It's not optional in New York
NYSDEC and the NYS Department of Labor require a pre-demolition asbestos survey on every structure built before 1980, performed by a NYS-licensed inspector. No survey, no demolition permit. Skipping it is a personal liability on the property owner, not just the contractor. Fines start at $5,000 per violation and routinely reach $25,000+ when multiple suspect materials are found post-incident.
What we look for
Asbestos was used in roughly 3,000 building products through the late 1970s. The common ones in CNY houses:
- Vermiculite attic insulation (Zonolite brand, gray-brown pebbles)
- 9x9 floor tile and the black mastic glue underneath
- Transite siding (cement-asbestos shingle siding, common 1940-1970)
- Pipe and boiler insulation (white wrap, often deteriorated)
- Acoustical popcorn ceiling texture pre-1978
- Roofing felt and shingles (older 3-tab and built-up)
- Window glazing putty and exterior caulk
- HVAC duct seam tape
Our process
- Survey. Our NYS-licensed inspector walks the building, takes bulk samples of any suspect material, and sends them to an accredited lab. Turnaround is 5 to 7 business days.
- Written report. You receive a sealed report identifying every confirmed asbestos-containing material (ACM), location, quantity, and condition. This is what the town wants to see with your demo permit.
- Abatement plan. If ACM is found, we file a 10-day notification with NYS DOL, set up containment, and schedule abatement before structural teardown.
- Self-performed removal. Our crew handles abatement directly. We don't sub it out. This matters because most "demolition" contractors hand you off to a separate abatement company, you pay both markups, and your timeline doubles.
- Disposal. Sealed, double-bagged, manifested to a licensed Class 9 landfill. You get the disposal manifests as part of your project file.
- Final air clearance. Independent third-party air monitoring confirms the work area is safe before demolition starts.
What it costs
| Scope | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Survey only (pre-1980 house) | $650 to $1,200 |
| Survey + light abatement (under 100 sq ft ACM) | $2,500 to $5,000 |
| Standard abatement (siding, tile, pipe wrap, popcorn) | $4,500 to $9,500 |
| Heavy abatement (vermiculite + multiple ACMs) | $8,000 to $18,000 |
When you bundle abatement with demolition, we eat the mobilization on the abatement side. Standalone surveys we charge for; bundled with a Backwell teardown the survey is included.
Why self-performed matters
The CNY market has maybe a dozen real licensed asbestos contractors and several hundred "demo guys" who farm it out. When you bundle survey, abatement, and demolition with one licensed contractor, you get one schedule, one chain of custody, one set of manifests, and one phone number when the town inspector calls.
What we are licensed for
- NYS DOL Asbestos Handling License (current)
- NYS DOL Public Work Contractor and Subcontractor Registry
- NYSDEC compliant disposal manifests
- EPA NESHAP notification handling
- OSHA 30 Construction Safety