Asbestos Testing in Your Vienna, VA Home

You’ve probably seen and heard about asbestos in the media, and have learned that asbestos causes lung cancer, You know that it was used for years in home construction and on HVAC systems in the past, but do you know what it looks like?

Envirotex is a licensed asbestos testing and removal contractor. We offer:

• All asbestos testing performed by an independent, certified lab to avoid conflicts of interest.
• A technically advanced staff of environmental professionals with building science, construction and environmental inspection fields of speciality.
• Environmental services for indoor air quality and asbestos testing in Vienna, VA.

How can you tell you have asbestos in your home? While the following tips may help you to recognize asbestos, the only way to truly know for sure is to have asbestos testing in your Vienna, VA home.

• How old is your home? If your home was built recently, you probably would not have asbestos insulation, as it has been phased out of new construction. Buildings built during or prior to the mid-1980s are more likely to have asbestos in them. The material was outlawed in 1978, but builders could use up their existing supply, meaning buildings constructed as late as 1986 could still potentially have asbestos in them. Newer buildings should not be at risk.
• Look for the brand name Zonolite. This type of insulation was made by W.R. Grace & Co. for many decades, using vermiculite that had been tainted with asbestos. If it’s another brand or you can see the manufacturer’s name written on the insulation, contact that company.
• Note the appearance of the insulation. Asbestos insulation often looks like a cast used for broken bones, or, alternatively, like ridged paper covered with tape. Tainted vermiculite insulation looks like dark gray pebbles.
• Contact a certified professional to take a sample of the insulation material and test it for asbestos. A sample will be collected by a professional to ensure that no fibers go airborne, and then the sample is examined by an EPA-approved laboratory under a microscope since asbestos cannot be identified by the naked eye.

If you suspect your home may have asbestos insulation, wear a respirator, protective clothing, gloves, a hat and goggles that are all approved for asbestos work prior to entering that attic space. Exposure to even a small amount of asbestos is unsafe, so avoid disturbing the insulation at all costs. The suspected asbestos material should be handled only by licensed professionals, like those at Envirotex.

For more information on asbestos testing in your Vienna, VA home, contact Envirotex. Serving Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia, Envirotex Environmental Service professionals have completed countless asbestos testing and removal projects in communities all through Vienna, VA and the metro area.

About Envriotex Environmental Services

Established in Northern Virginia in 2000, Envirotex Environmental Services was founded on military service. While serving his country, the company's owner Mr. Freeman gained vast knowledge and experience in the environmental services field. His expertise in air monitoring and hazardous materials testing prepared him for his post-military career.