Asbestos Encapsulation vs. Removal: What’s Best for Your Property?

Encountering asbestos can bring a renovation to a screeching halt. There are two main ways to address asbestos in an older property: You can remove it altogether, or encapsulate it. Which one should you choose? Whether you lean towards encapsulated asbestos depends on factors like the location, amount, and your budget.

Below, we’ll outline the pros and cons of asbestos encapsulation vs removal and help you determine the best option for your building or home.

What is asbestos removal?

Asbestos removal is the practice of completely removing asbestos from affected property. Any and all building materials containing asbestos, like insulation or flooring, will be completely removed, with clean-up efforts aiming to contain and remove any lingering particles.

Asbestos removal professionals will typically quarantine off the workspace, don full protective equipment, and use industrial-grade air purifiers to thoroughly ventilate the area and prevent airborne fibers from spreading. These steps help ensure a controlled, safe environment throughout the abatement process.

What is asbestos encapsulation?

Asbestos encapsulation is a method of sealing the asbestos away rather than completely removing it. The asbestos will remain in place, but it’s safely quarantined away from living spaces, where it can’t pose a health hazard.

How is asbestos encapsulated?

The techniques an abatement contractor might use to encapsulate asbestos depends on the contaminated materials and their location. But some of the most common methods include the following.

• Penetrating encapsulates. These materials soak into porous substances to prevent the spread of asbestos particles. These tools are excellent to encapsulate popcorn ceilings or insulation.
• Bridging encapsulates. Liquids that form a protective coating over the top of a material, making them ideal for encapsulating flat surfaces, like encapsulating asbestos floor tiles.
• Enclosures. Physical barriers that seal asbestos, like new drywall or specialized wraps.

Since encapsulation doesn't always disturb asbestos particles, contractors don’t always have to use the same level of protections when prepping the worksite, either. Although Personal Protective Equipment and ventilation is always a good idea.

Asbestos encapsulation vs removal: Which option is best?

Both asbestos removal and encapsulation can effectively stop dangerous asbestos particles from spreading and make a property safe for living, working, or shopping.

You can see how your space’s specific needs can affect the choice between asbestos encapsulation vs removal below.

When to choose asbestos encapsulation

If any of these scenarios apply to your building, asbestos encapsulation might make a great fit.

• The asbestos is intact. Whole tiles or solid pipes are ideal for encapsulation, since they’re unlikely to crumble and spread particles. You can generally seal them without issue.
• You’re concerned about airborne particles. If you want to avoid any chance of spreading asbestos particles in the air, encapsulation provides the most straightforward way to keep the air clean.
• Removal would impact structural integrity. Sometimes, asbestos-laden materials are in sensitive spots, like a crawl space or basement. Encapsulation can leave the area intact and prevent disrupting structural parts of a building.
• You want to minimize disruptions. Encapsulation can be a more straightforward process than total removal, which makes it ideal for situations where you don’t want to disturb occupants, like residents in an apartment building.

When to choose asbestos removal

On the other hand, total asbestos removal might be preferable if any of the following scenarios apply to your space.

• The material is damaged. Broken materials, like chipped or broken tiles or crumbling insulation, can be too brittle to encapsulate properly. So, total removal is the safest option.
• Occupants are high risk. If the residents or visitors of a building are especially vulnerable to asbestos exposure, like a hospital or school, total removal could give everyone maximum peace of mind.
• It’s a high-traffic area. If the asbestos is in a main space, removal offers a lower risk of disturbing an encapsulated space.
• You’re planning extensive renovations. When asbestos is located in an area that renovations will impact, like tearing down a wall filled with asbestos insulation, removing it is typically less labor-intensive.

Comparing costs: Asbestos encapsulation vs removal

While it’s possible to handle small asbestos jobs on your own, bigger or more complex projects should always be left to the pros. How much can you expect to spend with an abatement company? That depends on the scope of the job.

According to data from Angi, asbestos removal costs range between $5 and $20 per square foot with bigger spaces or more difficult-to-reach areas, like the roof, running on the higher end.

Asbestos encapsulation cost, meanwhile, tends to average much lower at around $2 to $6 per square foot. This is typically because encapsulation is less labor intensive and can help you save on prep work and asbestos removal costs.

However, remember that these are only averages. The level of work and cost-of-living in your area might make your quote higher or lower.

Restore your space with a Rhode Island abatement company

Both asbestos encapsulation and total removal can yield safe, effective results when completed by a licensed contractor. Encapsulation is more affordable and is usually the better choice for intact materials, or for low-traffic locations. Meanwhile, asbestos removal is more labor-intensive and expensive, but can offer complete peace-of-mind that your building’s air is clean and safe to breathe.

No matter which method you prefer, if you need to make your building safe and livable, PRIME Remediation is here to help.

As one of the most trusted asbestos abatement Rhode Island companies, we’re well-versed in industry-standard abatement and encapsulation methods and can guide you towards the best fit for your concerns, and provide the lowest prices in town.

Contact us today to tell us about your project and learn how we can restore your space.