Homeowners planning kitchen, bathroom, or basement renovations in Boulder’s older neighborhoods face a critical step that often precedes design completion: testing for asbestos. 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 is required before any renovation or demolition work takes place. The department also specifies that the certified inspector must work for a registered asbestos consulting firm.
For single-family homes, the department lists trigger levels of 50 linear feet on pipes, 32 square feet on other surfaces, or the volume equivalent of a 55-gallon drum. An exception may be made for buildings, or portions of buildings, constructed after Oct. 12, 1988, when an architect, project engineer, or certified inspector completes a form stating that no asbestos was used.
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. For homeowners, that notification window is time that has to be built into the schedule.
Jarred Call, co-owner of Alpine Design & Remodeling, a design-build remodeler boulder homeowners work with on kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and whole-home projects, said 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.”
Kitchens are often where the most material comes out. The company’s kitchen remodeling in boulder projects frequently involve removing original flooring, walls, and cabinetry. Bathrooms raise similar questions. In bathroom remodeling boulder co projects, original tile and older plumbing are common areas of concern. Lower levels can be just as involved. basement remodeling boulder co projects often start with evaluating existing finishes, pipe insulation, and mechanical areas before new space is framed.
“My advice to a neighbor is to find out when the house was built and ask any contractor how they handle testing before you sign anything,” Call said. “If the answer is vague, that’s worth paying attention to.”
The same planning applies at a larger scale. For whole-home remodeling boulder projects that touch many rooms at once, testing and state notification timelines are factored into the overall construction schedule.
Alpine Design & Remodeling is a family-owned, owner-led design-build remodeling firm based in Boulder, Colorado, founded by Jarred and Taylor Call. The company provides kitchen, bathroom, basement, and whole-home remodeling, with 3D design and permit coordination before construction begins.
