What you will know after this guide
- Radon
- Asbestos
- Lead and other coatings
- Tanks, wiring and plumbing
Radon
Radon cannot be seen or smelled. Perform a long-term test in the lowest occupied level following Health Canada guidance. A brief reading during a viewing does not replace a proper test.
Asbestos
May be present in insulation, spray-on material, pipe covering, tiles, mastics, compounds, cladding and other older products. Appearance does not confirm it. Before disturbance, use competent sampling and plan under applicable rules.
Lead and other coatings
Older paint and renovation dust can be hazardous, especially to children and pregnant people. Do not sand or heat without assessment, containment, method, cleanup and disposal.
Tanks, wiring and plumbing
Look for buried or older tanks, knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, older panels, galvanized, lead or polybutylene plumbing, cast-iron drains and clay sewers. Each requires a separate specialist and risk estimate.
Purchase condition
Allow access and time for testing, electrical, chimney, sewer, tank and water-quality inspections. Price containment, removal, replacement, temporary housing and restoration, not merely testing.
