Asbestos, lead and demolition work in Maplewood, Missouri

Why are so many Maplewood buildings old enough to need testing?

Because the town grew early. Of 4,745 housing units in Maplewood, 2,002 were built in 1939 or earlier, about 42%. Another 235 date from the 1940s. Overall, 87.2% were built before 1980, against 68.6% across St. Louis County.

That is the highest prewar share of the six St. Louis County suburbs we checked. It points to old paint, old plaster and old pipe insulation, and to the floors and basements that have been patched for decades. We say test first, not “assume.”

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020 to 2024), table B25034. County shares are our arithmetic on the published counts.

What does Maplewood require for partial demolition and remodeling?

A building permit. The City of Maplewood says a permit is required for all general contracting work, including partial demolitions and remodeling. That covers a gut job on one floor, not only a full teardown.

The city’s Building Official reviews and approves all building permits. The phone listed on the city page is 314-646-3634. The Design & Review Board also reviews all building permit applications and proposed exterior changes, and it meets monthly on the second Thursday. Plan around that meeting date, since a missed meeting can push a start date.

Asbestos belongs in that plan. An asbestos survey before a partial demolition tells the crew what to isolate and remove. See interior demolition and asbestos abatement.

Do I need a permit to finish a Maplewood basement or attic?

Yes. Maplewood requires a building permit to convert basement or below-grade space to living quarters, and to convert attic space to living quarters.

Old basements raise two questions before the permit: what is on the floor and walls, and how dry is the space. For the first, asbestos floor tile and pipe wrap are the usual suspects. For the second, see mold remediation and moisture barriers, and read the moisture barrier definition. Fix water first, then finish the space.

An attic conversion in a prewar house can also expose old insulation. Test it before anyone pulls it out by hand.

What does St. Louis County add to a Maplewood demolition?

An asbestos survey and a county form. The county requires a Demolition Waste Application and Release Authorization for demolition projects, and each structure must be inspected by a Missouri licensed asbestos inspector. The survey is submitted with the form.

County inspectors also visit residential and commercial demolitions to check that dust does not travel past the property line. Read the county overview at St. Louis County, MO. For the state notice rules, see Missouri demolition and renovation asbestos rules.

Lead dust is part of the concern at old demolition sites. The county page says many demolished homes are in older areas where homes are more likely to contain high amounts of lead. Our guide to lead paint in pre-1978 homes explains the rules, and lead abatement is an AES service.

How do you plan a partial demolition in Maplewood step by step?

Start with the survey, not the sledgehammer. The permit, the county form and any abatement all depend on what the survey finds. This order keeps a small project from stalling at the wrong step.

1. Check the year built. Maplewood is old enough that most buildings need testing.
2. Order a survey. A Missouri licensed inspector samples suspect materials. See asbestos testing.
3. Apply for the city permit. Call the Building Official at 314-646-3634. Allow time for the Design & Review Board, which meets monthly.
4. File the county form for a demolition. Include the survey with the Demolition Waste Application and Release Authorization.
5. Remove regulated material under containment. Regulated projects also fall under NESHAP rules.
6. Demolish or remodel. Clean, dry, permitted space is the goal.

If a step does not apply to your project, the city or county will say so. Ask before you assume.

Which AES services fit Maplewood projects?

• Asbestos testing and asbestos abatement before remodels and partial demolitions.
• Lead abatement for painted trim, doors and windows in prewar houses.
• Mold remediation and moisture barriers for basements.
• Demolition and interior demolition once abatement is done.
• Epoxy floor coatings and concrete polishing for commercial and garage floors.

AES serves residential, commercial, industrial, governmental and healthcare customers. Maplewood has both homes and commercial blocks, so the same survey-first order applies to each.

How far is Maplewood from the AES office?

About 6.5 miles, about 12 minutes without traffic, from 3100 Gravois Ave to Maplewood city hall. That is the shortest trip of the six St. Louis County suburbs we checked. It is an OSRM free-flow estimate, so allow more at rush hour.

AES lists St. Louis and projects within 300 miles of St. Louis as its service area. For nearby places, see Webster Groves, MO, University City, MO and St. Louis, MO.

Next step

Call (314) 865-2662 or send our quote form with your Maplewood, Missouri address and the work you plan. Start with the asbestos abatement page to see how the process works.