Belcaro at a glance, for this topic

Typical home
Brick ranch or one-and-a-half story from the postwar decades, often custom-built
Common features
Den or family room with fireplace, wet bar, finished basement, attached garage
Ownership pattern
Many long-held homes; estate sales and first sales in decades are common
Renovation pattern
Buyers frequently remodel or add on rather than rebuild
Local contact
City and County of Denver for permits; ZIP 80209 covers much of the area

Common Belcaro situations and where to start

  • IfEstate sale of a home owned since it was newThenStart with the contents and an estate sorting plan; odor work cannot begin until the rooms are empty.
  • IfThe den with a fireplace smells smokyThenSeparate fireplace odor from tobacco first: check the damper and flue, and look for tobacco signs in fabrics and on the ceiling.
  • IfA wet bar or built-in cabinets smell strongestThenClean and seal cabinet interiors, and consider replacing doors or counters that absorbed spills and smoke.
  • IfA remodel is already plannedThenSchedule odor work after demolition and before new drywall, paint and flooring, so removed materials are not treated.
  • IfSmoking happened mostly in the attached garageThenClean the garage and seal the door to the house; residue there can travel inside each time the door opens.

Why long ownership changes the job

A home that one family lived in for fifty or sixty years carries an unusual load: original carpet or carpet several layers deep, original kitchen cabinetry, drapes that have hung for decades, and ductwork that may never have been cleaned. If smoking was part of daily life for most of that time, residue is in nearly every material.

That is also an opportunity. Many Belcaro buyers plan substantial remodels, taking out carpet, opening kitchens and replacing windows anyway. Coordinating odor work with the remodel means the most contaminated materials leave with the demolition, and the remaining surfaces, such as framing, subfloor and retained plaster, can be cleaned and sealed while the walls are open.

Brick fireplaces are a frequent point of confusion. A sooty firebox and an old damper can produce a smoky smell that has nothing to do with cigarettes, and a chimney sweep is a cheap way to rule it out before hiring anyone for tobacco odor.

Before work begins in a Belcaro home

  • Have the chimney inspected and the damper checked.
  • Pull up carpet corners; hardwood is often underneath in houses of this era.
  • Test textured ceilings, old flooring and duct wrap for asbestos before disturbing them.
  • Test painted trim for lead before sanding.
  • Have the duct system inspected and cleaned before new finishes go in.
  • Plan where estate contents will go so rooms can be emptied completely.
Map of Belcaro. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

General information for Cherry Creek, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.