Benchmark Environmental provides popcorn ceiling testing in the San Jose area. We consult, inspect, and test for the private, public, and governmental markets to ensure a safe living and working environment.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos refers to a group of six minerals comprised of thin fibers that were widely used for insulation and fireproofing. Asbestos can be found in buildings built between the 1930s and the 1980s and was frequently used as a texturing material for the then-popular, style of Stucco, or popcorn ceiling. Asbestos was a preferred material due to its natural resistance to heat and fire and used in other common building components such as ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, linoleum, and roof tiles. When the tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air, they can cause serious damage by lodging in the lungs of unsuspecting victims. Asbestos is also a known cause of mesothelioma cancer.
Testing Popcorn Ceilings For Asbestos
If you have a popcorn ceiling, you may be concerned about this environmental hazard in your home or business. Your health and the health of those occupying a building you own may be affected by asbestos if the fibers have been disturbed and have infiltrated the air space. Benchmark Environmental Engineering conducts testing to determine if your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos. If the results indicate the presence of asbestos, our technicians can help with a remediation plan.
Addressing Asbestos In Your Ceiling
One of the least expensive options for addressing a popcorn ceiling containing this hazardous material is to cover the existing textured ceiling with a new layer of texturing material that is asbestos-free. By encasing the old ceiling, you prevent the asbestos fibers from entering the environment. The EPA does not allow painting as both rolling and brushing may release fibers. Spraying paint could potentially over-saturate the area and deteriorate the existing material, thus releasing fibers into the air. If removal is necessary, it is important that only professionals handle the removal process due to the strict procedures required for safe extraction.
Popcorn Ceiling Inspection
If you are in the San Jose area and are concerned about your popcorn ceiling, contact us today to arrange an inspection. With over 20 years of experience in environmental testing, inspection, and education, and a national reputation for specializing in complex environmental cases; Benchmark Environmental Engineering is a leader in environmental consulting.