If your Kamloops home was built before 1990, the honest answer is "probably, somewhere". WorkSafeBC says asbestos was used for fire protection and insulation in more than 3,000 building materials from the 1950s to the 1990s, and that if your home was built before 1990, it's likely that at least some parts of it contain asbestos. That doesn't mean your home is unsafe. It means you should find out before you start cutting into it.
Start with the age of the house
- Built before 1990: assume some materials may contain asbestos until testing shows otherwise. The City of Kamloops and the TNRD both treat pre-1990 renovation waste as asbestos-containing unless a hazard assessment with lab results is provided.
- Built after 1990: much less likely, but WorkSafeBC notes newer homes can still contain asbestos if older materials were used.
- Not sure: property records, previous sale documents or the original permit can help. If you still don't know, treat it as pre-1990.
Where to look, room by room
You can't confirm asbestos by looking, but these are the materials that are commonly tested in older homes:
- Ceilings: popcorn, stipple or other textured finishes, and some ceiling tiles
- Walls: drywall joint compound ("mud"), patching compound and plaster
- Floors: vinyl tiles, sheet vinyl or linoleum, and the adhesive and levelling compound underneath
- Attic: loose, pebble-like vermiculite insulation, often greyish-brown or gold
- Basement and utility room: wrap on older hot water pipes, boilers, furnaces and ducts, and furnace door gaskets
- Exterior: stucco, asbestos cement siding and soffits, roofing felt and some shingles
- Around fireplaces and wood stoves: heat-resistant backer boards and cement sheets
- Windows: older putty and caulking
What to do if you think you've found it
- Leave it alone. Don't sand, scrape, drill, cut, sweep or vacuum suspect material.
- Keep people and pets away from anything damaged. If it's vermiculite in the attic, HealthLink BC advises keeping children out of the attic and not using it for storage until it's been assessed.
- Get it tested before any work that would disturb it. See what to expect from asbestos testing.
- If it needs to come out, use a licensed contractor. Since January 1, 2024, asbestos abatement contractors in B.C. must hold a WorkSafeBC licence. See B.C. rules for homeowners.
Don't throw it in the garbage. Asbestos waste must never go in household garbage. In Kamloops, potential asbestos-containing loads are accepted only at the Mission Flats Landfill, double-bagged in sealed 6-mil bags, with a signed declaration form.
Why it matters
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, fibres can be released into the air. Long-term exposure is linked to serious diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, which can take years to appear. WorkSafeBC calls asbestos exposure the number one killer of workers in B.C. That's why the trades you hire for a renovation need to know what's in your walls before they start.
Sources: WorkSafeBC: asbestos information for homeowners; WorkSafeBC: Asbestos; HealthLink BC: Asbestos; City of Kamloops: Asbestos Abatement and Safe Disposal; TNRD: Asbestos.
This guide is general information, not legal or safety advice. For decisions about your property, rely on a qualified professional and WorkSafeBC. Last reviewed November 2, 2026.