The Comprehensive Guide to Asbestos Abatement: Protecting Your Property and Your Health with Lawton Construction & Restoration, Inc.
Asbestos—it’s a word that evokes concern among property owners, and for good reason. Once hailed as a “miracle material” for its incredible durability, fire resistance, and insulation properties, it is now known as a silent threat that lurks within countless homes and commercial buildings across California.
At Lawton Construction & Restoration, Inc., we understand that discovering asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in your property can be unsettling. With over 35 years of experience and specialized ASB certification in asbestos removal, our mission is to provide certified, compliant, and comprehensive abatement services that guarantee the safety of your environment.
This detailed guide breaks down everything you need to know about this hazardous material, the critical steps of professional abatement, and why trusting a certified partner like Lawton is the only way to achieve true peace of mind.
Part I: Unmasking the Silent Threat
What is Asbestos and Why is it Dangerous?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral composed of long, thin, microscopic fibers. Its remarkable properties led to its widespread use in construction from the 1940s through the 1980s in materials like:
Insulation: Attic, wall, and pipe insulation (especially the “popcorn” or “acoustic” ceiling textures).
Flooring: Vinyl floor tiles and the adhesive (mastic) used to install them.
Roofing & Siding: Cement sheets, shingles, and felt.
Drywall & Joint Compounds: Used for texturing and sealing seams.
Boilers & Furnaces: Components for heat shielding.
The danger arises not from the material itself, but when it is disturbed. When ACMs are cut, sanded, drilled, or damaged during a renovation or a disaster (like a fire or flood), the microscopic fibers become airborne. These fibers are easily inhaled, and due to their sharp, durable nature, they can lodge in the lungs and lining of the abdomen.
The Health Risks: A Call for Caution
Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers is linked to severe and often fatal respiratory diseases, including:
Mesothelioma: A rare but aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs and abdomen.
Asbestosis: A chronic lung disease that causes scarring of the lung tissue, leading to shortness of breath.
Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk, particularly for smokers.
Because symptoms often take decades to appear (sometimes 20-50 years after initial exposure), proactive identification and professional removal are non-negotiable for long-term health and safety.
Part II: The Critical First Steps—Inspection and Testing
You should never attempt to sample or remove material you suspect contains asbestos. Disturbing it—even slightly—can release dangerous fibers into the air, contaminating your entire property.
1. Professional Inspection is Key
If your home or commercial building was constructed before 1989, or if you are planning a renovation, demolition, or dealing with damage from a water loss or fire, an inspection is mandatory.
A certified Lawton abatement specialist will conduct a thorough visual inspection, identifying materials that are likely to contain asbestos based on age, location, and appearance.
2. Certified Sample Collection and Lab Analysis
The only way to confirm the presence of asbestos is through laboratory testing. Our team follows strict protocols for sample collection to ensure minimal disturbance:
Isolation: The area is isolated to prevent cross-contamination.
Wetting: The material is often dampened to suppress dust before a small sample is carefully cut or scraped.
Sealing: The sample is placed in an air-tight container and clearly labeled.
The samples are then sent to an accredited laboratory for Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) analysis. Once the lab confirms the presence and type of asbestos, Lawton Construction & Restoration develops a custom, compliant abatement strategy.
Part III: The Lawton Abatement Process—Certified & Compliant Removal
As a fully licensed and IICRC-certified restoration and construction company with specific ASB certification, Lawton implements a rigorous, multi-stage abatement process that adheres to the highest standards set by the EPA, OSHA, and the State of California.
Step 1: Establishing a Containment Zone
Containment is the single most important step to protect occupants and prevent the spread of contamination.
Sealing: The work area is completely sealed off from the rest of the structure using heavy-gauge plastic sheeting (polyethylene barriers) on walls, floors, and doors.
Negative Air Pressure: Specialized air filtration machines (HEPA-filtered Negative Air Units) are installed. These machines continuously draw air out of the containment area, forcing clean air in, ensuring that any disturbed asbestos fibers are immediately captured by the HEPA filters and cannot escape into unaffected areas of the building.
Decontamination Chambers: A series of airlocks and shower facilities (decontamination units) are established at the exit point of the work area to safely transition personnel out of the contaminated zone.
Step 2: Safe and Controlled Removal (Abatement)
Our highly trained and equipped team, wearing specialized personal protective equipment (PPE)—including full respirators and disposable suits—commences the physical removal:
Wetting Agents: The ACM is continuously saturated with a specialized wetting agent. This crucial step binds the asbestos fibers together, preventing them from becoming airborne during removal.
Gently Removing the Material: The material is carefully detached or scraped (not aggressively torn or broken) and immediately placed into sealed, labeled, and thick-walled disposal bags.
Clean-up: Following removal, the entire work area is thoroughly vacuumed with HEPA-filtered vacuums and “wet-wiped” multiple times to collect any residual dust or fibers.
Step 3: Regulated Disposal and Documentation
Asbestos waste is classified as hazardous material and cannot be simply thrown into a dumpster. Lawton handles the entire disposal chain:
Packaging and Transport: Sealed bags are double-bagged, marked with all required hazardous waste labels, and tracked with a manifest system.
Licensed Disposal: The waste is transported by licensed carriers to designated, certified disposal facilities, ensuring full compliance with California’s stringent environmental regulations.
Peace of Mind Documentation: We provide all documentation—manifests, logs, and compliance records—to the property owner, ensuring that you have a verifiable, legal record of safe abatement.
Part IV: The Final Guarantee—Post-Abatement Clearance Testing
The job is not finished when the last piece of ACM is removed. For Lawton, the final, non-negotiable step is Clearance Testing.
Once the physical abatement and clean-up are complete, Lawton requires an independent, third-party industrial hygienist (not affiliated with our removal team) to conduct air quality testing.
This crucial step involves sampling the air within the containment area to confirm that fiber counts are below the legally mandated safe threshold. This process is your guarantee that the air is clean and the space is safe for re-occupancy and subsequent reconstruction. Only after a successful clearance report is issued will the containment barriers be dismantled.
Partner with California’s Trusted Abatement Experts
The hazards associated with asbestos are too severe to take shortcuts. Attempting DIY removal or hiring an uncertified contractor exposes you and your family to life-threatening risks, while also inviting serious legal and financial liabilities.
Lawton Construction & Restoration, Inc. offers the expertise, certification (B, C33, ASB, C39, HIC), and adherence to protocol that you need. When you partner with us, you benefit from:
35+ Years of Experience: General contracting and restoration expertise to handle the entire project, from abatement through reconstruction.
Certified Professionals: Our team is trained, licensed, and equipped to manage asbestos safely.
24/7 Emergency Response: Ready to respond immediately if asbestos is discovered during an emergency loss (fire, flood, storm).
Commitment to Integrity: Our core values, including integrity and a “Customer First” approach, mean we prioritize your health and safety above all else.
Don’t leave the safety of your property to chance. If you suspect asbestos is present in your home or business, contact the certified experts at Lawton Construction & Restoration, Inc. today to schedule an inspection and take the first step toward a healthier, safer environment.
