The reputation of construction or renovation professionals is built on transformation. If this is you, you are praised when taking dated, worn-out spaces and turning them into modern, functional, and beautiful homes. Your work adds value, delivers on a client’s vision, and creates the backdrop for a family’s future memories. 

But within the walls of older homes, a hidden legacy exists that can undermine even the most expertly executed project. This legacy is asbestos, and failing to address it proactively isn’t just a safety oversight—it’s a business risk that can introduce significant liability into the very homes you work to improve.

New Research Study: Asbestos Concern High, Asbestos Awareness Low

The scale of this issue has been brought into sharp focus by new research. A 2024 Harris Poll, conducted on behalf of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), revealed a startling truth: an estimated 91% of American homes have never been tested for asbestos. For the renovation industry, this statistic should be a profound call to action. It means that on nearly every project involving a pre-1990s property, your team is likely the first to disturb materials that have been dormant for decades. How you handle that responsibility has far-reaching consequences for your clients, your crew, and your company’s future.

The Invisible Risk in Every Demolition

The primary responsibility of any contractor is the health and safety of both the work site and the finished product. While you meticulously manage structural integrity, electrical safety, and building codes, the microscopic threat of asbestos can be easily overlooked. Found in everything from popcorn ceilings and vinyl flooring to drywall compound and pipe insulation, asbestos-containing materials are generally harmless when left undisturbed. The renovation process, however, is fundamentally about disturbance.

Disasters, Demolitions, and DIY Can All Increase of the Risks of Asbestos Exposure

Every cut of a saw, every swing of a sledgehammer, and every scrape of a floor can release millions of microscopic asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers are odorless, tasteless, and invisible to the naked eye. Once airborne, they can linger for days, contaminating the entire home and HVAC system. Exposure to these fibers is the sole cause of mesothelioma, a devastating cancer, and is a leading cause of asbestosis and lung cancer. The diseases have a long latency period, often not appearing for 20 to 50 years after exposure.

Latency: Asbestos Diseases like Mesothelioma take 20-50+ Years to Appear

This long timeline creates a dangerous illusion of safety. A project can be completed without incident, with clients happily living in their new space for years, unaware of the hazard that was released. But for a professional contractor, this delayed-action risk represents a profound ethical and professional duty of care. Protecting clients and employees from this hazard is not just a best practice; it is a fundamental aspect of a safe construction environment.

When a Hidden Hazard Becomes a Deal-Breaker

Beyond the critical health implications, the growing public awareness of asbestos is creating tangible financial and logistical problems in the real estate market. An untested home is no longer just a potential health risk; it is becoming a significant financial liability that can derail transactions and diminish property value. For contractors, especially those in the business of flipping or renovating homes for sale, this trend is a critical business consideration.

Asbestos is an Increasing Concern in the Real Estate Market

The ADAO-sponsored Harris Poll uncovered a dramatic shift in buyer sentiment. As Linda Reinstein, President of ADAO, stated, “the presence of asbestos is now a deal-breaker for over half of Americans looking to buy a home.” This means that a beautifully renovated property can see its marketability plummet if asbestos is discovered during a pre-sale inspection. The buyer may walk away, or they may demand costly, last-minute abatement, drastically cutting into your profit margin and delaying the sale.

By addressing asbestos at the beginning of a renovation, you transform an unknown liability into a managed, documented part of the project. Professional testing and, if necessary, abatement, allows you to proceed with confidence. More importantly, it becomes a value-adding feature. Being able to provide a new owner with documentation certifying that a known hazard has been professionally and safely removed is a powerful selling point that builds trust and justifies a home’s value in an increasingly cautious market. Ignoring the issue, by contrast, is a gamble that the next buyer won’t be part of the 50% who refuse to take on that risk.

The Lasting Shadow of Professional Responsibility

Failing to properly manage asbestos during a renovation creates a chain of liability that can follow your company for decades. The legal ramifications are complex and can arise from multiple directions. First, there are regulatory consequences. Failing to adhere to OSHA and EPA regulations regarding asbestos handling can result in steep fines and work stoppages.

Second, the risk of civil litigation is immense. If a client, a member of their family, or one of your own employees develops an asbestos-related disease years after a project, your company could be held liable. The argument that you “didn’t know” asbestos was present is an increasingly weak defense, as industry standards now strongly point toward the need for testing in older homes as a matter of due diligence. This long-tail liability can threaten a company’s very existence, long after the project itself is a distant memory. By incorporating asbestos testing and management into your standard operating procedure, you are not just ensuring safety—you are engaging in essential risk management for your business.

An Uncontrollable Threat Magnified by Nature

The danger of legacy asbestos is not limited to the controlled environment of a renovation. As we face an increase in extreme weather events, the asbestos silently contained in millions of American homes poses a growing environmental threat. Wildfires, hurricanes, and tornadoes do not just destroy property; they pulverize building materials and release their components into the environment.

Natural Disasters Continue to Result in Asbestos Spread

When a wildfire burns through a neighborhood of older homes, the intense heat makes asbestos-containing materials extremely friable, meaning they crumble easily and release massive quantities of fibers into the smoke and ash. These toxic particles can travel for miles, contaminating soil, water, and air, and posing a severe risk to first responders and the entire community during cleanup. By professionally abating asbestos during a renovation, you are doing more than just protecting a single family; you are removing a source of hazardous material that could one day contribute to a widespread environmental disaster. It is a vital step in building more resilient and safer communities for the future.