The order that matters
- First
- Know what the project will disturb
- Second
- Inspection by a CDPHE-certified building inspector
- Third
- Permits: building department and, if triggered, CDPHE
- Fourth
- Certified abatement and clearance, if needed
- Last
- General demolition and construction
From planning to demolition
Week counts are deliberately left out; they vary with contractor schedules, lab turnaround and permit review times.
- Design stage
- Decide the scope: which walls move, which floors come up, which systems are replaced. This defines what needs testing.
- Before bids
- Hire a certified inspector to sample materials in the project area. Bidders can then price both abatement and construction accurately.
- Bid review
- Compare abatement proposals separately from construction bids. Confirm certifications with CDPHE.
- Permit application
- Ask your city or county building department whether it needs the inspection report or proof of abatement before issuing the permit.
- Pre-abatement
- If quantities trigger CDPHE permitting or notification, allow for that lead time. Plan where occupants will be during containment.
- Abatement
- Containment, removal, cleaning. The rest of the house should stay isolated from the work area.
- Clearance
- Independent visual inspection and air sampling. Rebuild trades wait for passing results.
- Demolition and construction
- The general contractor starts. If new suspect material is uncovered, work in that spot stops until it is sampled.
Put these in the construction contract
- A statement that demolition will not begin until abatement and clearance are complete.
- A stop-work clause if unidentified suspect material is uncovered.
- How schedule delays from additional testing will be handled.
- That the general contractor will receive and keep a copy of the inspection report on site.
- Who is responsible for coordinating the abatement contractor and the clearance firm.
Common questions
Can the inspection happen after I get the building permit?
Some building departments ask about asbestos as part of the permit process. Even where they do not, inspecting first means your bids and schedule reflect reality. Check with your local department.
Where do I live during abatement?
That depends on where containment sits. A basement job may let you stay upstairs, while a kitchen job in a small home may not. Ask the abatement contractor how access, bathrooms and HVAC will work during the project.
What if my general contractor says testing is unnecessary?
Ask them to put that in writing with their reasoning. For an older home, most owners are better served by sampling the materials the work will disturb than by relying on a verbal assurance.
General information for the Denver area, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.