How To Tell Asbestos Siding

Asbestos was also put into cement used on the exterior of buildings to help insulate the.

How to tell asbestos siding.

If your siding has these characteristics then asbestos could be present. You may choose to take a sample of siding from a damaged area of siding. Put on a mask and scrape away some siding material into a baggie. The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood grain texture to resemble cedar.

Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne. If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm. 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. While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding.

Asbestos was used to make several exterior materials. Testing your siding for asbestos. Roofing and siding shingles are among the most common materials to contain asbestos and will readily release fibers into the air if broken. 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.

Most older cement board products contain asbestos. If your siding fits either of these descriptions you should consider having it tested.