The housing here

Harvey Park and its neighbors in southwest Denver were developed largely in the 1950s and 1960s. Streets are lined with single-story ranches, some with basements and some on crawlspaces or slabs, many with attached carports or garages. A share of them are mid-century modern designs that owners now restore carefully; others have been remodeled several times.

Homes from this period were built during the decades when asbestos-containing products were common in residential construction. That does not mean every house has asbestos, but it does mean the usual suspects deserve a look before a remodel: resilient floor tile and adhesive, sheet flooring, drywall joint compound and texture, older duct materials, and sometimes exterior cement panels.

Many owners here are pursuing open-plan kitchen remodels, which means removing walls and lifting floors, and basement finishes. Both put suspect materials in the path of demolition.

Before updating a southwest Denver ranch

  • Check the original construction year and look for signs of earlier remodels, such as multiple flooring layers at floor vents.
  • List walls you plan to remove; these involve joint compound and texture.
  • If you are restoring original mid-century features, ask the inspector which original materials can be kept and left undisturbed.
  • Look at the furnace and ducts if they are original; duct materials may need sampling before a system swap.
  • If the house has original exterior panels, note any cracks from hail.
  • Ask Denver's building permit office what documentation it expects for your scope.

Common choices for mid-century restorers

  • IfOriginal floor tile is part of the look you want to keepThenTest it. If positive and intact, keeping it undisturbed may be an option; record it for future owners.
  • IfOriginal ceilings are smooth and you plan new lightingThenJoint compound and finish coats can still be suspect. Sample before cutting openings.
  • IfYou want to open the kitchen to the living roomThenSample the wall system before demolition, including any texture or skim coats.
  • IfThe crawlspace has old duct wrapThenSample before HVAC work, and avoid storing items in the crawlspace.

Local contacts

Building permits
City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development
Asbestos certification and permits
CDPHE Asbestos Program
Nearby neighborhoods with similar housing
Bear Valley, Mar Lee, Harvey Park South and parts of Ruby Hill
Map of Harvey Park. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

Common questions

Is a slab or crawlspace home less likely to have asbestos than one with a basement?

Not really. The foundation type changes where materials sit, not whether they were used. Slab homes may still have floor tile and adhesive on the slab, and crawlspace homes often have duct runs below the floor.

Can I keep original mid-century flooring if it tests positive?

Many owners do, provided it is intact and not being disturbed. Record the results so future contractors know not to sand or remove it casually.

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