How To Tell Asbestos Siding

Asbestos was used to make several exterior materials.

How to tell asbestos siding.

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. If your siding has these characteristics then asbestos could be present. Roofing and siding shingles are among the most common materials to contain asbestos and will readily release fibers into the air if broken. While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding.

These shingles are generally 12 by 24 inches and the bottom tends to have a wave like pattern though that is not always the case. Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne. The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood grain texture to resemble cedar. Most older cement board products contain asbestos.

Put on a mask and scrape away some siding material into a baggie. 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. Testing your siding for asbestos. Asbestos was particularly prevalent in siding that resembles shingles or was made to look like wood grain.

Because fiber cement siding manufactured in north america after around 1978 was made without using asbestos in those later products and because those non asbestos fiber cement shingles included products that by eye were an exact visual match for their older asbestos containing brothers and sisters already installed a building built. If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm.