Frequently Asked Questions for Advanced Environmental Services

Missouri's Office of Equal Opportunity requires that a minority or woman owner hold at least 51 percent of the business, hold the highest position, and control daily and long-term decisions. The business must be for-profit. Applicants complete an online application, upload documents and host an onsite visit. Certified firms update yearly.

Cost depends on how much material is involved, what type it is, and what containment and disposal the job needs. Advanced Environmental Services quotes each job, so there is no flat rate. AES's own asbestos removal page says the process can be costly depending on the measures required. Call (314) 865-2662 or use the quote form for a price on your building.

Do not remove it yourself. Missouri DNR says its asbestos rules cover commercial buildings and some residential ones, and most single-family homes are exempt. Exempt does not mean safe. EPA says fibers release when asbestos material is disturbed. Have the material tested first, then hire a certified professional to handle any removal.

People use the two words for the same work. Missouri DNR uses "abatement" and defines it as all steps, materials and precautions needed to remove and clean up asbestos. On most job sites, remediation means that same process: surveying, containing, removing, disposing and clearing the area. Read the contract to see exactly what it covers.

Intact tiles are generally a low risk. EPA lists vinyl floor tiles and their adhesives among materials that can contain asbestos, and says exposure may occur only when the material is disturbed or damaged. Sanding, breaking or pulling up old tile is what releases fibers. Test before any remodel, and do not scrape or sand suspect tile.

Not always. EPA lists roofing and siding shingles among materials that can contain asbestos, and says exposure may occur only when the material is disturbed. Siding left alone and in good shape is a different case from siding you plan to cut, replace or tear down with the house. Test it first, then decide with a professional.

Friable asbestos is material that crumbles easily. Federal rules define it as material with more than 1 percent asbestos that, when dry, can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure. It sheds fibers more readily than hard, nonfriable materials, so it calls for the strictest handling and containment.

Cost depends on the size of the building and how many materials need sampling. Advanced Environmental Services quotes each job, so there is no standard price to publish. Testing is the step that tells you whether you have a problem, and it should come before any demolition or renovation. Call (314) 865-2662 to ask about your property.

In the City of St. Louis, the Department of Health's Air Pollution Control Program handles asbestos and demolition notifications under an agreement with Missouri DNR. Fees as of October 2026 include $100 for a demolition notification and $200 for an asbestos project at the NESHAP level. Check the city page for current fees and forms.

Usually only when a covered event caused the mold. Progressive says homeowners insurance does not usually cover mold damage or removal unless it results from a covered peril, and mold that has been there for weeks or longer likely will not be covered. Read your policy and call your insurer before work starts.

Remediation fixes the cause and cleans up the mold. Removal alone is not enough. EPA says you cannot get rid of all mold spores indoors, and that if you clean up mold but do not fix the water problem, the mold will most likely return. A sound job controls moisture first, then removes the growth.

Cost depends on the size of the property and how much of it needs checking. Advanced Environmental Services quotes each job, so there is no flat fee to publish. Its own FAQ advises a thorough mold inspection when you see mold spots, smell a musty odor, or have symptoms. Call (314) 865-2662 to schedule one.

Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services licenses lead abatement supervisors, workers, inspectors, risk assessors and project designers. It also licenses the lead abatement contractors, the firms that employ them. Lead abatement work in Missouri must be done by licensed people. Ask any contractor for its license number before you hire.

It applies if you are paid to disturb painted surfaces in a home, childcare facility or preschool built before 1978. Those workers must be certified and trained in lead-safe work practices. EPA says the rule generally does not apply to homeowners working on their own home, but it does apply to landlords and house flippers.

Not yet final. As of October 2026, EPA has proposed a rule that keeps the PFOA and PFOS limits at 4.0 parts per trillion but lets water systems request two more years, to 2031. The original deadline is April 2029. The comment period closed July 20, 2026. Check EPA's page for the current status.

Plan on paperwork before any demolition. In the City of St. Louis, the Air Pollution Control Program handles demolition and asbestos notifications, with a $100 demolition notification fee as of October 2026. Missouri DNR requires 10 working days' notice for regulated structures. Confirm the building permit with the city, and ask your contractor who files what.

Yes, for regulated underground storage tanks. Missouri DNR requires a Closure Notice (form MO 780-2121) at least 30 days before closure activities, and the department should approve it before work begins. DNR also asks for notice at least three days before closure starts at the site. Confirm your tank is regulated first.

Neither wins every time. Polished concrete is the slab itself, ground and polished to a sheen. Epoxy is a coating applied over the slab. Polishing suits stores, offices and warehouses that want a hard, low-fuss surface. Epoxy suits floors where you want a coated, colored surface. Surface prep decides how well either one lasts.

Advanced Environmental Services says places with heavy traffic may need to redo their concrete finishing every 5 to 10 years, and calls it a quick and affordable process requiring very little downtime. Lighter-use areas may go longer. Traffic, cleaning habits and the quality of the original prep all affect the schedule.

Often, if you plan to coat or cover the slab. Moisture moving up through concrete can damage coatings, so installers test the slab first. Vapor barriers slow or stop moisture moving from the ground into a slab on grade. A moisture test result tells you whether your floor needs one before you coat it.