NYS DOL-licensed asbestos removal across Cortland, NY and Cortland County. Pre-demolition surveys, friable insulation, floor tile, siding, vermiculite. Self-performed — not subbed.
Cortland, NY's pre-1980 building stock — homes, schools, commercial structures, agricultural buildings — almost universally contains asbestos-containing materials (ACM). Backwell holds the NYS Department of Labor Asbestos Handler Contractor license and self-performs abatement in-house, including the survey coordination, ICR 56 filings, NESHAP notification, containment, removal, decontamination, and third-party air clearance.
Call (315) 400-2654 for a free written estimate.
Cortland sits at the confluence of the Tioughnioga River's east and west branches on a broad valley floor carved into the Appalachian Plateau. The valley soils across the city's commercial and industrial corridors are dominated by Howard gravelly loam and Chenango gravelly loam on the outwash terraces — fast-draining and well-suited to most foundation work — while the adjacent hillsides carry Lordstown and Mardin channery silt loams over fragipan substrates.
Hydrology here reflects the Tioughnioga's flashy response to plateau rainfall. The river and its tributaries define the floodplain along Route 13 and Route 11, and the sole-source aquifer underneath the valley imposes stricter stormwater infiltration and contamination controls on any commercial project. Site work in Cortland regularly involves managing cobble-heavy outwash in utility trenches, engineering aquifer-protection stormwater on pavement-heavy sites, and dealing with steeply rising side slopes where rock and fragipan both constrain excavation. Frost depth on the valley floor runs into the four-foot range. Projects along the I-81 corridor routinely require detailed geotechnical investigation to characterize outwash depth, rock depth, and aquifer protection measures before finalizing site plans.
That building inventory — typical of Cortland County — is dominated by pre-1980 housing and commercial stock with significant ACM presence. Backwell's abatement crews handle this market every month.
Any disturbance, demolition, or renovation of a building constructed before 1980 in New York State requires an asbestos survey by a NYSDOL-licensed inspector before work begins. Backwell coordinates the survey and abatement under one contract. The 10-business-day NYSDOL notification period must run before regulated work starts.
Federal NESHAP rules (40 CFR 61 Subpart M) require EPA notification 10 working days before any regulated asbestos demolition or renovation. Backwell handles this filing.
NYSDEC Part 360 governs asbestos waste handling. Material must go to a NYSDEC-permitted asbestos-receiving landfill — Backwell uses approved transporters and provides waste manifests.
Most contractors sub asbestos work to a separate firm. Backwell holds the asbestos handler contractor license in-house. One contract, one crew, faster turnaround.
We arrange the licensed inspector for ICR 56 surveys, manage bulk sample turnaround, and file all notifications.
Backwell self-performs both. Schedule abatement Monday, demolition Wednesday — no contractor handoff delay.
General liability, asbestos-specific pollution coverage, workers' comp, umbrella. Certificates on request.
Residential typically runs $2,500 – $15,000 depending on materials and scope. Pre-demolition full-house: $5,000 – $30,000. Commercial varies by project.
Yes, if the building was built before 1980. NYS Industrial Code Rule 56 requires a licensed inspector survey before any disturbance.
Residential: 2–5 days on site after the 10-business-day NYSDOL notification period.
Yes. Backwell self-performs both. Combined contract, no handoff delay.
We use NYSDEC-permitted transporters and asbestos-receiving landfills. Waste manifests provided.
Yes. Cortland, NY and the surrounding Cortland County service area.
Get a free estimate: Call (315) 400-2654.