I have a small dog - but he drips water too. I am putting hardwood in my kitchen and that's normally where i keep his water bowl. So,in my new house his water will be kept in the utility/laundry room. That room will have ceramic, but I dont' think the water is going to hurt the grout. I will also put a water bowl on my patio for him.

I would check with a building inspector to get a professional opinion. We lived for 10 years in a house that was built in 1930 that had asbestos insulation in the steam pipes all over the cellar. When we put it up for sale in 1986 we learned for the first time that this was an issue. We could not sell the house until we had it removed professionally, which cost us a lot of money and the air quality after the removal had to be checked. Fast forward to 1991: We bought a house built in 1985 that had vinyl flooring in the kitchen that we wanted to remove. We were told that it was right around 1985 that they outlawed asbestos in the vinyl flooring, so no one would remove it because they weren't sure if it had asbestos. We decided to leave it in place and put new vinyl over it. In the first case, the asbestos posed a hazard for indoor air quality, especially if it was disturbed. We never touched it. In the second case the asbestos is sequestered and poses no hazard unless it is disturbed, and there is no reason to do that. In your case, the asbestos is outdoors. That's a different situation. If you ever want to remove it, that would have to be done according to EPA strict rules to prevent the stuff from crumbling into dust particles and flying in the air. Based on what I have experienced, I would err on the side of caution and ask the seller to remove it professionally according to EPA rules, but then it will be up to you to install new siding. Alternatively, you could install new siding over the asbestos siding, if that can be done without causing the asbestos to crumble.

Here's a link Here is a link that might be useful: Worry-Wart Mom

Pickle Good ?'s and while responders are well intended not all info in factually correct I posted the EPA website for lead You should be concerned especially given the condition of the paint - Lead paint typically offers no harm until it is disturbed/flaking - Many think little ones eat lead & get poisoned - that is less frequent then nasal ingestion - occurs when lead is disturbed - becomes airborne, or surfaces are touched and then the person puts there hand near mouth or nose. Yes, handwashing is important - but by no means a guarantee. Any painted surface prior to 1978 should be suspect and tested. Another misnomer is to leave the premises while renovation/painting, disturbing the surface of lead is also not correct. While it is very advisable to be subject to any renovation/painting - it also must be cleaned up in accordance to strict criteria or when you move back you are moving in with lots of lead! - This should be included in renovation budgets but more often than not folks prefer having high end something or other & chose not to address a significant health threat. Another misnomer - There is NO acceptable lead level - while there are medical/epa criteria that is followed - there really is no evidence that clearly states lead is "safe" at any level. Yes we all lived through lots of exposures - but why subject a known exposure Simply using a mask while working w/lead does not safeguard either This is a cut/paste of some good abatement procedures Abatement? Lead paint abatement is the process of safely reducing lead paint hazards. Lead paint abatement can be very dangerous if done improperly. Its best to hire professional contractors to remove lead paint from your home. If abatement work is done improperly, a greater lead hazard may be created. Before beginning any work, contact your local health department for guidelines and state and local regulations regarding lead paint abatement in Massachusetts and in your city or town.You may also request a listing of Massachusetts-certified lead abatement contractors. If at all possible, hire a certified professional to do the work. Check their qualifications and request references. A Starting Point Use this information as a starting point to learn the basics about abatement, especially if you are considering doing any home remodeling or renovation projects yourself. If hiring a contractor, make sure he/she is taking the necessary precautions to protect your familyÂs health and safety. This pamphlet will provide you with some basic principles about lead paint abatement. Before Abatement Begins: Safety First  Have all family members, especially children, tested for lead poisoning.  Have your home inspected for lead poisoning by a professional contractor.Your local health department can help you find this information.  Relocate children and pregnant women that may be poisoned until after the work is completed.  Be sure to post warning signs at all entrances to the work area.  Seal off all doors, windows, ducts, etc., with 6-mil plastic sheeting.  Remove all furniture, carpets, drapes, etc.  Cover everything that remains with plastic drop cloths. Do not use newspaper or fabric drop cloths .  Limit access to the work area. No one must enter without proper protective equipment.  If any part of a surface (window sill, door jamb), contains lead paint, the entire surface must be abated. This is especially true for chipping and flaking paint.  Select the abatement method that will create the least amount of dust.  Use adequate barriers to prevent lead dust from entering the rest of the environment. Do not use paper wall coverings, contact paper, or fresh paint as these are not durable barriers.  DO NOT dry scrape; sand with a power grinder or electric plane; burn with a torch or a heat gun; sandblast; or use chemical removers that contain methylene chloride. CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION http://www.selfhelpinc.org/LeadProgram.html It is relatively easy to test children - know there "baseline" - and to test your home Good luck