Is it asbestos or not?

Once upon a time we thought asbestos was the amazing miracle material of the future. It was used in all sorts of things including clothing, brakes, and building materials. If you live in an old home, you can find it all over the place:

Insulation
Pipe and duct insulation
Sheet vinyl and floor tiles
Wallboard and joint compound
Popcorn ceilings
Cement exterior siding
Roofing tiles and flashing

Asbestos comes in two states: solid and friable. Solid asbestos is just what it is, solid, as in the use in floor tiles. Friable is fluffy or crumbly and can easily turn into dust, like the insulation around pipes. Dust is very dangerous because you can inhale it.

If you suspect that you have asbestos in your home, you can leave it undisturbed and you'll be okay. Asbestos-containing materials that aren’t damaged or disturbed are not likely to pose a health risk. Usually the best thing is to leave it alone if it's in good condition. If however, you're thinking about remodeling, you should test that stuff before tearing into it. The EPA recommends that you hire a trained and accredited professional to take samples for analysis. They know what to look for and know how to collect it safely. This can be expensive.

You can also do it yourself with a home testing kit. The EPA definitely doesn't want you to do this, but the kits exist and we want you to be informed. Generally the process of using the DIY home test kit is you purchase a kit, obtain a sample of the sketchy material, and then mail it off to the lab who will analyze it and send you the results.

When collecting either solid and friable materials or dust samples, be sure to take some safety precautions. Wear disposable coveralls, gloves, safety glasses, boot covers, and most importantly, respirators equipped with HEPA filters. If you're working with the friable, dusty stuff, seal off all doorways or windows with plastic sheeting and tape to prevent contaminating other areas. Keep loose asbestos fibers out of the air by mixing 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with cool water in a pint-size spray bottle. Liberally spray down the area.

If you can't get a decent-sized chunk of the stuff, you should really call a pro. The lab needs about a teaspoon full and it's just plain dangerous. Dust sampling is more expensive because you need an electron microscope to look at it, and most of us don't have one at home.

You can buy asbestos home test kits from Amazon and Home Depot. There are two costs involved: the cost of the kit and the lab fees. Some kits include the lab fees in the price of the kit. All told, you can pay anywhere from $31 to $65 depending on how quickly you want to get your results.

There are more types of tests available as well. You can buy test kits for lead paint, mold, radon, water quality.

EPA's Asbestos Page: https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/protect-your-family-exposures-asbestos

Professionals in the area: