Do I need special cleaning after asbestos abatement in an older Ottawa home?

Yes. Cleaning up inside and around an asbestos abatement area is part of the abatement job itself, and it is a job for the abatement contractor — not a general cleaning service and not a homeowner. Asbestos fibres are microscopic and can cause serious lung disease when inhaled, so the cleanup after removal matters as much as the removal, and cutting corners puts your family's health at risk.

What Post-Abatement Cleaning Involves

The abatement contractor is responsible for cleaning the contained work area before releasing it, and it helps to understand what that involves so you can ask good questions. Typically the contained area is HEPA-vacuumed thoroughly, including surfaces, framing, and any remaining fixtures, and surfaces are wet-wiped to pick up residual fibres. The containment barriers, usually plastic sheeting sealed with tape, are then removed carefully so trapped fibres are not released into the rest of the home.

Before you sign, ask the abatement contractor how they will confirm the area is clean before containment comes down — for example, whether air testing will be done, and whether it will be done by an independent consultant rather than the contractor itself. Ask for the results in writing. Do not let anyone reoccupy the space or remove containment until that confirmation is in hand.

Asbestos can be present in a range of older building materials, such as vermiculite insulation, vinyl floor tiles and backing, pipe insulation, drywall joint compound, and textured ceilings. If asbestos-containing materials were identified and removed during your renovation, ask the abatement contractor whether rooms next to the containment zone should also be HEPA-vacuumed and wet-wiped as a precaution, and who will do it.

Asbestos waste never goes in a regular bin or the regular garbage; the abatement contractor should explain how it will be sealed and removed. Ask for itemized written quotes so you can see what decontamination, testing, and any extra cleaning will cost, and do not choose on price alone. Ask any contractor you hire for proof of liability insurance and what it covers, whether they have WSIB coverage or a clearance certificate, and for written documentation of their cleanup procedures and test results. Once the abatement contractor has released the area, the Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com can help you find cleaning companies for general post-renovation cleaning in the rest of the home.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Justyn Rook Contracting
• JC Carpentry
• Dreamwood Construction & Renovations
• Custom By Arie
• Best Hand2Hand moving company