How Does Asbestos Siding Look Like

Government defines asbestos as a naturally occurring group of fibrous minerals that are very strong can be woven and resist heat and most chemicals source.

How does asbestos siding look like. The front may have a grainy sandy texture. The 1965 construction date if accurate makes me think the asbestos cement siding would be original. Asbestos siding was manufactured to resemble many different materials so it doesn t always look the same. Transite siding is a common asbestos containing siding material on older homes and garages.

Or possibly gold bond. Most siding companies are well experienced at techniques for covering over existing asbestos cement siding with new vinyl aluminum or fiber cement siding. Looks like a fiber cement asbestos cement back then siding. It s a fibrous substance with lots of thin particles.

When these particles become airborne they present an extreme health hazard when inhaled. It is usually brittle and the back may be black and have the appearance of tar paper. And see asbestos cement siding for details about cement asbestos building siding its repair removal demolition or cover over. If they look old they might have asbestos fibers in them.

See photos at asbestos siding in this document. The individual asbestos fibers that are released into the air are microscopic. Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral used for insulation and fireproofing. Look for siding that looks like roof shingles.

I don t suspect there would be an additional layer of siding beneath. If you don t know the age of the shingles inspect them for wear. In most commercial forms asbestos looks like attic insulation a ball of thick fuzz. Maybe manufactured by johns manville.

Recognizing siding with asbestos. Just to make things more complicated asbestos siding doesn t always look the same. Determine when the shingles were installed on your roof. Window and door caulking is another common exterior asbestos material.

Common exterior asbestos materials are usually related to siding caulking glazing and roofing materials. Asbestos shingles were so common during the 20th century that almost any shingles installed between 1920 and 1986 probably include asbestos. When the fibers become airborne they pose health concerns. Asbestos was banned from the construction trades in the 1970s so many people today need to know what asbestos siding looks like.

I have always thought of this as very good quality. Cement asbestos wall shingles outside and not easily friable unless being demolished or cut with power tools. If a siding company removes an outer layer of siding and finds an older layer of asbestos cement siding beneath the standard procedure is simply to cover it over with new siding rather than remove it. Older style cement siding shingles were traditionally made by mixing asbestos.