Asbestos Flooring Adhesive Found in Virginia Apartment Building
Asbestos Exposure & Bans
Written by Travis Rodgers | Edited by Amy Edel
Asbestos flooring adhesive discovered during a renovation at a Virginia apartment building prompted abatement work that left at least one tenant unable to enter her home. Christine Bonavita, a resident of Pembroke Towers in Norfolk, said contractors placed red tape marked “asbestos” across her apartment door while crews worked inside.
“Many people don’t realize asbestos may be present in older flooring and other building materials until repairs or renovations begin,” Snehal Smart, MD and Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center, tells us. “When it’s discovered, people need clear information about what was found, how the work will be handled and when it’s safe to return to the affected area.”
The discovery highlights a concern for people living in older homes and buildings. Asbestos flooring and other asbestos construction materials may remain, and renovation or repair work can disturb those materials and release fibers into the air. Property management said the asbestos flooring adhesive was found during remodeling and that qualified professionals handled the abatement.
Asbestos Discovered During Apartment Renovation
Property management said asbestos was discovered in flooring adhesive during remodeling and that it contacted qualified professionals to handle the abatement. Gorilla Contracting, the project’s general contractor, said CM Noble performed the work.
According to Gorilla Contracting, the abatement included containment, controlled removal, engineering controls, final air sampling and written clearance before people could return to the affected area. Property management also said city officials inspected the apartment after the work and cleared it for occupancy. Norfolk officials hadn’t responded to WAVY-TV’s request for comment before the report was published.
Older flooring products, including vinyl floor tiles, backing on vinyl sheet flooring and flooring adhesives, may contain asbestos. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identifies these materials as potential sources of asbestos in older buildings. When renovation work disturbs asbestos materials, proper abatement procedures are important to limit the release of fibers into the air. Proper asbestos abatement requires trained professionals who know how to safely contain and remove the material.
Asbestos Discovery Raises Safety Concerns for Residents
Bonavita said she couldn’t enter her apartment while asbestos abatement was underway. When she later viewed the unit with fire marshals present, she found flooring removed, tarps throughout the apartment and other signs of ongoing work. She also said contractors unplugged the router connected to surveillance cameras inside her home.
Her experience raises broader concerns about how residents are informed when asbestos is discovered in their homes. People may have questions about what materials contain asbestos, whether renovation work disturbed them, how the abatement will be handled and when they can safely return. In this case, property management said the apartment was cleared for occupancy after the work, though Norfolk officials hadn’t responded to WAVY-TV’s request for comment before publication.
Asbestos in older homes doesn’t automatically mean residents have been exposed. Materials in good condition that remain undisturbed generally pose less risk than materials damaged during renovation or repair. When asbestos fibers become airborne, people can inhale them, potentially increasing their risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These diseases can take decades to develop after asbestos exposure.
Asbestos Discovery Adds to Building Safety Concerns
Property tax records list Pembroke Towers as built in 1962, while property management gave a 1965 construction date. Both dates fall within a period when asbestos was commonly used in building materials.
Virginia law requires asbestos inspections before local building departments can issue renovation or demolition permits for many buildings first permitted before Jan. 1, 1985. Owners must certify that the affected area was inspected and that no asbestos was found or that appropriate response actions will be taken.
The asbestos dispute adds to Bonavita’s concerns about conditions at Pembroke Towers. She said residents have dealt with leaks and other maintenance problems for years. City violations obtained by WAVY-TV also cited damaged ceilings, leaks, a broken elevator and pest infestations at the property.
Bonavita said her concerns extend beyond her own apartment to the health and safety of other residents. She intends to remain at Pembroke Towers and is pursuing legal action.
