Asbestos, Lead & Mold Abatement in Tacoma, WA
Tacoma is our hometown. Our yard is at 3829 S M Street, so Tacoma jobs are minutes from our crews.
Older buildings in Tacoma
Tacoma has the oldest housing of any area on this site. Nearly two thirds of homes (64.3 percent) were built before 1980, and more than a quarter (26.9 percent) before 1940. The median Tacoma home was built in 1967.
The city has nine historic districts, including Stadium-Seminary, North Slope, the Wedge, College Park and South J Street. Homes of that age can have asbestos in plaster, flooring layers, boiler and pipe insulation and siding, and lead in the paint.
If a building predates 1980, test before you disturb it. See where asbestos hides in older homes and how our surveys work.
Asbestos rules for Tacoma projects
Tacoma, WA is under the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA), which covers King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
Survey
Before a renovation, an AHERA certified building inspector has to survey any material the work will disturb. The one exception is an owner-occupant renovating their own single-family home. Before a demolition, an AHERA survey is required with no exceptions.
Asbestos removal notice
Removing 10 linear feet or more of friable asbestos on pipe, or 48 square feet or more on other materials, requires written notice to PSCAA before work starts. Projects of 260 linear feet or 160 square feet and up also carry a 10-day waiting period after notice.
Demolition notice
Demolishing any structure with a roof area over 120 square feet requires PSCAA notification and a 10-day wait, even when the survey finds no asbestos at all.
Fees
A single-family residence asbestos notification is $25. Current PSCAA fees.
State certification
In Washington, only a certified asbestos contractor can bid or perform abatement. Every job needs a certified supervisor on site and certified workers doing the removal. Projects over 48 square feet or 10 linear feet also get their own L&I notification, normally filed at least 5 days before work starts.
Permits
Building and demolition permits come from the City of Tacoma Planning & Development Services. Tacoma’s demolition permit guidance tells applicants to have an AHERA inspector survey the structure and submit a notice to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency before work starts.
TAC handles the survey, the PSCAA and L&I notices and the abatement. Questions about your project? Read the FAQ or call us.
Tacoma sits at the center of the smelter plume
The Asarco smelter in Ruston operated for about 100 years, and Washington Ecology identifies the area around Tacoma as some of the most contaminated ground in the plume. Arsenic and lead in yard soil is a real consideration for demolition, excavation and landscaping here.
Check your address on Ecology’s Dirt Alert map. Ecology also offers free yard sampling and cleanup in the most affected areas.
What we do in Tacoma
- Asbestos Abatement & Encapsulation
- Asbestos & Mold Survey / Inspection
- Lead Remediation & Stabilization
- Mold Remediation
- General & Select Demolition
- Total Loss Inventory
Restoration or mitigation contractor? See how we work with restoration crews.
Common questions in Tacoma
Do I need an asbestos survey before remodeling or demolishing in Tacoma?
Before a renovation, an AHERA certified building inspector has to survey any material the work will disturb. The one exception is an owner-occupant renovating their own single-family home. Before a demolition, an AHERA survey is required with no exceptions. Tacoma, WA falls under the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
How long is the waiting period after notifying PSCAA?
Larger asbestos removals (260 linear feet or 160 square feet and up) and every demolition over 120 square feet wait 10 days after notice. Smaller removals need notice before work starts but no waiting period. PSCAA can waive the waiting period for a sudden hazard, to protect equipment or utilities, or when asbestos turns up that the survey missed.
Does Tacoma Abatement Company work in Tacoma?
Yes. Our yard at 3829 S M Street in Tacoma is about 2 road miles from downtown Tacoma. Estimates are free and on site. Abatement projects have an $800 minimum. Call (253) 830-5945, Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM.