October 1, 2026 · @springstosold

There are 3 different types of asbestos tests.

There are 3 different types of asbestos tests. Which one you need depends on what you’re trying to find out. If you’re looking at an older home in Colorado Springs, here’s the quick version: - Sample test: to know what you’re buying, or before you remodel. A small piece of the material goes to a lab. - Wipe test: after someone else already remodeled. It checks whether the dust got left behind. - Clearance test: after asbestos is removed, to make sure the air is safe. Asbestos was banned in some products in the late 70s, but builders kept using it until it ran out. So homes built into the early 80s can have it too. The word to know is friable. It means the material crumbles easily by hand. Asbestos is usually fine left alone, until you sand, cut, scrape, or break it. That’s what puts fibers in the air. We recently had the floors wipe tested on a 1969 flip my client was looking at. The old listing photos showed ceiling tiles and flooring that could have had asbestos, and all of it was gone by the time we toured. Every sample came back negative. Buying an older home or a flip? I can tell you which inspections make sense, and who I use for them. Send me a DM.