Boulder Remodeler: Test for Asbestos Before You Renovate

Homeowners in Boulder, Colorado, planning kitchen, bath, or basement renovations in older neighborhoods must often test for asbestos before design work is even complete. Local design-build firm Alpine Design & Remodeling is urging residents to account for Colorado’s asbestos regulations early in the planning process. According to The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, an asbestos inspection by a certified asbestos building inspector—who must work for a registered asbestos consulting firm—is required before any renovation or demolition. Trigger levels for single-family homes include 50 linear feet on pipes, 32 square feet on other surfaces, or the volume equivalent of a 55-gallon drum. Buildings constructed after Oct. 12, 1988, may be exempt if an architect, project engineer, or certified inspector confirms no asbestos was used.

Jarred Call, co-owner of Alpine Design & Remodeling, a design-build remodeler boulder homeowners trust for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and whole-home projects, says testing is one of the first things he raises with owners of older homes. “A lot of the homes we work in were built well before 1988, so we plan for testing from the start,” Call said. “Drywall, flooring, and old ceiling texture can all need to be checked before we open anything up, and it’s much easier to schedule that up front than to stop a project midway.” The company’s kitchen remodeling in boulder projects often involve removing original flooring, walls, and cabinetry, while bathroom remodeling boulder co projects frequently uncover original tile and older plumbing. Similarly, basement remodeling boulder co projects start by evaluating existing finishes, pipe insulation, and mechanical areas. For whole-home remodeling boulder projects, testing and state notification timelines are built into the construction schedule. When regulated work is required, a written application to the state for a notice or permit may be needed, along with a fee and a ten-working-day notification period—time that must be factored into any renovation timeline. Call advises homeowners to ask contractors how they handle testing before signing anything: “If the answer is vague, that’s worth paying attention to.”