There is a common and dangerous belief among homeowners that as long as asbestos-containing materials are “left alone” or “undisturbed,” they pose no risk. While it is true that asbestos is generally safe when fully intact and encapsulated within a material, this belief creates a perilous false sense of security for anyone living in or planning to renovate an older home. The “undisturbed” state is both fragile and temporary, and relying on it as a safety strategy is a gamble you can’t afford to take.
The reality is that the very nature of homeownership involves activities that disturb building materials. The moment you decide to drill a hole to hang a picture, sand a wall for painting, cut into drywall for a new outlet, or demolish a section for a remodel, you can turn a previously stable material into an active health hazard. This is precisely what happened at the 101 Ash Street skyscraper. The building’s asbestos was considered manageable until renovation work began. That work released toxic fibers into the air, contaminating the structure and rendering it completely uninhabitable.1 The same principle applies directly to your home.
Asbestos is not just one material; it was used in thousands of products. In a typical San Diego home built before the 1980s, you might find it in:
When these materials are disturbed, they release microscopic fibers that are invisible to the naked eye and have no taste or smell . Once airborne, these fibers can be inhaled deep into the lungs, where they become lodged permanently. The body’s defense mechanisms cannot break them down or remove them . Over decades, this constant irritation can lead to devastating and incurable diseases like asbestosis (a scarring of the lungs), lung cancer, and mesothelioma, a particularly aggressive cancer of the lung lining
One of the most insidious aspects of these diseases is their long latency period. Symptoms often don’t appear for 10 to 40 years or more after the initial exposure. This means a person can feel perfectly healthy for decades after a DIY renovation project, only to receive a terminal diagnosis later in life. This long delay makes it easy to underestimate the danger, as there is no immediate feedback—no coughing or irritation—to signal that a hazardous exposure has occurred.
Don’t gamble your family’s long-term health on the “undisturbed” myth. Any planned renovation, repair, or even accidental damage to your home can shatter that fragile peace. A professional assessment is the only way to know for sure what risks are hidden in your home’s building materials and to create a plan to manage them safely.
Protect your family, your investment, and your peace of mind. The first step is acknowledging the risk. The second is calling a professional. Contact CVE for a free professional asbestos assessment before you renovate.
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