What Happens When the Survey Finds Asbestos

Asbestos is mostly a hazard when it's disturbed and fibres get into the air. Once it's been found, nobody should be cutting, sanding or breaking the affected material until there's a plan. If you've already started some DIY work, stop and let the consultant know.

Ontario's asbestos regulation for construction, O. Reg. 278/05, sorts asbestos work into three types based on risk:

Abatement is specialist work. The removal contractor must follow the procedures for the type of work, including enclosures, protective equipment, decontamination and waste handling. Workers doing Type 3 removal need specific training. Many demolition contractors, including us, bring in a dedicated abatement contractor for this stage rather than doing it themselves.

After removal, the area is inspected and, for higher-risk work, air testing confirms it's safe. Only then does general demolition start. Skipping this step puts the demolition crew at risk, and it can shut the job down if a Ministry inspector visits.

Abatement adds a stage, and Type 3 work in particular takes time to set up and clear. The best way to limit the delay is to get the survey done early, before the demolition date is locked in. Our guide on what a pre-demolition survey covers explains how to get it right the first time.

Always, where asbestos is concerned. This isn't a DIY job, and even small amounts need proper handling and disposal. What you can do is make sure your demolition contractor reads the survey, coordinates with the abatement contractor and doesn't start until clearance is confirmed. That applies whether it's a single bathroom in an interior demolition or a whole house in a residential demolition.

In our experience, these are the places surveys most often flag in older houses:

We can't give numbers here, because every building's different, but the pattern's predictable. Small Type 1 jobs are usually quick. Type 2 adds some set-up. Type 3 needs enclosures, air handling and clearance testing, so it's the stage that adds the most time.

The earlier you know, the easier it is to plan. That's why we'd always rather see the survey before we write a scope, not after.

If the building's shared, like a semi, a townhouse or a unit in a commercial plaza, the people next door will want to know what's going on. The abatement contractor seals the work area and controls the air, so the risk outside the enclosure is managed. Still, a short, honest note about what's being removed and when goes a long way toward keeping everyone calm.

Finding asbestos adds a step, not a dead end. It gets classified, removed by specialists, cleared, and then demolition goes ahead. At Clearpath Demolition Toronto, we plan our schedule around the abatement stage so there's no guesswork. Request a free estimate and bring your survey along.