When to test, and when to hire an abatement contractor

Analyze first. Hire a licensed contractor only after the numbers, and only if a qualified inspector says the material should be repaired or removed. Citations below are from EPA and NIST, not from this site’s opinion.

EPA “Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos,” last updated 25 June 2026. EPA “Learn About Asbestos,” last updated 13 July 2026. NIST Asbestos Fiber Analysis LAP, updated 17 July 2026.

You cannot identify asbestos by sight

EPA: “Generally, you can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone.” A trained and accredited asbestos professional should take samples for analysis. “If done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone. Taking samples yourself is not recommended.” Source: EPA, Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos.

When EPA says you may want an inspection

• You are planning to remodel (remodeling can disturb building materials).
• Your home has damaged building materials (crumbling drywall, insulation that is falling apart).

EPA: if building materials are not damaged and will not be disturbed, you do not need to have your home tested. Material in good condition that will not be disturbed should be left alone.

Where asbestos may be found (EPA)

From EPA, Learn About Asbestos (updated 13 July 2026). Asbestos has been used in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products, heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings. EPA’s list of where asbestos may be found includes:

• Attic and wall insulation produced containing vermiculite
• Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives
• Roofing and siding shingles
• Textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings
• Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets
• Hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape
• Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets with asbestos insulation
• Heat-resistant fabrics
• Automobile clutches and brakes

EPA: fibers may be released when asbestos-containing material is disturbed during product use, demolition, maintenance, repair, or remodeling. In general, exposure may occur only when the material is disturbed or damaged.

Leave it, repair it, or remove it

EPA: asbestos-containing materials that are not damaged or disturbed are not likely to pose a health risk. Usually the best thing is to leave the material alone if it is in good condition. Materials may release fibers when they are disturbed, damaged, removed improperly, repaired, cut, torn, sanded, sawed, drilled, or scraped.

For slightly damaged material, EPA says sometimes the best approach is to limit access and not touch it. If the material is more than slightly damaged, or if you will make changes that might disturb it, repair or removal by a trained and accredited asbestos professional is needed.

Repair usually means sealing (encapsulation) or covering (enclosure); the asbestos stays in place. Removal may be required when remodeling will disturb the material, or when damage is extensive and cannot otherwise be repaired. “Improper removal may actually increase your and your family’s exposure to asbestos fibers.”

Inspectors vs. contractors — and a conflict of interest

EPA describes two main types of accredited professionals:

• Asbestos inspectors inspect, assess conditions, take samples for laboratory testing, and advise about corrections. They can also check that a contractor followed procedures and monitor air after work.
• Asbestos contractors repair or remove asbestos materials.

EPA: “An asbestos professional hired to assess the need for asbestos repair or removal should not be connected with an asbestos firm that does the actual repair or removal of materials. It is better to use two different firms so there is no conflict of interest.” Ask for proof of federal or state-approved training. Check past performance with the local air pollution control board, the worker-safety agency, and whether the firm has had safety violations or legal actions.

EPA: federal law does not require persons who inspect, repair, or remove asbestos-containing materials in detached single-family homes to be trained and accredited; some states and localities do require this. “For safety, homeowners should ensure that workers they hire to handle asbestos are trained and accredited.” “State agencies have the most up-to-date listings of accredited professionals in your area.”

Who analyzes the sample

NIST’s NVLAP Asbestos Fiber Analysis program accredits laboratories for PLM and/or TEM analysis. AHERA requires NVLAP accreditation for labs that analyze samples from public or private K–12 schools. For a homeowner sample, using an NVLAP-accredited lab is still the way to know the laboratory has been assessed for that work. How to search NVLAP.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment: homeowners doing work on their own residence are not covered under Kansas or federal asbestos regulations, but KDHE “strongly encouraged” them to visit the EPA asbestos website. KDHE asbestos program phone on that page: 785-296-6024. Source: KDHE About Asbestos.

If you do hire a contractor

EPA: get a written contract specifying the work plan, cleanup, and applicable regulations. At the end, get written assurance that procedures were followed. EPA lists practices the contractor should follow (wet methods, containment, HEPA vacuums rather than a regular vacuum, no breaking material into small pieces, keeping household members and pets out until work is complete). After work, an inspector or independent air-testing contractor may monitor air.

This site’s contractor pages are state license lists, not rankings. Live lists: Kansas licensed contractors, Pennsylvania certified companies.