How To Tell If It S Asbestos Siding

It s pretty serious but according to health canada one of the world s leading sources of unbiased information on the subject if.

How to tell if it s asbestos siding.

So if it s not a tile then it s not likely to be asbestos. The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood grain texture to resemble cedar. Testing your siding for asbestos if your siding fits either of these descriptions you should consider having it tested. 5 aluminum siding aluminum siding is pretty easy to identify.

In a house that was built in that era if it did have asbestos it would most likely be an asbestos tile. Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken. 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. That s called a cement asbestos tile because the asbestos is inside of a cement binder.

And make no mistake asbestos is dangerous. Efflorescence chalking can commonly be seen on asbestos siding. While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior 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.

You may choose to take a sample of siding from a damaged area of siding. Also look around the siding roofing and soffit materials for small dimples or shallow craters on the surface which are signs of asbestos. Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc. If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm.

If your house was built around or prior to the late 70 s has the original siding and seems to be made of cement it is probably asbestos siding. To determine if your building has asbestos check areas where the material was most commonly used like the roof bathroom and basement. Even a single airborne fiber of the most dangerous types of asbestos can eventually cause a particular form of lung cancer if inhaled. Put on a mask and scrape away some siding material into a baggie.

Asbestos was particularly prevalent in siding that resembles shingles or was made to look like wood grain. The issue here is asbestos and the risks of serious lung diseases it can cause. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough. 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.

If your siding has these characteristics then asbestos could be present.