Asbestos Removal Services
Trusted Asbestos Removal Professionals in Maryland
SanDow Construction, Inc is one of the leading asbestos removal professionals in Maryland and surrounding areas. We are licensed in the District of Columbia as well as the States of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Connecticut. Reach out to us for the safe removal of asbestos from your premises.
Why Do You Need Help?
According to a 2004 report by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, exposure to asbestos is one of the major health hazards faced by 1.3 million construction workers in the US. Owing to the serious health hazards caused by asbestos, the US government banned the mining of asbestos in 2002.
However, because asbestos is not entirely banned in the US, it is being imported and still widely used in the construction industry. When asbestos is aged or mishandled, the particles can become airborne. These airborne particles, when inhaled, can reach the linings of the lungs, abdomen, and heart. As a result, serious diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma can occur. This is where our efficient asbestos abatement procedures are crucial.
If you need asbestos removal services, please reach out to us. We can identify whether your asbestos needs abatement, removal, repair, or encapsulation and advise accordingly. Serious diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma can occur when asbestos is inhaled.
Our 5-Step Process
Call or Submit a Quote Request
Once we receive your query, our asbestos abatement professional will contact you for a visual inspection.
Schedule an Inspection
One of our experienced asbestos removal professionals in Maryland will visually inspect the area to confirm the presence of asbestos and also collect samples of damaged or broken materials from the affected area to be sent to the lab.
Precision Lab Testing
The samples go to our precision laboratory. At the lab, our technicians will test the samples for the components, constitution, and hazard levels of asbestos.
Get Your Final Results
With the final results on the table, we formulate the steps required for site preparation and asbestos abatement. This may include either material encapsulation or complete removal from the affected area, depending on the severity.
Removal of Hazardous Materials
Our expert team comes on-site to repair, remove, or remediate the site safely, on-time, and on budget.
Asbestos Removal Process
The removal of asbestos depends on the materials’ condition and the test results we get from the lab. Depending on the situation, we might recommend encapsulation or abatement.
For instance, if our asbestos inspector is sure that it is still intact and the lab report supports his findings, we will seal coat the asbestos materials with a sealant to ensure that it doesn’t get airborne. Whereas, if our expert and lab results suggest removal, we will send our trained team of asbestos removal professionals. Based on where the asbestos needs abatement, it can be classified into three categories:
- Class I Asbestos Abatement: The abatement work falls into class 1 when the asbestos is from thermal insulants or surfacing asbestos-containing materials.
- Class II Asbestos Abatement: Removal of asbestos from materials such as wallboards, floor tiles, sheeting, roofing, and siding shingles.
- Class III Asbestos Abatement: Repair/removal of asbestos with a high risk of exposure.
Depending on the risk and level of exposure, our team will seal off the work area with plastic sheeting while maintaining negative air pressure within the worksite. At that time, our team will also suggest whether you should stay away from the premises or not.
Our 4-step process for safe asbestos abatement includes:
- Establishing the Work Area and Installing Warning Signs
- Disabling the HVAC/Electrical Systems
- Sealing the Work Area and Non-Movable Objects with Plastic Sheets
- Installing an Alternative Power Source to Maintain Negative Air Pressure Inside the Worksite
Once the abatement work is complete, our team of experts will decontaminate themselves in a specially designed decontamination unit prior to stepping out into the open.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a broad term used to define a group of six naturally occurring minerals composed of soft, flexible fibers that are known for their impeccable resistance to heat, fire, electricity, and sound. Their resistance to heat, fire, electricity, and sound has made them an integral part of construction materials since the 1900s.
Though they are widely used, asbestos is a dangerous substance and has been found to be the leading cause of lung cancer among construction workers in the US. This is why it is important that you seek the help of professionals for asbestos removal and not do it on your own.
Where is asbestos mainly found in buildings?
Since the 1930s, asbestos has remained a popular additive in many building materials, automotive parts, and consumer products. It is currently used in roof shingles and siding, plumbing fixtures, popcorn ceilings, plaster putties, pipes and conduit duct coverings, vinyl floor tiles, thermal boilers and fireplaces, and other similar products.
Some common products where asbestos is found in buildings are cement, concrete, floor tiles, roofing tiles, and adhesives.
When should you reach out to a professional?
As long as asbestos is left undisturbed, it does not pose any threat. But once they crumble or corrode over time, asbestos becomes airborne, and that’s what you should be worried about.
If you are living in Washington, DC, in an old apartment and have any structure showing cracks or signs that it needs repair, you should drop us a line. Our team of asbestos inspectors will come to inspect your place and decide what’s the best step to be taken for removal/sealing.
What are the do’s and don'ts?
As said earlier, asbestos is a deadly carcinogen, and it should only be handled by EPA-licensed asbestos abatement companies. With DIY remodeling projects gaining popularity lately, the risk of asbestos exposure has increased.
If you ever notice a possible threat from asbestos, you should contact SanDow Construction, Inc at the earliest and get it checked. Meanwhile, here are certain dos and don’ts you should follow until help arrives:
- Limit the activities in the area and keep children away.
- Don’t try to remove any suspicious materials, and never look for a DIY. Believe us, it is not worth taking the risk.
- Do not vacuum or clean the area.
- If you find crumbled asbestos particles, wear a respirator and carefully wet the particles to prevent them from releasing fibers until help arrives.
What do we do with the removed asbestos?
The abated asbestos is first wetted before they are packed. They are double packed in specially designed plastic bags with 5mm thickness and sealed in special leak-tight plastic containers. Every container is weighed, and its weight and exposure parameters are marked before they are transported to a designated asbestos burial site.
There are a couple of asbestos burial sites in Washington DC. We will choose the one that is near to your place.
Can asbestos be recycled?
Yes, asbestos can be recycled, and currently, the US Department of Energy has set up plants to transform asbestos products into non-toxic materials. Being a relatively new technology, asbestos recycling is a complex and expensive process to carry out.
To give you a better idea, currently, it will cost three times more than what it would take for safe disposal. So, until asbestos recycling becomes economically viable, the best option is to safely dispose of them.
How much does it cost for asbestos abatement?
The cost of asbestos abatement isn’t fixed as it depends on a lot of factors. Our pricing model depends on:
- Abatement area
- Estimated work hours
- Amount of material to be removed/sealed
- Type of material
- Accessibility
- Location of worksite
These are just the primary factors we take into consideration. For a detailed estimate, you can drop us a line.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a broad term used to define a group of six naturally occurring minerals composed of soft, flexible fibers that are known for their impeccable resistance to heat, fire, electricity, and sound. Their resistance to heat, fire, electricity, and sound has made them an integral part of construction materials since the 1900s.
Though they are widely used, asbestos is a dangerous substance and has been found to be the leading cause of lung cancer among construction workers in the US. This is why it is important that you seek the help of professionals for asbestos removal and not do it on your own.
Where is asbestos mainly found in buildings?
Since the 1930s, asbestos has remained a popular additive in many building materials, automotive parts, and consumer products. It is currently used in roof shingles and siding, plumbing fixtures, popcorn ceilings, plaster putties, pipes and conduit duct coverings, vinyl floor tiles, thermal boilers and fireplaces, and other similar products.
Some common products where asbestos is found in buildings are cement, concrete, floor tiles, roofing tiles, and adhesives.
When should you reach out to a professional?
As long as asbestos is left undisturbed, it does not pose any threat. But once they crumble or corrode over time, asbestos becomes airborne, and that’s what you should be worried about.
If you are living in Washington, DC, in an old apartment and have any structure showing cracks or signs that it needs repair, you should drop us a line. Our team of asbestos inspectors will come to inspect your place and decide what’s the best step to be taken for removal/sealing.
What are the do’s and don'ts?
As said earlier, asbestos is a deadly carcinogen, and it should only be handled by EPA-licensed asbestos abatement companies. With DIY remodeling projects gaining popularity lately, the risk of asbestos exposure has increased.
If you ever notice a possible threat from asbestos, you should contact SanDow Construction, Inc at the earliest and get it checked. Meanwhile, here are certain dos and don’ts you should follow until help arrives:
- Limit the activities in the area and keep children away.
- Don’t try to remove any suspicious materials, and never look for a DIY. Believe us, it is not worth taking the risk.
- Do not vacuum or clean the area.
- If you find crumbled asbestos particles, wear a respirator and carefully wet the particles to prevent them from releasing fibers until help arrives.
What do we do with the removed asbestos?
The abated asbestos is first wetted before they are packed. They are double packed in specially designed plastic bags with 5mm thickness and sealed in special leak-tight plastic containers. Every container is weighed, and its weight and exposure parameters are marked before they are transported to a designated asbestos burial site.
There are a couple of asbestos burial sites in Washington DC. We will choose the one that is near to your place.
Can asbestos be recycled?
Yes, asbestos can be recycled, and currently, the US Department of Energy has set up plants to transform asbestos products into non-toxic materials. Being a relatively new technology, asbestos recycling is a complex and expensive process to carry out.
To give you a better idea, currently, it will cost three times more than what it would take for safe disposal. So, until asbestos recycling becomes economically viable, the best option is to safely dispose of them.
How much does it cost for asbestos abatement?
The cost of asbestos abatement isn’t fixed as it depends on a lot of factors. Our pricing model depends on:
- Abatement area
- Estimated work hours
- Amount of material to be removed/sealed
- Type of material
- Accessibility
- Location of worksite
These are just the primary factors we take into consideration. For a detailed estimate, you can drop us a line.