Why this comes up so often in Lakewood

Much of Lakewood was built between the late 1940s and the 1970s, the same period when asbestos was widely used in building products. Nine-inch and twelve-inch vinyl floor tiles, the black mastic used to glue them down, textured ceiling finishes, some drywall joint compounds and older pipe or duct wrap can all contain it. None of this is unusual or alarming by itself; intact material that nobody disturbs is generally left alone.

Water damage changes that. A flooded basement or a leak into a kitchen often calls for pulling up flooring, cutting drywall or removing a stained ceiling. Those are exactly the actions that release fibers if the material contains asbestos. That is why careful assessors in older homes ask about the build year early and point out suspect materials before anything is removed.

Does this material need testing before removal?

A quick way to sort the materials in the wet area. When in doubt, test.

  • IfThe house was built before about 1980 and the material is original or of unknown ageThenTreat it as suspect and have it sampled before it is cut or removed.
  • IfThe material was installed recently and you have records or packaging showing what it isThenTesting may not be needed; share the records with the assessor.
  • IfThe material is carpet, carpet pad or modern laminate laid over older tileThenThe top layer can usually come up, but leave the tile and adhesive underneath alone until tested.
  • IfThe only wet materials are framing, concrete or modern drywall installed during a known recent remodelThenAsbestos is unlikely in those specific materials, but confirm the remodel date.
  • IfTest results come back positiveThenRemoval must be handled by properly certified abatement professionals; drying of other areas can often continue around it.

How testing usually fits into mitigation

  1. Stop the water and remove what is safe

    Extraction, moving contents and removing carpet and pad can usually start right away.

  2. Identify suspect materials

    The assessor lists what is suspect and where it is, and explains how it will be handled meanwhile.

  3. Sampling by a certified inspector

    Colorado requires state-certified professionals for regulated asbestos work. Check with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for current rules that apply to your situation.

  4. Drying continues where possible

    Air movers and dehumidifiers can often run while results are pending, keeping the structure from getting worse.

  5. Removal plan based on results

    Negative results let normal mitigation proceed. Positive results bring in an abatement contractor for that material.

Terms you may hear

Suspect material
Any building material that could contain asbestos based on its type and age, until a lab says otherwise.
Mastic
Adhesive used under floor tile; older black mastic is a common suspect material.
Abatement
Controlled removal or encapsulation of asbestos-containing material by trained, certified workers.
Friable
Material that can be crumbled by hand pressure, which makes fiber release more likely.

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