated area.
Removing asbestos from drywall costs $8 to $11 per square foot.
Garage
Garages are one of the most likely places to contain asbestos. This is due to the fact that they are not often used as living quarters and have not been updated since the ban was introduced. There may be asbestos in the walls, roof, insulation and floor.
The cost of removing asbestos from a garage ranges from $11 to $30 per square foot, depending on the size of the garage and the amount of asbestos.
Attic insulation
If you live in an old house built before the 1970s, there is a high probability that your attic contains asbestos insulation. It is durable, inexpensive and easy to install. However, it can also fall through the cracks and expose your family to carcinogenic substances.
Removing attic insulation containing asbestos costs between $7 and $17 per square foot, with more expensive attics costing more.
Basement
Removing asbestos from your basement costs $5 to $20 per square foot. You may need to remove asbestos from walls, pipes, floors and insulation. The good news is that if your basement is not finished, it will cost 25% less than if it was finished.
Siding
Let’s say you’re thinking about redoing the look of your home. You may be surprised to learn that removing asbestos siding costs only $6-8 per square foot.
Some homeowners opt for sealing, which costs $2 to $6 per square foot, or they put new siding on top of an old panel, which can make it difficult to dismantle it afterwards.
Gutters
Asbestos in gutters is rare. This is much more common in houses with asbestos-cement roofs. However, if you do a test and find asbestos, removing it from your gutters can cost anywhere from $5 to $10 per square foot.
If your gutters have been removed due to asbestos, installing new gutters costs $4 to $12 per running foot.
Soffits
Spotlights are areas under the roof, between the ceiling and the outer wall. If you have asbestos floodlights, you need to remove and replace them with new ones. If soft materials are damaged or weakened, asbestos fibers can get into the air and be inhaled by both children and adults.
Removing asbestos slopes costs $10 to $12 per square foot.
Roof and shingles
Roofs are probably the most expensive place to remove asbestos. Getting to the insulation boards or roof tiles can be difficult, which increases the cost. Removing asbestos from the roof costs an average of $35-125 per square foot.
Some roofs are equipped with asbestos shingles, and the removal of these shingles is associated with certain costs, since an asbestos specialist will try to remove it without damaging it, which makes the work more time-consuming and difficult. Removing shingles costs between $40 and $130 per square foot.
Pre-clean and setup
Another important criterion is the cost of installation and preliminary work. When removing asbestos, many specialists use means that disinfect asbestos. They decontaminate the asbestos zone, having previously turned off the heating and all other communal conditions. Use a special HEPA vacuum cleaner for cleaning. So asbestos will not be able to pollute other areas of the house.
Depending on the scale of the work, the price can vary from 240 to 350 dollars.
Asbestos Encapsulation
Containing Area | Average Cost |
Ceilings | $40 per square foot |
Ceilings with Sealant | $219/five-gallon bucket at a coverage of 50-100 sq. ft./gal |
Pipes | $71 per linear foot up to 1,000 linear feet, $29 per linear foot > 1,000 linear feet |
Pipes with Glove Bags | $61 per linear foot up to 1,000 linear feet, $46 per linear foot > 1,000 linear feet |
Asbestos encapsulation is the process of sealing the asbestos materials using a high-grade sealant coating. The average cost of such work ranges from $2 to $6 per square foot.
Asbestos disposal
Asbestos is a hazardous material, which is why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed national standards for the disposal of asbestos. In addition, each location has its own recycling fee, and in urban areas it is higher. On average, asbestos disposal costs from $10 to $50 per cubic yard plus the cost of obtaining a permit.
Chapter FAQ
Is asbestos in the attic harmful?
Asbestos is harmful to the human body. Getting into the respiratory tract and lungs, it can cause various diseases that can harm human health.
Was asbestos used in attic insulation?
Earlier in the last century, asbestos was used as an insulating material that maintained heat well. Later it was found that asbestos negatively affects human health.
Can you touch asbestos insulation?
It is not recommended, since the material collapses from any contact, thereby increasing its harmful properties.
How do I clean my house after asbestos exposure?
The best option is to call specialists who will take the asbestos out of the house on their own. They will remove all the particles of the harmful substance. After that, you need to thoroughly wash the whole house and ventilate the premises
Conclusion
If you find that there is asbestos in your insulation, then do not worry, use the help of a specialist. For their money, they will do a good job with the necessary work and help you eliminate all the shortcomings.
We hope that you were able to find answers to all your questions.