Planning a basement reno in a 1960s Calgary house, test for asbestos first?

Yes, test before you touch anything. A 1960s Calgary home falls squarely in the pre-1990 window identified by Alberta OHS bulletin ASB004, meaning there is a higher risk that some materials used in its construction may contain asbestos.

In a basement renovation, the materials worth testing before work begins include drywall joint compound, plaster, vinyl floor tiles, vinyl sheet flooring, pipe insulation, mechanical insulation, and any stippled or acoustic finishes on ceilings or walls. The Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual adds floor mastic, levelling compound, and brick or block mortar to that list. These materials do not all look suspicious, and some, like joint compound, may not have been mixed evenly, so asbestos content can vary from one wall to the next in the same house.

What testing involves and what it costs

A qualified assessor takes bulk samples, sends them to a lab using polarized light microscopy, and gives you a written report. Published Calgary-area prices run $65 to $145 per sample, with packages of several samples costing less per sample. For a full basement with multiple material types, expect to collect samples from each distinct material. A hazardous materials assessment covering the whole project area is quoted per building; few Calgary firms publish a flat price, so ask for a written scope and quote.

If any material tests positive and your renovation will disturb it, the contractor is required under the Alberta OHS Code to file a 72-hour notification with Alberta before work begins, and no abatement work may start until that notification is made. The City of Calgary also requires an Asbestos Abatement Information Form before releasing a building or demolition permit; the applicant declares that all materials with the potential to release fibres have been removed from the project area or that none are present. The building permit itself is not a permit to do abatement work: the City's own FAQ is clear on that point.

When you are getting quotes for the abatement work itself, ask each contractor:

• Whether workers hold a current government-approved Alberta asbestos worker card (ask to see it, cards expire three years from issue)
• Whether the 72-hour OHS notification will be filed before work begins
• Whether clearance air testing will be done by a consultant independent of the abatement crew, and which lab will count the samples
• How waste will be packaged and disposed of (asbestos waste goes to Shepard landfill only, by appointment, in double-bagged 6-mil polyethylene, wetted and sealed)

A prepaid contract of $200 or more must be in writing under Alberta consumer protection rules, and you can request a WCB clearance letter online to confirm the contractor's account is in good standing before work starts.

After the job is finished, keep the lab report from the bulk sampling, a copy of the OHS notification, the clearance letter confirming air test results, and the Shepard landfill receipt.

To get the testing booked, the form on this page goes to abatement contractors listed in the Calgary Construction Network directory.