Windsor Terrace Reno

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March 18, 2007

Phew...that was close.

Passed%2520stamp.gif

We passed the asbestos test. Our house has an acceptable level of carcinogens. Boo-yah.

Much like an acceptable level of rat feces in fast food, if its good enough for the government, its good enough for us.

For those caring b'stoners out there, we had a comfortable margin of safety between the acceptable levels and the results. But waiting for the results put us right at the edge of our seats. We're breathing a big sign of relief now.

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Comments

What, did you ask to be tested? Heavens, we know we have asbestos; the basement has lots of scary remnants of old asbestos pipe insulation that some idiot tore out long ago, and the ancient unused boiler is covered with it. Our goal is to hide from the authorities forever, never go down there unless something breaks, and enjoy the fact that the dampness down there keeps the fibers from flying around. Sadly, I'm not kidding!

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at March 20, 2007 7:46 AM

Did you sample your original plaster?

Posted by: Anonymous at March 20, 2007 8:03 AM

Also, what do you mean by an acceptable level? Acceptable to you. Legally, material containing over 1% asbestos must be removed under abatement conditions if it is deteriorating or will be disturbed in any way during renovation.

People rarely test the plaster, but generally it was a field mix that contained small amounds of asbestos (not to mention lots of lead). It will clump in sections, and you will get an above 1% read in spots (although usually not more than 10%), while testing negative everywhere else.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 20, 2007 8:06 AM

How is asbestos tested? Was the air tested or suspicious materials?

Posted by: Anonymous at March 20, 2007 8:41 AM

Obviously, the tests were done as required by the city/state/whoever in order to get permits. We would not be doing this test if it was up to us. Ive lived in old houses my entire life and Im sure Ive been exposed to many hazardous materials in that time - its not high on my list of worries. But gotta appease "the man" if we're going to do things right.

Yes, the plaster was tested as well as other areas as determined by the inspector. We didn't ask for anything to be inspected, he decided what was getting scrutiny. I think he takes a sample of anything he feels might be suspect like tiles, plaster, etc.. I wasnt there so I don't know the exact things that were picked at but I assume its a fairly standard list.

The acceptable levels are set by the powers (1%) that be and we passed underneath the levels. Comfortably so, thanks god.

Happy dance.

Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at March 20, 2007 9:00 AM

As long as everything (lead, asbestos) are in acceptable levels it's fine. There are far worse chemicals to breathe and come in contact with, in all-new construction, or in all-new gut reno interiors, than in old houses.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 20, 2007 9:49 AM

If you had such a thorough job and all came out below 1%, you are very, very lucky indeed. The Gods have smiled on you. The plaster thing is very random... if they sampled a 1/2 inch away, they could quite likely have gotten a read above 1%.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 20, 2007 2:30 PM

The samples taken were determined by the demolition and construction plans provided to the inspector by the architect. I think he took about 10 samples total, with 6 plaster samples. We came in at 0.3%, well below 1.0%. Truth is, we would have been relieved at 0.9%, but feel especially happy/lucky with our 0.3%. We heard about a renovation in Ditmas Park where it cost about 80K to abate the asbestos embedded in the plaster. Yikes!!! (We would have been forced to eliminate running water or heat from our wish list.) :)

Mr. Limestone

Posted by: Mr.Limestone at March 20, 2007 9:26 PM

But you are lucky - I had the same thing done with my plaster for the same reasons... and of ten samples, all were negative - save one. Came in at 1.1 percent... .1 percent over the allowable limit. And now we are legally bound.... Count your blessings.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 9:13 AM

Plaster was a field mix... like cake batter. No telling where it will clump. Needle in a haystack... drawing straws, etc...

Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 9:14 AM

The annoying thing is that everyone knows there are very low levels of asbestos in the plaster in all these old houses. If you get unlucky, a clump shows up when you test and your stuck with abatement. If you're lucky and you get clean samples it's a joke - there are almost certainly areas in your plaster where you have the odd clump slightly above 1.0.... And most everybody else still gets do demo and reno without the abatement bill.... Totally sucks.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 27, 2007 9:19 AM