Asbestos Removal in Irmo, SC
Asbestos testing and removal in Irmo, the town northwest of Columbia that calls itself the gateway to Lake Murray. Irmo grew from a few hundred residents to several thousand during the 1970s, which puts many of its houses in the years when asbestos was still common in ceilings and floors. Call (803) 859-4938.
Irmo’s 1970s boom and what it left behind
Irmo was chartered on December 24, 1890, as a stop on the Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad, its name joining the surnames of C.J. Iredell and H.C. Moseley. It stayed small for a long time, even after the Lake Murray dam project of the late 1920s brought a large construction workforce to the area. Subdivisions arrived in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the census went from 517 residents in 1970 to 3,957 in 1980 and 11,280 in 1990.
Many houses from that stretch are ranches and split-levels, and their likely asbestos materials are predictable: sprayed popcorn ceilings, vinyl tile and sheet flooring with their adhesives, drywall joint compound, and in some attics loose vermiculite, sometimes buried under later fiberglass. Spray-applied asbestos ceiling texture was banned federally in 1978, but existing stock could still be used, so a house finished in the early 1980s is not automatically clear.
Test the ceiling before you scrape it
The Irmo project most likely to disturb asbestos is also the most tempting to do yourself: scraping a popcorn ceiling before painting or selling. Scraping an untested ceiling can spread fibers through the house, and a sample of each texture costs far less than the cleanup. See does my popcorn ceiling have asbestos, asbestos testing and inspection, or do I need to test.
Irmo pricing by material
Irmo jobs use the Columbia ranges, listed by service on the asbestos removal cost page. Popcorn ceilings and vermiculite attics are both priced by area, but an attic also depends on how much later insulation sits over the vermiculite and how easy the hatch is to reach.
Split-levels add a wrinkle. A ceiling or floor that spans two levels may need containment on both, and a finished lower level with its own HVAC returns has to be sealed off separately, which is why the written quote follows a visit.
Services available in Irmo
- Asbestos testing and inspection — where every job starts.
- Residential asbestos abatement — containment, wet removal, manifested disposal.
- Popcorn ceiling removal — with the finish quoted at the same time.
- Floor tile and mastic removal — 9×9 tile and black cutback adhesive.
- Vermiculite attic removal — Zonolite fill, HEPA-vacuumed into sealed bags.
- Transite siding removal — cement shingle stripped whole and wet.
- Pipe and duct insulation removal — glovebag or full containment.
- Roof and shingle removal — the outbuilding job people forget to mention.
- Emergency removal — if something has already been disturbed.
Booking in Irmo
Call (803) 859-4938 with the address, the year the house was built and the rooms you plan to work on. If you have a home inspection report from your purchase, keep it handy; inspectors often note suspect materials without testing them.
Irmo spans the Lexington and Richland county line, which does not change the asbestos rules. SCDES sets them for contractors statewide, so notification, handling and disposal are the same on either side. The South Carolina asbestos rules page explains them.
Frequently asked questions
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My Irmo house was built in the 1970s. Which materials are worth sampling?
The ones your project will touch. For most Irmo houses of that age that means ceiling texture, floor tile or sheet vinyl with its adhesive, joint compound, and attic insulation if it looks like gray-brown granules.
Can I paint or sand a popcorn ceiling without testing it?
Careful painting over intact texture is a recognized way to seal it, but sanding or scraping breaks it up. Test before any work that breaks the surface. Popcorn ceiling removal covers what happens if it is positive.
Does it matter whether I am on the Richland or Lexington side of Irmo?
No. SCDES applies one set of asbestos rules across the state. The county affects which offices handle building permits, not how asbestos is handled.
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Should I test before selling my Irmo house?
It is often worth it. Buyers of 1970s houses may ask, and a result in hand lets you decide whether to seal, remove or simply disclose without a closing deadline. See buying an older home for the buyer’s side.
Ready to book a visit in Irmo?
Free on-site quote. No obligation. We tell you on the phone what it is likely to cost before anyone comes out.