Asbestos Siding Identification

You may choose to take a sample of siding from a damaged area of siding.

Asbestos siding identification.

It can be hard to just visually be able to identify if a material contains asbestos or not since there s not a specific thing that it looks like. While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding. Since asbestos was included as an additive when siding was manufactured for many decades the odds are good that original shingle siding on holder homes may contain asbestos. For this reason it s important to know what asbestos siding looks like and how to identify it.

If the fibers become airborne they could pose a health hazard for people around. Identifying asbestos siding is a major concern for many homeowners with older homes that have cement siding. Identifying asbestos siding is impossible unless you have a sample tested in a lab. However there are some different things you can be looking for to figure out if it contains it or not at least when it comes to shingles.

Compare the newer siding to older siding areas and look for evidence that indicates age. These steps will help with the identification process. If your siding has these characteristics then asbestos could be present. If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm.

It is generally very brittle and the back may be black and have the appearance of tar paper. Asbestos are fibrous minerals that contain thin long fibers which occur naturally. Recognizing siding with asbestos asbestos siding was manufactured to resemble many different materials so it doesn t always look the same. Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne.