We also summarize the differences among manufactured lookalike siding products such as asbestos cement siding fiber cement siding and hardboard siding differences that can be confusing to many people.
How to tell if you have asbestos siding.
Since asbestos was included as an additive when siding was manufactured for many decades the odds are good that original shingle siding on holder homes may contain asbestos.
The date of the building or material can also tell you a lot about asbestos risk.
Identifying asbestos siding is impossible unless you have a sample tested in a lab.
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It is virtually impossible for anyone but a trained professional with a high powered microscope to tell definitively whether a shingle contains asbestos.
You can t see or smell asbestos but exposure to loose fibers can cause lung disease such as mesothelioma asbestosis or lung cancer.
Identifying asbestos siding is a major concern for many homeowners with older homes that have cement siding.
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.
That s called a cement asbestos tile because the asbestos is inside of a cement binder.
Inhaled asbestos fibers have definitively been linked to a variety of lung diseases including asbestosis and different types of cancer such as mesothelioma.
No level of exposure to asbestos is deemed safe although the people suffering from serious asbestos related diseases are usually those who have handled.
However asbestos fibers can cause serious lung and respiratory problems if inhaled.
So if it s not a tile then it s not likely to be asbestos.
Loose fill insulation if your attic or wall insulation is in batt or blanket form whether it s fiberglass cellulose or another material you generally don t have to be concerned about asbestos.
Even still asbestos was phased out in the 1980s so some buildings built during that time could have still used asbestos materials.
The health risks of asbestos have been known for many years since the early 1960s.
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However there are ways you can determine whether it is likely that your shingles contain asbestos.
If you aren t sure about the exact composition of your siding you should check to make sure.
Buildings made between the 1940s and the 1980s are very likely to have used asbestos materials.
The only reliable way to know if your home contains asbestos is to hire an environmental consulting firm or asbestos building inspector for asbestos testing.
In a house that was built in that era if it did have asbestos it would most likely be an asbestos tile.
If your siding fits either of these descriptions you should consider having it tested.
Although homes built after the 1980s are generally safe some newer builds may also have asbestos lurking in the siding.
A quick visual inspection can tell you whether or not you should get your insulation tested for asbestos.
They ll take fingernail sized samples and test them in a laboratory.
