How to cleanup asbestos dust all over the condo

9 years ago

Recently I bought a condo (built in 1973) which has popcorn ceilings. We are remodeling it before moving in.

Because other buildings in the same location built in1977 never have popcorn ceiling, so we think that our popcorn ceilings may contain asbestos.

The problem is that our contractor already removed popcorn ceilings without caution. He did not care whether popcorn ceilings contains asbestos or not.

Now, these asbestos dust are all over our condo after the contractor removed them from ceilings. They are hanging in walls, windows, window shutters. They are all over the floors. (We will install wood floors later.) They are on a sofa, a dining table, kitchen appliances, counter tops, and cabinets.

We are planning to cleanup them before doing wall painting and floor installation.

How can we cleanup these asbestos dust? I heard that it is not good idea to use vacuum.

Thank you

Featured Answer

asanee
Original Author

9 years ago

Thank you for your response.

> If so, then why this" "They are on a sofa, a dining table"

We have a sofa and a dining table in the living room because the previous owner left them for us.

> Did you ask your contractor? What did he say?

After I found out that our popcorn ceiling might contain asbestos and found out that the contractor did not remove them properly, I asked our contractor about asbestos.

He told me, "If you worry about asbestos, you can test it." He never seems to care about asbestos.

> One of the dangers of DIYing things is that you don't know what you don't know.

We did not do anything by ourselves. Our contractor did everything. However, he never seems to care about asbestos.
So, I thought we would need to clean up again by ourselves after he cleans up dust because I believe that he would not clean up seriously even we ask him.

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Comments (11)

greg_2010
9 years ago
Before you freak out, find out if it is asbestos. Get it tested.
User
9 years ago
Wear masks in the space until you find out if it really is asbestos---the dust is the most dangerous way to breathe in the fibers.

Damp mop/rags and many pails of water.

And, if the results show asbestos, turn in the contractor---for his workers health reasons.
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asanee
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for your quick answers. I took a sample and submitted it to the lab. I will get the result by next Monday.
snoonyb
9 years ago
"We are remodeling it before moving in."

If so, then why this" "They are on a sofa, a dining table"

"The problem is that our contractor already removed popcorn ceilings without caution. He did not care whether popcorn ceilings contains asbestos or not."

Sounds like some "jackleg laborer" was hired and somebody learned about the potential for asbestos, after the fact.

You see, anyone in the business of removing and replacing ceiling textures, would have, as a standard practice, and ease of disposal, bagged each room and dampened the material prior to removal.

Hire someone who knows what they are doing!
pixie_lou
9 years ago
And a reputable contractor would have determined if there was asbestos prior to removal. Did you ask your contractor? What did he say?

I dint know much about ceilings, but the flooring contractors I've worked with can just look at old floor tile and be relatively certain if it contains asbestos or not. Just from working in the trade so long and knowing which old tiles contained it.
User
9 years ago
One of the dangers of DIYing things is that you don't know what you don't kow. You've put your family's health at risk, even if the test is negative. Costruction dust is a health hazard. Dust contaiments is essential to any remodelong job, but critical to texture removal. It wil take a LOT of work to cleanup this mess, no matter the results of the test.

Yes, it costs more, but hire an actual licensed and insured contractor next time. Or, spend a lot more time on the front end educating yourself about the job in question. Like months. Not just one internet search.
pixie_lou
9 years ago
Is this guy licensed and insured? Did he pull a building permit? Maybe it's regional, but where I live, every demolition requires an asbestos assessment.
asanee
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes, he is licensed. He got building permissions of kitchen and bath remodeling. We also asked the city and they told us that cosmetic changes of floors, ceilings, and walls do not need permissions.
snoonyb
9 years ago
If this cavalier attitude is the way he conducts himself, insist that he hires a professional cleaning service before he get paid and that he isolates each work area and covers all furniture.
HU-963579125
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
hello,

having a similar problem & I am wondering how you resolved this. Seems most abatement companies ive spoken with focus on direct mayerials vs dust cleanup. Thanks so much!