Pre-demolition and pre-renovation asbestos survey
Before interior demolition or a gut renovation on an older building, a survey identifies suspect materials so they can be handled correctly instead of being disturbed blind.
Has this material been tested?
This is the first thing to establish. A material can't be safely priced for removal until a laboratory confirms whether it actually contains asbestos.
How it works
- 01
Walk-through and material screening
Suspect materials — textures, flooring and mastic, drywall compound, plaster, pipe and mechanical insulation — are identified and documented across the areas to be demolished.
- 02
Representative sampling
Samples are collected from the identified materials and analyzed so the demolition scope is based on lab results, not assumptions.
- 03
Findings and scope documentation
You receive a record of what was found and where, which informs the demolition plan, any required abatement, and disposal.
- 04
Coordinated next steps
If abatement is needed, it's scoped separately and completed before general demolition proceeds.
What to photograph before you call
Safety: Do not scrape, cut, sand, break, lift, sweep, or collect a sample yourself. Keep people away from any damaged material.
- Whole room or area, photographed from a safe distance
- Full coverage of the material in question
- Condition and damage, using your camera's zoom rather than getting closer
- Edges and transitions, without touching the material
- Approximate room or area dimensions
- Any existing lab report or designated substance survey
Common questions
Is a survey required before demolition?
For older buildings, identifying designated substances such as asbestos before disturbing materials is a standard and often legally required step. A survey lets the demolition proceed on documented information rather than guesswork.
What's the difference between a survey and a management plan?
A survey identifies what's present before a specific project. A management plan is an ongoing record for a building that stays in service — inventory, condition, and reassessment over time. Commercial property teams often need both at different points.
Ready for a safe first step?
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