Pre-1980 Englewood Basement Tear-Out: Asbestos and Lead Checks

The basics

Why it matters: Cutting, scraping or breaking these materials can release fibers or dust into the house
Asbestos: Colorado requires state-certified professionals for regulated asbestos inspection and abatement; check CDPHE guidance for what applies to a home
Lead paint: Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint; contractors disturbing it generally must follow federal lead-safe work rules
Testing: A sample analyzed by a lab is the only way to know; age and appearance are just clues

Layers from several remodels

A typical older Englewood basement is an archaeology project. The original owners may have laid asphalt or vinyl tile on the slab in the 1950s, a later owner glued carpet over it, and another put up paneling or drywall with textured compound. The furnace may have been replaced twice while old pipe wrap stayed in place on a run nobody touched. Each layer came from a different decade, so each needs to be judged on its own.

Testing usually does not stop drying for long. Standing water can be extracted, air movers and dehumidifiers can run, and materials that are clearly modern can be handled while samples go to a lab. What waits is the scraping, cutting and breaking of the suspect material itself.

Basement materials to flag for testing

Nine-inch square floor tiles, often found under later carpet.
Black or dark brown adhesive (mastic) under tile or carpet.
Sheet vinyl or linoleum with a paper-like backing.
White or gray wrap on heating pipes or around old boiler or furnace ducts.
Textured or popcorn ceilings and older drywall joint compound.
Old duct tape or wrap on furnace duct seams.
Painted trim, doors and window sashes from before 1978.
Cement-like board panels around the furnace or old water heater.
Any material you cannot identify that is crumbling after getting wet.

Questions for the cleanup provider and the insurer

Will you sample suspect materials before removing them, and who analyzes the samples?
If something tests positive, who performs the removal, and are they state-certified for that work?
How will the rest of the drying proceed while waiting for results?
How will lead-painted trim and doors be handled during demolition?
Insurer: is testing and any required abatement part of the claim, and do you need the lab report?
What should household members do, or avoid, while testing and removal happen?

General information for Englewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.