Asbestos Siding How To Identify

The asbestos network recommends bringing in a professional to collect samples.

Asbestos siding how to identify.

The only way to be sure whether your siding contains asbestos is to have it tested. Asbestos siding was manufactured to resemble many different materials so it doesn t always look the same. It does have some characteristics too look for. It is generally very brittle and the back may be black and have the appearance of tar paper.

The only true way to identify asbestos siding is to have it tested. While an expert lab test using polarized light microscopy may be needed to identify the specific type of asbestos fiber or to identify the presence of asbestos in air or dust samples many asbestos containing building products not only are obvious and easy to recognize but since there were not other look alike products that were not asbestos a visual identification of this material can be virtually a certainty in many cases. 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 ususally in a shingle shake form 12 x24.

It may be smooth or have a pressed wood grain pattern on the surface of the board. Determine the age of your home by looking at the property deed or any other records about its construction. Look for a siding that is made to look like roof shingles. Most siding created after the 1960s did not include asbestos.

Older style cement siding shingles were traditionally made by mixing asbestos into the cement in order to fireproof and strengthen siding. Are there several layers of siding wall cladding extending out past the original door trim or window trim could be an indication of several layers of siding the one behind is likely containing asbestos since it was such a popular material previously.