Two hazards in the same wall
Most of Wheat Ridge was built between the late 1940s and the 1970s. Houses of that era commonly used materials that sometimes contained asbestos: joint compound and textured ceilings, vinyl floor tiles and the black adhesive under them, duct tape and wrap on furnace ducts, and pipe insulation in crawlspaces and basements.
Mold removal is mostly demolition: cutting, scraping, lifting and bagging. If a moldy basement floor has old nine-inch tiles, or a moldy crawlspace has wrapped ducts, removing them without knowing what they contain can release fibers that are far harder to clean up than mold spores. You cannot tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it.
Materials mold jobs commonly disturb
| Material | Where mold jobs meet it | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall joint compound | Cutting out water-damaged walls | Has the wall system been sampled? |
| Textured or popcorn ceiling | Basement ceilings under a leak | Will the ceiling be disturbed at all? |
| Vinyl tile and black mastic | Basement floors after flooding | Can flooring stay in place and be cleaned? |
| Duct wrap and tape | Crawlspace ducts with condensation | Will ducts be cleaned, sealed or replaced? |
| Pipe insulation | Crawlspaces and boiler rooms | Is any insulation damaged or loose? |
| Vermiculite in walls or attic | Attic mold from venting problems | Is the attic work area near loose fill? |
Sequencing the job safely
Pause demolition
Leave suspect materials alone while the scope is planned, and keep the area closed off.
Get suspect materials sampled
Colorado rules generally call for a state-certified asbestos inspector to sample before regulated renovation work. Check current requirements with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Read the results with the scope
If materials test negative, mold work proceeds normally. If positive, the affected materials are handled by a certified abatement contractor before or alongside mold work.
Coordinate containment
When both trades are involved, ask how containment, air filtration and disposal are divided so the area is never left open between them.
Points to keep in mind
- Who tests
- A Colorado-certified asbestos building inspector
- Who regulates
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- When to test
- Before materials in a pre-1980s home are cut, lifted or scraped
- Effect on timing
- Sampling and lab results add days, not weeks, in most cases
Common questions
- My house was remodeled in the 1990s. Do I still need testing?
- Newer drywall and flooring are less likely to be a concern, but older layers are often left underneath. Ask the inspector to sample anything original to the house.
- Can mold and asbestos be handled by the same contractor?
- Sometimes a firm holds both qualifications, but often they are separate. Ask who holds the Colorado asbestos certification for any regulated work.
General information for Wheat Ridge, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.