Asbestos Encapsulation in Little Rock, AR
Encapsulation means sealing asbestos material in place so it cannot release fibres, instead of taking it out. A coating over the surface, a new floor over old tile, a jacket around pipe insulation, drywall over a popcorn ceiling. When the material is intact and nobody is going to disturb it, sealing it is usually the cheaper asbestos solution, at $2 to $6 a square foot against $5 to $15 for a removal, and it is finished in a day. When the material is damaged, or you are about to renovate through it, sealing is the wrong answer and we say so. Call (501) 817-7825 and we will tell you which one your house needs.
When sealing works and when it does not
Works: intact 9×9 floor tile that is firmly stuck, and you want a new floor over it. Transite siding with no broken shingles, painted and left. Pipe insulation that is whole and on pipes nobody needs to work on. A popcorn ceiling in good condition that you want flat, covered with a new layer of drywall. Ceiling tile that is sound and dry.
Does not work: anything crumbling, flaking, water-damaged or already broken. Anything in the way of a renovation: a wall coming out, a floor coming up, a roof being replaced. Anything a buyer's inspector has flagged and the buyer wants gone. Loose material like vermiculite, which cannot be sealed in a meaningful way. In those cases it is a removal, see residential asbestos abatement.
The other thing to know: sealed asbestos is still asbestos. It has to be disclosed when you sell, and the next owner or the next contractor needs to know it is there. We give you a written record of what was sealed and where.
How we encapsulate asbestos
Test first. A lab sample confirms the material is asbestos and tells us its condition. $50 to $75 per sample. See asbestos testing.
Floor tile. Loose tiles are re-stuck or removed individually, the surface is cleaned wet, and either a sealing coating goes on before a floated floor, or a new underlayment is screwed down over it for tile or wood. See asbestos floor tile.
Siding. Broken shingles replaced, the wall washed gently and painted with a good exterior coating, or new siding fitted over it on furring strips. See asbestos siding.
Pipe insulation. Damaged sections removed, the rest wrapped in a fitted sealing jacket and the elbows coated. See asbestos pipe insulation.
Popcorn ceiling. A sealing coat sprayed on, or a new layer of drywall screwed up through the old ceiling into the joists, with the screw holes done wet. See popcorn ceiling asbestos.
Most encapsulation jobs are one day, and the room does not have to be sealed the way a removal does, because the material is not being broken up.
Encapsulation or removal: how to decide
Ask three questions. Is the material intact? Is anyone going to disturb it in the next ten years, including a renovation, a sale or a trade working on the pipes? Does the buyer or lender want it gone? If the answers are yes, no and no, seal it and save the difference. If any of them goes the other way, remove it once and be done. We look at the material on the visit and put both prices in writing where both are possible, so you can decide with the numbers in front of you.
What asbestos encapsulation costs in Little Rock
Sealing asbestos in place usually runs $2 to $6 a square foot, depending on the material, its condition and what goes over it. Painting intact transite siding is priced as a paint job. A new floor over sealed tile is the cost of the floor. A drywall layer over a popcorn ceiling is priced by the room. Removal, for comparison, is $5 to $15 a square foot for tile and $1,200 to $3,000 for a popcorn ceiling room. Every price on the site is on the asbestos removal cost page.
Prices on this page are estimates from previous work. We cannot quote an exact price. The actual cost can be lower or higher depending on the job. The person who knows is the professional who will do the work. You get a written quote after we see the house.
How to get started
Call (501) 817-7825 and tell us what the material is, its condition, and what you plan to do in the house. We book the visit and you get a written price for sealing it, and for removing it where both are possible. If you would rather write, use the contact page.
Related services
- Asbestos Testing & Inspection in Little Rock, AR
- Asbestos Floor Tile & Mastic Removal in Little Rock, AR
- Asbestos Siding Removal in Little Rock, AR
- Popcorn Ceiling Asbestos Testing & Removal in Little Rock, AR
- Residential Asbestos Abatement in Little Rock, AR
- Asbestos Removal Cost in Little Rock, AR
Asbestos encapsulation questions
How much does asbestos encapsulation cost?
$2 to $6 a square foot in Little Rock, against $5 to $15 a square foot to remove floor tile or $1,200 to $3,000 to remove a popcorn ceiling from one room. Painting intact siding is priced as a paint job.
Is encapsulation safe?
For intact material that is not going to be disturbed, yes; it is what the regulators recommend in that case. It is not safe for damaged material or material that is about to be renovated through.
Can I use asbestos encapsulation paint myself?
On intact transite siding, a good exterior paint applied by roller or brush is a reasonable homeowner job, as long as the siding is not sanded or pressure-washed first. Sealing a ceiling or a floor is worth having done, because the preparation is where fibres get released.
Do I have to disclose sealed asbestos when I sell?
Yes. Sealed asbestos is still asbestos and Arkansas sellers disclose known material. We give you a written record of what was sealed and where for the disclosure.
Can vermiculite be encapsulated?
No. Loose fill cannot be sealed in any useful way. It is either left undisturbed in a closed attic or removed.
Do you do encapsulation in North Little Rock and Bryant?
Yes. Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Jacksonville, Cabot, Bryant, Benton and Conway. Call (501) 817-7825.
Seal it or remove it?
Call (501) 817-7825. We look at the material and put both prices in writing where both are possible.