As Aurora homeowners shift their focus to indoor projects during the colder months, Dream Painting is urging anyone planning to smooth out textured ceilings or refinish walls in an older home to determine what those materials contain before work begins. The company, which provides Painting in Aurora CO and across the Denver metro area, said winter is when many homeowners take on the interior updates they put off during the warmer months. That timing, however, can put do-it-yourselfers at risk if they unknowingly disturb asbestos-containing materials.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is generally not possible to tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it unless it is labeled. The EPA notes that homeowners planning to remodel may want their homes inspected by a trained and accredited asbestos professional, because remodeling can disturb building materials. The agency also advises homeowners not to saw, sand, scrape or drill holes in materials that contain asbestos, and recommends against taking samples themselves.
"The ceiling is usually the first thing people want to change in an older house, and it's also the one they're most tempted to tackle with a scraper on a Saturday," said Kyler Williams, owner of Dream Painting. "If the house has some age on it, I tell people to get the texture tested first. It's a small step that tells you how the project needs to be handled."
Once testing confirms a ceiling can be safely disturbed, homeowners can move ahead with Popcorn Ceiling Removal Aurora projects that leave a smooth surface ready for paint. The same advice applies to walls that will be patched or sanded before repainting. Dream Painting provides Interior Painting Aurora homeowners use for walls, ceilings, trim and cabinets.
Williams noted that winter is also a practical time to plan for spring, when the company's Exterior Painting Aurora season resumes and Colorado's sun, hail and temperature swings have had another year to wear on siding and trim.
"Most of the trouble we see on interior projects comes from rushing the prep," Williams said. "Knowing what's in the walls and ceilings before anyone starts sanding means nobody has to stop halfway through and start over."
The warning carries weight beyond a single renovation. Asbestos exposure can lead to serious health conditions, and the EPA's guidance underscores that the only way to know for sure is through professional testing. For Aurora's older housing stock, where textured ceilings and walls were common, that means a simple test can be the difference between a safe update and a hazardous disruption. Homeowners who skip that step may inadvertently release fibers into the air, putting themselves and their families at risk. By raising the issue, Dream Painting is pushing for a more cautious approach to home improvement—one that prioritizes safety and thorough preparation over speed.
