House Maintenance

Cost of Asbestos Removal

How Much it Cost to Remove Asbestos

Asbestos is surprisingly one of the most popular materials used for building but it can also be very hazardous for your health. After much research, the discovery was made that after prolonged exposure to asbestos, or in particular the tiny fibers, many illnesses can be caused including lung cancer. One of the few areas in which asbestos has been banned is California, but there are chances your house can still contain asbestos if it was built before the ban was put in place. Due to these reasons, many people choose to remove the asbestos from their home in order to avoid prolonged exposure and possible illness.

Factors of Cost

There are multiple different factors that will affect the cost of your asbestos removal but the most significant one is the size of the area that is affected. Due to the average costs of contractors, the minimum you should count on spending is $1,500, even if only small areas are affected by the asbestos. Medium sized areas such as ductwork, attics, or the roof are going to be priced in the middle around $1,500 up to $4,000. The real bank breaker is if you will need an entire room redone which will most likely empty your wallet at an average of $25,000.

What’s Included

The entire removal of all asbestos should be included with every professional quote. Some of the more specific steps that are involved with the process are:

• Sealing up the contaminated area to avoid further contamination.
• Removing asbestos from the venting, siding and flooring.
• Post-construction visit to confirm removal of all asbestos.
• Pre-removal inspection to perform tests and confirm contamination.

Additional Costs

Although most reputable companies include the cost of before and after inspections and tests, these may not be included in the quote, causing an additional $400-$1,000 in costs. Independent contractors performing inspections can cost up to $1,000.

Once you have a retest after the initial removal, there is a chance it will still test positive if the contractor was not thorough enough. Hiring a different professional company to finish the work properly could cost thousands more.

A hidden cost not typically quoted in the initial inspection is the price of a contractor replacing drywall tiles and ducts that were infested with asbestos or that needed to be removed to reach the infected areas. This will add substantially to the total price.

Simple Ways to Save Money

Getting the job done right the first time will save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Hiring a subpar contractor to complete the initial work could save you short term but if it’s not done properly, you will end up paying more to have it corrected than you would have initially paid to have it done right the first time. Confirm that the contractor you hire is licensed and insured which will put you to ease that they are a reputable contractor.