Van Dycke Projects tests for asbestos before a renovation when your home was built before 1990 and the work touches drywall or taping. An independent third party does the testing, and it is quoted right in your proposal. Mold is handled separately, starting with a visual inspection of the area.
Why is 1990 the line for asbestos testing?
Van Dycke Projects, based in Steinbach, Manitoba, tests for asbestos when a home predates 1990. Homes built before then can contain it in materials like drywall and taping compound. Asbestos is a mineral once used in building finishes, and it is dangerous when disturbed. Taping is the compound spread over drywall seams to smooth them.
If your home is newer than 1990, those materials are far less likely to hold it. The test kicks in only when two things line up. First, the age of the house. Second, work that cuts into the risky materials. Old drywall or taping is exactly that kind of work.
Who does the asbestos testing?
Van Dycke Projects does not do the testing itself. An independent third party does it. That means a separate, qualified company runs the test. So the result does not come from the same people doing the renovation.
The testing cost is written into your first proposal, not sprung on you later. You see it before you commit, as part of the plan for an older home.
What if it is mold, not asbestos?
Mold follows a different path than asbestos at Van Dycke Projects. It starts with a visual inspection of the affected area. The crew looks first, then tells you what the situation actually needs, rather than guessing at it.
Like the asbestos test, any mold work is spelled out before it starts. You are not surprised by it partway through the job.
What does a positive asbestos test do to the price?
A positive asbestos test changes the price, and Van Dycke Projects is direct about that. The demolition line item in your quote is replaced by a quote from a licensed abatement team. Abatement is the safe, licensed removal of the hazardous material. The rest of your number holds. But abatement raises the total, and it can raise it by a lot.
No firm start dates are booked until the results are back. That keeps the schedule honest. A test can change the whole plan, so the crew waits to see it.
Can you walk away after a positive test?
Yes. If a result comes back positive and you would rather not go ahead, you can stop there. Van Dycke Projects lets you walk away at that point, as long as the material is left undisturbed.
Here is how Van Dycke Projects handles asbestos before a renovation:
- Testing is automatic for homes built before 1990 when work touches drywall or taping
- An independent third party runs the test, quoted in the proposal
- A positive result swaps the demolition line for a licensed abatement quote
- Abatement raises the total, sometimes by a lot
- No hard start dates are set until results are in
If your home is older, mention its age at the walk-through so Van Dycke Projects can build testing into the proposal from the start. You can read what a bathroom renovation costs in Manitoba, or see the renovation FAQ on the Van Dycke Projects homepage.