How To Tell If Asbestos Siding

Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken.

How to tell if asbestos siding.

Asbestos siding was manufactured to resemble many different materials so it doesn t always look the same. Layers of paint or finish coatings. It does have some characteristics too look for. Asbestos was used to make several exterior materials.

The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough. Roofing and siding shingles are among the most common materials to contain asbestos and will readily release fibers into the air if broken. The only true way to identify asbestos siding is to have it tested. It may be smooth or have a pressed wood grain pattern on the surface of the board.

Look for a siding that is made to look like roof shingles. Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne. Inspect exterior building materials. The original shingles of both asbestos cement and fiber cement usually come from the factory painted white on one side.

Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc. Installed before 1978 the fiber cement shingles probably contain asbestos. If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm. Identifying asbestos siding 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.

Determine when the shingles were installed on your roof. Age or date of installation. Continue reading below our video of the day. Put on a mask and scrape away some siding material into a baggie.

If you don t know the age of the shingles inspect them for wear. It is ususally in a shingle shake form 12 x24. If your siding has these characteristics then asbestos could be present. 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.

You may choose to take a sample of siding from a damaged area of siding. It is generally very brittle and the back may be black and have the appearance of tar paper. If they look old they might have asbestos fibers in them. Asbestos was particularly prevalent in siding that resembles shingles or was made to look like wood grain.