Asbestos testing in East York and Leaside homes makes the most sense before you open up walls, floors or ceilings. Many houses here are pre-war and post-war brick bungalows, semis and two-storey homes, and some building materials from those decades can contain asbestos. At Golden Home Inspections, we test for asbestos as part of our home hazard testing: we identify suspect materials during a visit, and samples are analysed by accredited labs, so you know what you are dealing with before a renovation starts. Your inspector is Yama Nehan, a Certified and Registered Home Inspector with about 15 years of home inspection experience. To book in East York, Leaside or nearby Toronto neighbourhoods, call 647-704-7100.
Key takeaways
- Most homes in East York and Leaside were built before 1991, and many before 1961, according to City of Toronto 2021 neighbourhood profiles.
- Health Canada says asbestos is mainly a concern when materials are damaged or disturbed and fibres get into the air; materials in good condition that are left alone are generally not a concern.
- You cannot tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it. A sample analysed by an accredited lab is the only way to know.
- The best time to test is before a basement finish, kitchen or bathroom renovation, flooring removal or HVAC work.
- Our hazard testing pairs naturally with a full older-home inspection, so you see the whole picture of the house.
How old are the homes in East York and Leaside?
Very old by GTA standards. City of Toronto neighbourhood profiles based on the 2021 Census show the share of occupied dwellings built before 1991 in each area:
| Neighbourhood | Built before 1991 | Built 1960 or before |
|---|---|---|
| Old East York | 87.8% | 69.9% |
| Danforth-East York | 88.6% | 69.3% |
| Leaside-Bennington | 80.8% | 66.9% |
| Broadview North | 85.9% | Not listed here |
Source: City of Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles (2021 Census). A house’s age doesn’t mean it contains asbestos, but it does mean original materials from the era are worth checking before you disturb them.
Where can asbestos be found in older East York and Leaside homes?
In homes of this age, these are the materials we most often flag as suspect and recommend sampling before work begins. Many have been replaced over the years, and many original ones never contained asbestos at all, which is exactly why testing matters.
- Floor tiles and adhesive: older vinyl or asphalt tiles, often hidden under carpet, laminate or newer flooring in basements and kitchens.
- Pipe and duct wrap: white or grey wrap on old heating pipes, furnace ducts and joints in the basement.
- Plaster and textured finishes: some older plaster, drywall joint compound and textured or stipple ceilings.
- Attic and wall insulation: loose-fill vermiculite, a pebble-like, grey-brown or gold material, which Health Canada says may contain asbestos.
- Exterior and roofing materials: some older siding, soffits and roofing products.
- Around old heating equipment: gaskets, insulation boards or cement panels near older boilers, furnaces and chimneys.
When should you test for asbestos before a renovation?
Test before you start any work that would cut, sand, drill, scrape or remove a suspect material. In East York and Leaside, that often means:
- Finishing or underpinning a basement, or creating a basement unit
- Pulling up old flooring in a kitchen, basement or hallway
- Opening plaster walls or ceilings to update wiring or plumbing
- Replacing a boiler, furnace or ductwork
- Re-insulating an attic or adding a dormer or second-storey addition
Health Canada’s advice is to leave suspect materials undisturbed until they are tested, and to have a qualified professional handle any removal. Testing first lets your contractor plan the job properly instead of stopping halfway through. See Health Canada’s guidance on asbestos for more.
How does our asbestos testing work?
- Book a visit. Call or email and tell us about the house and the work you have planned.
- On-site review. We walk the areas you plan to renovate and identify materials that could contain asbestos.
- Sampling. Small samples are taken from the suspect materials and sealed for analysis.
- Accredited lab analysis. The samples are analysed by an accredited lab.
- Clear results. You get the lab results and a plain-language explanation of what they mean for your plans.
Learn more on our home hazard testing page for Toronto and the GTA, which covers asbestos, vermiculite, radon and mould.
Is asbestos testing part of a regular home inspection?
No. A standard home inspection is visual and non-invasive, so an inspector can point out materials that look suspect but cannot confirm asbestos without a lab test. If you are buying an older home in East York or Leaside, you can book a home inspection and add hazard testing for the specific materials you are concerned about. Our guide to older home inspections in Toronto explains what else we look at in houses of this age, such as wiring, plumbing, drains and foundations.
Checklist: before you renovate an older East York or Leaside home
- List every area you plan to open up, including the basement, kitchen, bathrooms and attic.
- Look for old floor tiles, pipe wrap, textured ceilings and loose-fill attic insulation, but don’t touch or sample them yourself.
- Ask the seller or previous owner whether any asbestos testing or removal was ever done, and keep any reports.
- Book asbestos testing before your contractor’s start date so results don’t delay the job.
- Share the lab results with your contractor so they can plan the work.
- If a material does contain asbestos, have a qualified professional handle any removal.
Frequently asked questions
Does every older East York home contain asbestos?
No. Age raises the chance that some original materials contain asbestos, but many homes have had those materials replaced, and many original materials never contained it. Lab testing is the only way to know.
Is asbestos dangerous if I leave it alone?
Health Canada says asbestos poses a health concern mainly when fibres are released into the air, for example when materials are damaged or disturbed. Materials in good condition that are left undisturbed are generally not a concern.
Can I take a sample myself?
We don’t recommend it. Cutting or breaking a suspect material can release fibres. Leave it alone and book testing instead.
Do you also test for vermiculite, radon and mould?
Yes. Our hazard testing covers asbestos, vermiculite insulation, radon and mould. Radon testing uses a long-term detector analysed by an accredited lab, and applies to homes of any age.
Which areas do you serve?
We serve East York, Leaside, Thorncliffe Park, the Danforth and the rest of Toronto, plus Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and other GTA cities. See our Toronto service page.
Planning a renovation or buying an older home in East York or Leaside? Call 647-704-7100 or email contact@goldenhomeinspections.ca to book asbestos testing with Golden Home Inspections, based in Toronto, Ontario.
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