What they are
Asbestos is a mineral fibre that was added to many building products for insulation and durability. A home built before 1990 is more likely to contain it, and Canada prohibited asbestos and products containing it in 2018. The health concern is breathing fibres released when a material that contains asbestos is cut, sanded, broken or removed.
Vermiculite is a loose, pebble-like insulation, usually greyish-brown or silvery gold, poured into attics and some wall cavities. Vermiculite from a mine in Libby, Montana, which produced it until 1990 and sold it mostly as Zonolite, may contain asbestos. Not all vermiculite does, and you can’t tell by looking.
Why it matters
Intact and undisturbed, these materials aren’t a concern on their own. Health Canada says there are no significant health risks from asbestos-containing materials that are left undisturbed, sealed behind walls and floors, isolated in an attic, or tightly bound in products in good condition. The risk comes with renovation, demolition, or careless work in an attic or crawlspace. Identifying them takes lab testing, so build it into your plans before you open up walls, ceilings, floors or attic insulation. WorkSafeBC’s advice to homeowners is to have the home tested for asbestos before starting a renovation or demolition project.
What to do
- Ask the seller for any test results from earlier renovations; an existing lab report can answer some questions.
- Before any work that would disturb a suspect material: have a professional collect samples for testing by an accredited lab.
- Leave vermiculite undisturbed, and keep storage and foot traffic out of that part of the attic.
- If removal is needed, use an asbestos abatement contractor. In BC, these contractors have had to be licensed by WorkSafeBC since January 1, 2024.
What our inspection covers
We report visible materials that could contain asbestos, such as vermiculite in an attic, by name and location, and say when lab testing is worth doing before a renovation. Identification needs an accredited lab and is outside the scope of a home inspection, so we don’t take samples or confirm what a material contains.
Planning to renovate an older home? Book an inspection, and see how we approach character and heritage homes.
Reviewed October 26, 2026 by Nick Hawley, Watch House Inspections. General information, not advice about a particular home.