Asbestos, lead and demolition work in Webster Groves, Missouri

What does Webster Groves require before you demolish or cut into a wall?

A building permit, in both cases. The City of Webster Groves lists “Demolition or moving of a structure” among the work that needs a permit application. It also lists cutting away any wall or wall covering. City hall is at 4 E. Lockwood Ave.

That second rule is the one owners miss. A bathroom gut, a kitchen opening or a plaster repair can all cut into a wall covering. In a house this old, that is also the moment hidden materials show up. Test before the saw comes out.

Source: City of Webster Groves, Building Permits. The permit column is the city’s wording. The last column is our service match.

What does the county add to a Webster Groves demolition?

An asbestos survey and a county form. St. Louis County requires a Demolition Waste Application and Release Authorization for demolition projects. Each structure must be inspected for asbestos by a Missouri licensed asbestos inspector, and the survey goes in with the form.

The county also sends its inspectors to residential and commercial demolitions to check that dust does not leave the property. County pages tie this to lead too, since older homes are more likely to contain lead. See St. Louis County, MO for the county office, and the Missouri demolition and renovation asbestos rules for the state notice period.

How old is the housing in Webster Groves, Missouri?

Older than most of the county. Of 9,921 housing units, 75.2% were built before 1970 and 80.5% before 1980. In St. Louis County overall, 68.6% date before 1980. The figures come from the 2024 American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

The prewar share stands out. A total of 3,479 units, about 35%, date from 1939 or earlier, and another 1,126 from the 1940s. Across the county, only about 9.7% are from 1939 or earlier. The Webster Groves Public Library says the town is known for “houses that have stood for a hundred years and more.”

So plan for old plaster, old wiring, old paint and old floors. Our guide to asbestos in older St. Louis homes lists where asbestos hides, and lead paint in pre-1978 homes covers paint. Learn the terms lead-based paint and asbestos survey.

Which Webster Groves neighborhoods have historic design guidelines?

Four: Central Webster, Webster Park, Marshall Place and Old Webster. The city publishes design guidelines for each local historic district, and a nine-member Historic Preservation Commission handles them. It meets monthly at City Hall.

The library adds context from outside the city: over a dozen districts and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, and over 50 city-designated landmark buildings. Local districts and National Register listings are different programs, so ask the city which one covers your house.

We did not read the guidelines, so we do not describe what they allow. If your house sits in a district, check the guidelines before you plan window, siding or exterior work, and before you plan a teardown. Siding is a common asbestos question; see asbestos siding removal.

What projects do Webster Groves owners hire AES for?

Projects that follow the age of the housing. We list what AES offers and match it to the work.

• Asbestos testing and asbestos abatement before remodels.
• Lead abatement on paint in older trim, windows and doors.
• Mold remediation and mold inspection after basement leaks.
• Moisture barriers for crawl spaces and basements.
• Demolition for garages, additions and full teardowns, after the survey.

AES lists residential, commercial, industrial, governmental and healthcare customers. Webster Groves has all of these building types, so the same survey-first order applies.

How do you plan a Webster Groves project from survey to teardown?

Work in order: date the building, survey it, check permits, remove regulated material, then demolish or remodel. The order matters because the city permit, the county form and the state notice each run on their own clock.

1. Confirm the build year. Use the deed or county record. Pre-1980 buildings need a survey.
2. Order an asbestos survey. A Missouri licensed inspector samples suspect materials. The county needs that survey for a demolition.
3. Ask the city about permits. Demolition and wall work both need a building permit application. Ask about historic district review if your address is in one.
4. Check the state notice. Regulated projects fall under NESHAP rules. Our Missouri rules guide explains the notice.
5. Set up containment and remove regulated material. Abatement comes before demolition.
6. Demolish or remodel. The county may inspect for dust control while work runs.

Confirm your case with the city and county before you set a date.

How far is Webster Groves from the AES office?

About 10.0 miles, about 16 minutes without traffic, from 3100 Gravois Ave to Webster Groves city hall. That is an OSRM free-flow estimate, so allow more at rush hour. It is one of the shorter trips among the St. Louis County suburbs we checked.

AES lists St. Louis and projects within 300 miles of St. Louis as its service area. For nearby places, see Maplewood, MO, St. Louis County, MO and St. Louis, MO.

Next step

Call (314) 865-2662 or send our quote form with your Webster Groves, Missouri address and the work you plan. Start with the demolition page to see how a job runs.