After discovering this forum and how incredibly helpful it is, I have some questions that stem from information I have gotten here. We have purchased a home built in 1938 in NC and plan to renovate it when we move in a few months. We're still currently in Florida so I'm trying to do all our preliminary research in advance. So my questions are:

1. The home has aluminum siding. From what I've read here, it probably is not the original exterior. (The home is block, first AND second floor exterior walls.) Is it likely that under the aluminum is the original siding, possibly asbestos? If so, that if it's not falling apart it's best to contain it by adding a new siding over top?

2. I have no idea how old the flooring is in the kitchen and baths. As I plan on installing wood floors in the kitchen and tile in the baths is it safest to cover with felt before nailing the wood and cover with cement board before tiling? The vinyl/linoleum at first glance seems to be adhered well.

3. Ceiling tiles are in some rooms, but not all. They HAVE to go! Some even have evidence of previous leaks. As I don't know the age of them either, is it best to wear a respirator when removing and double bag before taking them to a specified dumpsite or is there a safer way to go about it? Or is there a way to identify the asbestos-containg ones?

4. I would like to keep as much of the original trim as possible. Some of it has been painted over so much that it looks awful. Best to replace, or what steps to take in sanding considering the lead paint possibility?

I don't want to sound paranoid, but if I had not found reference to these real issues, we probably would've started ripping & tearing things out!