Drywall/Fireboard Removal Safety Question

[swimrr]

I have a 2 car garage that is divided by a wall with 5/8" fireboard on it, making 2 singles. I want to take down the wall to make a double and I've had a contractor tell me that it's not load bearing due to the fact that there are 2 large exposed beams in the middle of the wall and the fireboard nails are 2 ft apart.

My question is how concerned do I need to be regarding asbestos in the fireboard. The house is in Canada and was built in 1984. The contractor told me that I don't need to worry about it at all, but due to the nature of asbestos I wanted to get a few more opinions before I start pulling down the fireboard. There is no joint mud anywhere on the wall either, so that's not a concern.

If needed I'll cut out a small piece and have it tested, but I don't want to bother with this effort and expense if it's not warranted.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

 

[Zingzoom427]

Swimrr,
Having spent 32 years on the manufacturing end of Sheetrock, my understanding is that asbestos was not used in gypsum wallboard. It was however used in joint compound up to the seventies to aid in the flow ability when pumped. Asbestos was once called the miracle mineral but we know how that played out. My opinion is that you have no concerns. Cheers.

 

[tinmanwpk]

I used to be in the asbestos insulation industry. To the best of my knowledge asbestos is not in your sheetrock, but I am speaking with knowledge of American history. I can't believe Canada had asbestos in their products either. You're clean.

 

[holdover]

If you have a concern wear a good respirator when you remove it, place it in double plastic garbage bags, then tie them, wear one of those throw away white suits and you should be good to go, and it will protect you from the dust.

 

[nutsnbolts]

I don't believe that you have anything to worry about. Asbestos was only used in a certain type of mud that came in a bag and mixed with water. They quit making it in the mid-70's. On top of that, the amount you would run into in an entire bag of that powder would be tiny. You have 10 times the risk by taking the rear wheel off an old car and redoing the brakes.

 

[Richard Cranium]

also if you are worried about it, just spray it down with a little bit of water to keep the dust from spreading. I watch as a contractor removed asbestos insulation off of pipes He would use a pump up sprayer like for veggies and spray the insulation to where it was just about to drip and then remove it and put it into the double bag for disposal.

 

[swimrr]

Thanks for the advice everyone! Based on your comments and having spoken with 2 people in person I feel confident there's nothing to worry about. Since the wall is unfinished without any mud in the joints I'm going to try to pry off the pieces where they're nailed to the studs.

Then the next challenge will be getting ride of the drywall which is becoming increasingly complicated in Vancouver!

 

[bad_idea]

Roadtrip!

 

[gungatim]

drywall makes excellent landfill. when I had my house built, the drywaller made me a deal to dump his scraps in my drive to the lake that had eroded. when it gets wet and packed down it is like hard packed gravel. plenty of people will take it as fill, just list it as a freebie...of course they mine gypsum around my area, so it ends up back where it started...