Before the volunteer team of building professionals for ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” could begin their work rebuilding a Maynard home to make it handicapped accessible for a father of three, a crew from MARCOR Remediation, a leading national environmental contractor, made the site safe for demolition.

MAYNARD, MA, MARCH 14, 2008 -- Before the volunteer team of building professionals for ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” could begin their work rebuilding a Maynard home to make it handicapped accessible for a father of three, a crew from MARCOR Remediation, a leading national environmental contractor, made the site safe for demolition.  Technicians from MARCOR’s Wilmington, MA, office, garbed in full protective suits, gloves, and respirators, removed large amounts of asbestos-containing joint compound from the Giunta family home.

Once the presence of the asbestos-containing joint compound was identified in the home, the design team, which includes team leader Ty Pennington and designers Paige Hemmis, Paul DiMeo, Michael Moloney, and Tanya McQueen, asked MARCOR Remediation to remove the potentially dangerous substance.  Joint compound used on wallboard systems often contained asbestos during its production in the ‘60s and ‘70s.  Because of its presence, regulatory protocols must be followed during its containment and removal.

“MARCOR Remediation is more than happy to contribute its time and skills to the Giunta family, who were in such desperate need for a new home,” said Jim Harer, MARCOR general manager.  Paul Giunta, the father of the family, was seriously injured in an automobile accident in 2006, and his condition today does not allow him to re-enter the family home because it is not handicapped accessible.  The newly rebuilt home will not only be totally accessible to Paul Giunta, but will be renovated to solve a multitude of other construction problems.

The MARCOR team of 30 workers was be the first subcontractor on site on the first day at the end of February, right after electricians and plumbers had turned off power and water and movers had taken out the family’s possessions.  The home was sealed and contained with heavy plastic sheeting, in accordance with EPA and local regulations.  The air in the work site was constantly monitored and an air lock erected, which was used for entering and exiting the work area.  The air was filtered using HEPA-filtered negative air machines.

Next, the hazardous waste was wetted, double-bagged, and disposed in an EPA-approved landfill.  While the barriers were in place, an independent third party air-monitoring firm, Covino Environmental Associates, Inc., obtained air samples and performed final air clearance testing.  Workers performed a total of approximately 300 man-hours on the site.