Renovating an older home? Check for asbestos first
Before you renovate a home built before the 1980s, test anything the work will disturb: ceilings, flooring and adhesive, drywall joint compound, pipe and duct insulation, and siding. Disturbing asbestos is what releases fibers, and renovation is the most common way homeowners do it.
Why renovation is the risk
EPA says asbestos materials "may release fibers when they are disturbed, damaged, removed improperly, repaired, cut, torn, sanded, sawed, drilled or scraped" (EPA). That's a description of most renovation work.
What to test, by project
| Project | Materials to check |
|---|---|
| Kitchen or bathroom remodel | Floor tiles and adhesive, sheet flooring backing, joint compound, textured walls |
| Removing a popcorn ceiling | The ceiling texture |
| New floors | Old tiles and the black adhesive under them (or cover them instead) |
| New furnace, boiler or water heater | Pipe and boiler insulation, duct tape, furnace gaskets |
| Attic work, insulation or rewiring | Vermiculite insulation (EPA: assume it's asbestos) |
| New siding or roof | Cement siding and shingles |
| Knocking down walls | Joint compound, textured paint, anything inside the wall cavity |
See where asbestos is found and do I need a test?
Plan it in order
- Test before demolition starts. A professional inspector can survey the areas you'll touch.
- Decide: leave, cover or remove. Covering intact floor tiles with new flooring avoids removing them; EPA prefers that when flooring needs replacing.
- Schedule removal first. Asbestos work happens before other trades start, in a sealed-off area.
- Check your state's rules on permits, notifications and who may do the work: asbestos rules by state.
- Tell your contractors where asbestos is, so they don't cut into it.
Doing it yourself
Every official source we've read recommends against removing asbestos yourself, and EPA says removal "must be done only by a trained and accredited asbestos professional." Some states allow homeowners to do it under strict conditions. If you're considering it, read your state's rules first.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. See our sources.