How Do I Know If Siding Has Asbestos

The only way to know for sure whether your roof contains asbestos is to have a sample tested by professionals in a certified laboratory.

How do i know if siding has asbestos. Determine when the shingles were installed on your roof. Asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement. You can test the insulation for asbestos using a diy asbestos testing kit or by having a sample tested at an approved testing laboratory. See asbestos cement siding for more details about cement asbestos building siding its repair removal demolition or cover over.

If you don t know the age of the shingles inspect them for wear. Asbestos siding was manufactured to resemble many different materials so it doesn t always look the same. The only way to be sure if your siding has asbestos in it is to collect a sample and send it to an accredited testing lab. Accordingly if the material contains less than 1 asbestos it is safe and does not require removal.

Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer. Check the manufacturer and product name on the insulation label and do a web search to find out if. It is very brittle and has a tendency to crack and break when nailed which can release asbestos fibers into both the air and ground. Asbestos shingles were so common during the 20th century that almost any shingles installed between 1920 and 1986 probably include asbestos.

Contractors and inspectors or anyone identifying asbestos siding can t tell from just an on site inspection whether or not your siding really has asbestos in it. Asbestos wasn t always added to cement siding and there s no way to tell from a visual test or physical inspection on site if siding really does have asbestos in it. It is generally very brittle and the back may be black and have the appearance of tar paper. Recognizing siding with asbestos.

Patent 1 865 677 issued july 5 1932. If they look old they might have asbestos fibers in them. They also present a variegated appearance occasioned by a difference in the color of the various areas of the product. These contractors should follow a thorough testing protocol and will often take more than a dozen samples from the building.

If you want to know if your house contains asbestos you can hire an industrial hygienist or an environmental lab to perform an evaluation of the house. On the outside of buildings asbestos sheets were often joined together with aluminum runners. A demand has therefore sprung up for more or less ornamental asbestos cement siding and shingles which present a more pleasing appearance with a smooth surface to which dirt will not adhere. If you discover that you do have insulation containing asbestos you can leave it in place or have it removed by a local asbestos abatement company.

The result of the test will lead you to the next step.