If you own an older house in Calgary, there is a decent chance that somewhere inside it is a material containing asbestos.
That sounds alarming, but asbestos in an old house isn't necessarily something to panic about. It was a common building material for much of the 20th century because it was durable, inexpensive and resistant to heat and fire. By the time many of Calgary's postwar neighbourhoods were being built in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, asbestos-containing products were completely ordinary.
It could be found in floor tiles, insulation, drywall compound, plaster, ceiling materials, siding, roofing and around pipes and heating equipment. Some homes still have these original materials today.
The important thing is that asbestos generally becomes a serious concern when its fibres are released into the air. An intact material that has been sitting undisturbed for decades is very different from one being sanded, drilled, cut or demolished.
This is where renovations can get complicated. You might pull up newer flooring and discover several older layers underneath, or remove a textured ceiling that has been there since the house was built. You can't reliably tell whether a particular material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, so older materials should be assessed before major renovation or demolition.
Another example is vermiculite insulation. It was commonly used as loose-fill insulation in older homes, and some vermiculite sold in Canada was contaminated with asbestos.
None of this means that a 1960s Calgary bungalow needs to be stripped to the studs. If an asbestos-containing material is intact and isn't going to be disturbed, leaving it alone may be the safest option.
For homeowners, the biggest issue is knowing what is there before starting work.
Asbestos is part of the history of Calgary's older houses. The builders who used it weren't doing anything unusual or careless by the standards of their time. They were using materials that were widely considered useful and safe. We simply understand the health risks much better today.
If you're renovating an older Calgary home, particularly one built before the 1990s, it's worth finding out what you're dealing with before demolition begins. Working on an old home does not need to be feared, as long as you understand the unique circumstances.
Renovation safety: If you suspect a building material may contain asbestos, do not cut, sand, drill, scrape or demolish it until it has been properly assessed. Asbestos fibres can become airborne when materials are disturbed and can cause serious health problems when inhaled. Testing and, where necessary, removal should be handled by qualified professionals. This article is for historical and general information only and is not a substitute for professional asbestos assessment or renovation safety advice.
