I am in the process of buying a cottage, and I had the building inspection done. The inspector told me that the siding is cement asbestos board, also known as C.A.B. I was wondering if it should be replaced. Is it safe for me and my family?

Cement asbestos board was a fairly common product for siding homes until the late 1960s. Development of asbestos cement products started in the late 1800s. My father built the house that I grew up in 1951, and he sided it with asbestos cement shingles. Our family lived there till the mid 1980s and the siding remained in excellent condition. I am not aware of any health issues related to this product from family members to this day.

Many products in homes contained asbestos and still contain asbestos to this day. If you are buying an older home, the risk of asbestos being contained in more than one product in the house is higher. From pipe wrap, boiler wrap, flooring tiles, ceiling tiles, wall plaster, heating pipe wrap, roofing tiles and patching material the list goes on.

The risk of asbestos related disease varies from person to person, but only when asbestos fibres are inhaled and more so if they are inhaled over extended periods of time. If products that contain asbestos are in good condition and you do not damage, cut, sand, drill or otherwise release the asbestos fibr