PROBE ENVIRONMENTAL INC

Submitted material for testing and got results promptly.

It's no fun finding out you have asbestos in your attic- especially if you are a do-it-yourselfer knee deep in a renovation campaign. I was working in my attic, prepping to have uninsulated heat ducts redone by an HVAC company when I realized I had bigger problems than heat loss to contend with, so I decided to call in pros. Needless to say I was a bit stressed out about the possibility that I had exposed myself to asbestos and worried about how the unexpected cost of removal would effect my finances.  Probe came out for a quote within a week of being contacted. Marcus, their inspector did show up late, but in all fairness the weather was bad that day and Probe's office called me several times to keep me posted on his ETA. Marcus was knowledgeable and was very upfront about my options. He was straight forward and didn't use any scare tactics (Have you looked up asbestos online? Yikes!) 
  I ended up hiring Probe to gut my entire attic. They set up full containment and a negative air system and went to work. They started by sucking out all the loose vermiculite then removed all the old batt  and loose fill insulation and ultimately cut out all the old duct work. Everything was bagged tagged and disposed of in what appeared to be a very professional manner. The workers were polite and respectful of my house. I didn't envy them crawling around such a cramped space with all their gear on, so kudos guys. The only dicey moment was when some debris fell into my utility room from the space around the furnace plenum. They probably could have done a better job taping that area up (I let them know in advance about the gap) but they Hepa vacuumed it up right way when I let them know what had happened.
  The whole process ended up taking a day longer than expected which threw off the schedule to have the HVAC company come out and redo the duct work, but I know enough about remodeling houses to know that is par for the course, so no big deal. They wrapped up the job by spraying a sealant in the attic to lock in any asbestos fibers that might still be lurking. Finally, Marcus came to the house and ran a battery of air tests (I paid for a few extra tests at $25 each) to make sure everything was good to go. All areas including the utility room came back with good results. Marcus took the time to explain the tests he was performing and showed me different structure types in the microscope as he worked.  Overall Probe did a nice job at a fair price and I would hire them again- although I hope I never have to.

I called, brought in a sample, got a call about the results and a letter. Simple and quick!

Were very professional during the collection of the sample. The person doing the collecting seemed to know what he was talking about, and told me about the tests they would have run on the samples. The trouble is that they didn't perform the tests that the sample collector told me they would. PLM is not an asbestos test, it is a test method. You should ask what test they are going to run. EPA 600-R-93-116, and  CARB 435-A are two common PLM test protocols.
When I called to talk to the owner of the company about why they didn't run the tests that I had discussed with the sampler he was rude and vulgar. He tried to explain to me the different types of tests, and explained that most people don't know about the different types of PLM tests, and admitted that he himself didn't know much about them. When I explained that I did know the difference, and had been told by the sampler that the test would be the CARB 435-A test he accused me of lying and argued with me about it. He did not make any attempt to apologize for the confusion or offer to do anything to work towards a solution for me.
I still wanted a quote for asbestos abatement  from them so I could check if another estimate I had received was reasonable. They took several days to get back to me, and then said that they did not want to quote the job.

Estimator came out within a week of contacting company by phone. Checked wrap, took measurements and explained the process of removal. Because there was some pipe covered by a different type of insulation, he gave me estimates to remove just the obvious, visible asbestos insulation or to pull it all and scrub everything. We were able to schedule the work for the following week and opted to pull everything and follow-up with an air test. The workers were on time, got right to business and finished the job same day as proposed. Once all the insulation was out, they let me check the results and explained where an encapsulation compound was used on insulation bound to rust and also pointed out a pinhole in the pipe I will need to get repaired. Got handwritten copies of the air test that day and then a full report including the disposal info via email and a paper copy by mail. They were also able to suggest a local firm where I could get replacement fiberglass insulation. Super efficient, super thorough and professional.

A rep came out to see the floor in the house, took measurements and sent me an estimate within a few days. Once we decided to go with them, we were able to schedule the work for the following week. The workers were punctual and professional and completed the removal within the time they'd said. Later that day when I went back to the house, the owner explained everything to me: the process and the tools they used, and the follow-up air test. They are a local company and have been doing this kind of work for many years.

I give them an A plus all the way! They did great. They have good prices, and good workmanship. I have already recommended this company to several other people. They provide a free estimate first.

All of the company representatives and workers were on time, professional, and polite. The work was done quickly and for much less than other bids suggested. Disruption to the rest of the house was minimal, much to our surprise. Overall, very positive experience, would definitely call again.