Asbestos testing starts with a trained, AHERA-accredited inspector collecting small samples from suspect materials in your home or building. Those samples go to an accredited laboratory for analysis under polarized light microscopy (PLM). You receive a written report showing whether asbestos is present and at what percentage. If asbestos is found, ES America can scope and perform the abatement — one accountable team from start to finish.
Last updated July 2026 · By D.K.H.
Why Asbestos Testing Matters Before You Renovate or Demolish
If your home or commercial building was constructed before roughly 1990, there is a real possibility that some of its materials contain asbestos. Asbestos was widely used in floor tiles, ceiling tiles, pipe and duct insulation, roof shingles, joint compound, popcorn ceilings, and dozens of other building products because of its heat resistance and durability. When those materials are left undisturbed they are often not an immediate hazard. The danger arises when they are cut, drilled, sanded, or torn out — activities that release microscopic fibers into the air you breathe.
Under EPA regulations and OSHA standards, many renovation and demolition projects in pre-1980s buildings require an asbestos survey before work begins. Even when it is not legally mandated for your specific project, testing first protects your family, your contractors, and your neighbors — and it protects you from liability.
The team at our Augusta, Georgia office walks homeowners and building owners through asbestos testing regularly. Here is exactly what the process looks like.
Step 1 — Identifying Suspect Materials
The first step is a walk-through of the property by a trained inspector. The inspector looks for materials that were commonly manufactured with asbestos before the material was largely phased out of new construction. Common suspect materials include:
- 9-inch and 12-inch vinyl floor tiles (and the black mastic adhesive beneath them)
- Popcorn or “cottage cheese” spray-on ceilings
- Pipe and boiler insulation, especially the chalky or corrugated type
- Exterior siding shingles (cement-asbestos board)
- Roof shingles and felts
- Drywall joint compound and plaster
- Duct tape and HVAC duct wrap
- Acoustic ceiling tiles
The inspector notes the location, approximate area, and condition of each suspect material. Materials in good condition and that will not be disturbed may be documented but not sampled immediately — that decision is made on a case-by-case basis. Materials that are damaged or scheduled for renovation are prioritized for sampling.
Step 2 — Collecting Samples Under Proper Protocol
Sampling is not something to do yourself with a pocket knife. Improper sampling can release fibers, contaminate a room, and produce a sample that does not accurately represent the material. ES America’s inspectors are trained and AHERA-accredited (EPA/AHERA/ASHARA #20616) and follow established sampling procedures, which include:
- Wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including disposable coveralls and a half-face respirator with P100 filters
- Wetting the material before cutting to suppress fiber release
- Collecting a sample that represents the full cross-section of the material, from surface layer through any backing
- Sealing each sample in a labeled, airtight container immediately after collection
- Patching or sealing the disturbed area to prevent ongoing fiber release
- Cleaning the sampling area with wet wipes and a HEPA vacuum before leaving
Each sample is assigned a unique identifier that links it to its exact location in the building — this is what makes the final report meaningful and actionable. Learn more about our sampling process on the asbestos testing services page.
Step 3 — Accredited Laboratory Analysis (PLM)
Your samples are sent to an independent, accredited laboratory — not analyzed in-house, because that independence is what gives the results credibility. The standard analytical method for building materials is polarized light microscopy (PLM), which the EPA recognizes as the appropriate technique for identifying asbestos in bulk samples.
Under PLM, a laboratory analyst prepares a thin mount of the sample and examines it under polarized light. The optical properties of asbestos fibers distinguish them from other mineral fibers. The analyst identifies whether asbestos is present and, if so, which type (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, or others) and at what percentage by area.
Regulatory thresholds generally treat any material containing more than 1% asbestos as an asbestos-containing material (ACM) subject to handling and disposal requirements. The lab report will state the percentage clearly.
Step 4 — Your Written Report
Once the laboratory returns results, ES America prepares a written report that includes:
- A description and photograph (where taken) of each sampled material and its location in the building
- The laboratory’s analytical results for each sample, including the asbestos percentage and fiber type
- A determination of whether each material qualifies as an asbestos-containing material (ACM) under applicable standards
- An assessment of the material’s condition (friable vs. non-friable; damaged vs. intact)
- Recommendations for management, repair, or removal based on findings and your planned activity
You keep this report. It is your documentation of due diligence, useful for contractors, regulators, real-estate transactions, and your own records. If your project requires a permit, many local jurisdictions will ask for it.
Step 5 — If Asbestos Is Found, We Can Handle Abatement Too
Discovering asbestos does not have to mean starting over with a new company. ES America is a licensed asbestos abatement contractor in Georgia (GA ASBRN-382008), South Carolina (SC CO-000859 via SC DES), and Alabama (AL ASB40262), bonded at $1 million per occurrence / $3 million aggregate. If your test results show asbestos that needs to come out, our team can scope the removal work, pull the required permits, perform the abatement under regulatory containment requirements, and arrange for proper disposal at a licensed facility.
Having one accountable team handle testing through abatement means you do not have to translate findings to a second contractor or worry about whether the removal scope matches what was actually sampled.
Visit our Augusta asbestos testing page for local service details, or call our Augusta team at (762) 445-9083 to schedule an inspection or ask questions about your specific building.
Frequently Asked Questions About Asbestos Testing
How long does asbestos testing take from sampling to results?
The on-site inspection and sampling portion typically takes a few hours depending on the size of the building and the number of suspect materials. Standard laboratory turnaround for PLM analysis is commonly 5–10 business days. Rush turnaround (24–72 hours) is available from many accredited labs for time-sensitive projects, though it usually carries an additional fee. ES America will let you know the expected timeline when we scope your project.
Do I need to leave my home while samples are being collected?
For most residential sampling projects, it is not strictly required that you vacate the entire home, but we do ask that occupants — especially children and anyone with respiratory conditions — stay out of the immediate work area during sampling and for a short period afterward while the area is cleaned.
Can I collect the asbestos samples myself to save money?
Some DIY sampling kits exist, but we strongly advise against it. Collecting samples without proper training and equipment can release asbestos fibers, expose you and your family to harm, and produce a sample that does not accurately represent the material being tested. Regulatory agencies and courts give much more weight to samples collected by AHERA-accredited inspectors following documented protocols.
What if only one room tests positive for asbestos?
If asbestos is confirmed in a limited area, you have options — removal is not always the immediate answer. Asbestos-containing materials in good condition that will not be disturbed can sometimes be managed in place with periodic monitoring. If the affected area is part of a planned renovation, removal before work begins is usually required.
Is asbestos testing required before selling a home in Georgia?
Georgia does not have a blanket statutory requirement for sellers to test for asbestos before listing a residential property. However, sellers generally must disclose known material defects, and many buyers — particularly in older homes — request asbestos inspection as a condition of purchase.