Identifying Asbestos What Does Asbestos Siding Look Like

It can be extremely difficult to identify asbestos in plaster and plasterboard without laboratory testing.

Identifying asbestos what does asbestos siding look like.

It is usually brittle and the back may be black and have the appearance of tar paper. Asbestos siding usually looks a lot like roof shingles. These contacts can be found on the internet. The front may have a grainy sandy texture.

Below is an examples of plaster containing asbestos which looks much like non asbestos plaster. Look for siding that looks like roof shingles. If you need to be sure bring in a consultant that is uniquely qualified to identify asbestos. Roofing adhesives roofing felt and base flashing also might include asbestos.

In order to identify asbestos and know what asbestos looks like we need to understand the mineral. Unfortunately asbestos siding was originally designed to mimic many different types of materials. It is generally very brittle and the back may be black and have the appearance of tar paper. The term asbestos actually refers to six unique minerals divided into two family groups serpentine and amphibole.

Look for a siding that is made to look like roof shingles. These products use asbestos with a binder of portland cement. Asbestos siding was manufactured to resemble many materials so it won t always look the same. If you are in question assume that the material is asbestos.

It is very brittle and has a black tar paper like backing. Compare the newer siding to older siding areas and look for evidence that indicates age. This could be an experienced contractor or someone like a building inspector. That said if your house was renovated prior to 1980 the drywall edging or texture compound might contain asbestos.

Consult someone experienced in identifying asbestos. If your siding has these characteristics then asbestos could be present. Serpentine asbestos is made up of curly fibres within sheets of crystals. Recognizing siding with asbestos asbestos siding was manufactured to resemble many different materials so it doesn t always look the same.

Step 3 look for asbestos cement shingles a mixture of asbestos fibers and cement or asbestos cement corrugated roofing which is thicker and more often found on old sheds barns and low income housing. The front appears with a grainy sandy like texture. Asbestos roofing mastics often contained asbestos fibers and asbestos was a major ingredient in cement asbestos slate look alike products or roof tiles or cement asbestos roof shingles. Occasionally carpet underlay is found to contain asbestos.

Floor tiles and carpet underlay. This includes vinyl floor tiling and floor tile fixing glue. Asbestos drywall was more prevalent in commercial buildings.