How To Tell If Roof Shingles Contain Asbestos

Inside the sheets will be held together in a similar way by plastic or wooden runners.

How to tell if roof shingles contain asbestos.

Asbestos sheets are often fixed together by aluminium runners held on by small nails without a point on the end. Asbestos is a popular material that has been used to reinforce concrete shingles. Asbestos sheets are often fixed together by aluminium runners held on by blunt ended nails. To determine if your building has asbestos check areas where the material was most commonly used like the roof bathroom and basement.

Accordingly if the material contains less than 1 asbestos it is safe and does not require removal. Look at the joints. Cement which contains asbestos is usually fairly thin with visible fibres running through it. When taking a sample be very careful because asbestos dust can get into the lungs and cause cancer.

Asbestos shingles were so common during the 20th century that almost any shingles installed between 1920 and 1986 probably include asbestos. The only way to safely know whether the roof tiles contain asbestos or not is to have a sample professionally checked under a microscope that uses polarized light. If you don t know the age of the shingles inspect them for wear. How is it constructed.

The only way to know for sure whether your roof contains asbestos is to have a sample tested by professionals in a certified laboratory. On roofs themselves asbestos cement can be frequently found in the form of panels gutters insulation roof shingles siding downpipes or the entire roof itself. The risk here is quite low in fact it is very difficult to determine if the shingles contain asbestos roofing material without a lab test. It is also important to be concerned if the material used contains asbestos.

The surface will also have a texture and contain dimples or craters. According to roofers taking care of an asbestos roof requires a different approach so that id does not become a health hazard to the residents. If they look old they might have asbestos fibers in them. This government guide contains a useful diagram to identify where asbestos may be present on your property.

Most of the times asbestos roofing materials are not dangerous if not damaged and left undisturbed. Most older cement sheets contain asbestos. Also look around the siding roofing and soffit materials for small dimples or shallow craters on the surface which are signs of asbestos. Many garage roofs which contain asbestos are constructed using flat or corrugated sheets of cement.

It has a very distinct style as seen here. Here are some ways to help identify if your garage roof contains asbestos. When mixed with other materials asbestos can be hard to detect but in its regular form it comes in blue brown and white varieties. The result of the test will lead you to the next step.

Determine when the shingles were installed on your roof. Mineral fiber probably the easiest to recognize of possible mesothelioma contributing materials is this product.