Vancouver has more pre-1990 housing stock per capita than almost any other city in Metro Vancouver, which means asbestos is not a rare problem here. It is a routine one. Our team at Synchron Demolition carries out asbestos removal across the city, from East Van bungalows to Downtown commercial interiors, under WorkSafeBC License No. AAL-00001079.
What Makes Burnaby Projects Different
Burnaby’s housing stock shares many characteristics with Vancouver’s older neighbourhoods, but with a higher proportion of detached single-family homes built in a concentrated period between 1955 and 1975. These properties frequently contain asbestos in attic insulation, basement wall systems, and wet area finishes that have never been formally tested.
One pattern we see regularly in Burnaby is combined scopes, properties where more than one hazardous material is present and needs to be addressed in a single mobilization. Vermiculite attic insulation and mold growth often appear together in the same space, particularly in homes where the attic has had long-term moisture issues. Coordinating both removals under a single containment setup is more cost-effective for the homeowner and reduces the total disruption to the property.
Burnaby Project Case Study: Attic Vermiculite and Mold Removal
A homeowner in North Burnaby contacted us about their detached home, which had a known vermiculite insulation issue in the attic along with visible mold growth in the same space. The attic area covered approximately 900 square feet, with a relatively small volume of vermiculite remaining, likely the result of prior partial removal without documentation.
Rather than treating the two issues separately, we coordinated both scopes under a single containment. This approach kept the project timeline and cost tighter than two separate mobilizations would have. The full scope included vermiculite removal, mold remediation, and removal of the existing insulation layer to allow full access and clearance of both materials.
The homeowners vacated the property for the duration of the work. On day 8, clearance air monitoring confirmed the attic was clean and the property was safe for reoccupation. They returned the same day.
Projects of this type in Burnaby, vermiculite removal combined with mold remediation in a detached home attic of around 900 square feet, typically range from $11,000 to $13,000 depending on the volume of material and access conditions. An accurate quote requires an in-person assessment.
Neighbourhoods We Serve in Burnaby
We work across all of Burnaby. The areas with the highest concentration of pre-1990 properties where we most frequently carry out abatement work include the following.
- North Burnaby has a dense mix of post-war bungalows and two-storey homes, many of which have original attic insulation and basement finishes dating to the 1960s and 1970s. It is one of the most active areas for residential abatement calls we receive in the city.
- Burnaby Heights contains some of the oldest housing stock in the city, with many homes predating 1960. Character homes in this area frequently contain multiple ACM types and are a common source of full-scope abatement projects.
- Capitol Hill properties sit on larger lots with older detached homes, a significant proportion of which were built before 1975. Attic vermiculite is a frequent finding here.
- South Slope has a mix of older residential and light commercial properties. Renovation and redevelopment activity in this area has increased in recent years, which drives demand for pre-renovation Hazmat assessments.
If your property is in a different part of Burnaby, we serve the entire city.
Related Services for Burnaby Properties
Depending on what testing reveals, your project may involve one or more of the following:
- Vermiculite removal: attic insulation in Burnaby homes built before 1985 is presumed to contain asbestos if it originates from the Libby, Montana mine
- Popcorn ceiling removal: stipple and textured ceilings are common in Burnaby homes and low-rise apartments from the 1960s through 1980s
- Asbestos insulation removal: pipe wrap and batt insulation in basements and crawlspaces
- Asbestos drywall removal: joint compound and texture coats in pre-1990 drywall systems
- Stucco removal: exterior stucco finishes applied before 1990
Areas We Serve
We carry out the same certified abatement work across the region:
If you don’t see your area, give us a call. We’ll do our best to help you.
- Asbestos removal in West Vancouver
- Asbestos removal in Vancouver
- Asbestos removal in North Vancouver
