Does My Spokane Home Have Asbestos?
Nobody can see asbestos with the naked eye. But the age of your house tells you how likely it is, and where to look. This guide uses Spokane County housing numbers.
- Housing age data
- Where to look by decade
- Why only a lab can say
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What Spokane housing age tells us
The median Spokane County home was built in 1978, and about 14 in 100 were built before 1940 (Point2*).
The City of Spokane has an older mix. Its housing action plan describes detached single-family homes as the large majority of units, averaging 70 years old (City housing action plan). Spokane Valley skews younger, with a median build year of 1979, and about one in five homes was built in the 1970s (Point2*).
A newer median does not mean a safe house. Any home built before asbestos use faded could have a ceiling, floor or pipe covering with it.
Where to look, room by room
| Place | What to watch for | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Basement and boiler room | Wrap on heating pipes and boilers | Do not touch. See pipe insulation. |
| Floors | Old vinyl tile, sheet-flooring backing, glue | Do not sand. See floor tile. |
| Ceilings | Sprayed or textured finish | Test before scraping. See ceilings. |
| Attic | Pebbly fill between joists | Stay out. See vermiculite. |
| Outside | Cement shingles and panels | No power washing. See siding and roofing. |
EPA's home guide lists the same places (EPA), and CPSC says houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation (CPSC).
A decade-by-decade view
Before 1940
In Spokane County about 14 in 100 homes date from this era (Point2*). Expect older heating and original materials, often with later layers on top.
1940s to 1960s
In Spokane Valley, about 5.6 percent of homes are from the 1940s, 11.5 percent from the 1950s and 7.9 percent from the 1960s (Point2*).
1970s
About 21.7 percent of Spokane Valley homes were built in the 1970s (Point2*), a decade when asbestos products were still in use.
After the 1980s
Fewer products contained asbestos, but SRCAA still applies its rules to any structure regardless of age (SRCAA).
Remodeled homes
A gut remodel may have removed old materials. Original rooms with original finishes likely still hold them.
Additions
A new addition may contain none, while the house it joins does.
How to find out for sure
- Do not disturb anything. No scraping, sanding, drilling or vacuuming suspect dust.
- Decide your project. A survey only needs to cover what you plan to touch.
- Hire an accredited inspector. SRCAA requires one before renovation or demolition (SRCAA). See the survey guide.
- Plan around the result. A negative result means you can proceed. A positive one means removal or leaving it undisturbed.
When to call us
If a survey finds asbestos, or a ceiling, floor or pipe covering is damaged now, call. We will tell you what can wait and what cannot. Water damage is the one that cannot, because SRCAA says a water-damaged popcorn ceiling must be removed immediately by a licensed contractor (SRCAA).
Return to the home page for the full list of services.
Does My Spokane Home Have Asbestos: questions and answers
Can I tell by looking?
No. Materials with and without asbestos look the same. Only a lab test can say.
Is my 1990s house safe?
Less likely to contain it, but SRCAA's rules still apply to any structure regardless of age (SRCAA).
What if I already scraped something?
Stop, close off the room, keep people and pets out and call. Do not sweep or vacuum.
Is intact material dangerous?
The risk comes from airborne fibers. Material that is intact and undisturbed releases far less.
Which room is the biggest risk?
Rooms where you plan work. A survey of the project area tells you more than a house-wide guess.
Where do I start?
Read the survey guide, then call (509) 461-5474.
Found something odd?
Describe it or send a photo from a safe distance.
* Housing figures are third-party estimates from the linked source and may not describe your home. Testing is the only way to know.