Asbestos, lead & mould: tested before we build
Homes built before 1990 can hide asbestos and lead paint in the very materials a renovation cuts, sands and breaks. We test them right after you sign, so the results are back well before your start date and nothing about them is a surprise halfway through.
Asbestos, Lead & Mould Testing done properly
Asbestos was used in drywall joint compound, textured and popcorn ceilings, plaster, vinyl flooring and its glue, vermiculite insulation, stucco and window putty, mostly in homes built before 1990. Older paint can contain lead, especially in homes built before 1960. None of it is a danger while it sits undisturbed. Renovation is exactly what disturbs it.
So we do not wait for demolition day to find out. Once your contract is signed and the deposit is in, the materials your project will disturb are sampled and sent to an accredited lab. If anything comes back positive, we explain what it means, and the safe removal is priced and agreed in writing before any work starts in that area. Your schedule and your budget stay honest from day one.
Behind the shower is where we most often find mould: years of small leaks through grout and tired waterproofing. When we open the wall we remove it safely, fix the source, and rebuild with cement board and a bonded sheet membrane, our standard in every bathroom at every budget.
What is included
- A walk-through of every material your project will disturb, room by room
- Samples taken with protective gear, each spot misted, sealed and photographed
- Analysis by an accredited laboratory, with a chain-of-custody record for every sample
- Results well before your start date, explained in plain language
- Any removal priced and agreed in writing before work starts there
- Asbestos removal by a licensed / certified abatement contractor where the law requires one, with a clearance before we continue
- Lead-safe work practices on older paint: containment, wet methods, HEPA vacuums, no dry sanding or heat guns
- Mould removed at its source and the wet area rebuilt to our waterproofing standard
Real work, real photos
Photos from Zenith job sites, including the stages that end up hidden behind the finishes.
Built for our climate
Alberta and BC have different rules
Alberta requires notice to Occupational Health and Safety before asbestos work starts; British Columbia requires a hazardous materials survey by a qualified person before renovation, and licensed contractors for asbestos removal. We plan each job to its province's rules.
Testing early protects your start date
Lab results take days, and a positive result adds notice periods and removal time. Testing right after signing means all of that happens before your start date, not in the middle of your project.
Long winters, closed-up homes
Homes that stay shut for months hold moisture where it leaks. A bathroom with a slow leak behind the tile is a common place for mould to grow out of sight. We look for it, and we build so it does not come back.
Asbestos, Lead & Mould Testing: common questions
Does my home need testing?
If it was built before 1990, or nobody knows when, yes: we test the materials the renovation will disturb before we disturb them. For newer homes we confirm there are no suspect materials in the work area, and your project manager signs that off.
What happens if you find asbestos?
We stop short of that material, explain the result, and price its removal by a licensed or certified abatement contractor as a written change. Removal and a clearance happen before we work there. Because we tested early, this is settled before your start date.
Is it safe to stay in my home during testing?
Yes. Each sample is a small piece taken from a misted spot with the room closed off, and the spot is sealed straight away. We ask that people and pets stay out of that room for the short time it takes.
Do you remove asbestos yourselves?
No. Asbestos removal is done by a licensed or certified abatement contractor where the law requires one. We coordinate it, schedule around it, and keep the clearance report in your project file.
What clients say
Your renovation, in your words.
We publish only real reviews from our clients, shared with their permission. If we have worked on your home, we would value yours.
Share your experienceHelpful reading
Does My Older Edmonton or Prince George Home Have Asbestos?
Where asbestos hides in homes built before 1990, why it matters when you renovate, what the rules are in Alberta and BC, and how we test before we build.
Read the article →Lead Paint in Renovations
Which homes are likely to have lead paint, why sanding and scraping old paint is the risk, and how we test and work lead-safe on renovations in Edmonton and Prince George.
Read the article →Mould Behind the Shower: What We Find and How We Fix It
Why mould grows behind tiled showers, what we find when we open the wall, how we remove it safely, and the waterproofing standard we rebuild with so it does not come back.
Read the article →Start with a design consultation
Your room designed in 3D, and one fixed price at the end of the visit. $250 + GST, credited to your project when you go ahead.
Call any time. Every call is answered, day or night.