How To Tell If Roof Shingles Contain Asbestos

Determine when the shingles were installed on your roof.

How to tell if roof shingles contain 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. Inside the sheets will be held together in a similar way by plastic or wooden runners. Asbestos is a popular material that has been used to reinforce concrete shingles. Also look around the siding roofing and soffit materials for small dimples or shallow craters on the surface which are signs of asbestos.

The surface will also have a texture and contain dimples or craters. It is also important to be concerned if the material used contains asbestos. Look at the joints. What does it look like.

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. If they look old they might have asbestos fibers in them. Accordingly if the material contains less than 1 asbestos it is safe and does not require removal.

Look at the joints. Most of the times asbestos roofing materials are not dangerous if not damaged and left undisturbed. When taking a sample be very careful because asbestos dust can get into the lungs and cause cancer. It has a very distinct style as seen here.

If you don t know the age of the shingles inspect them for wear. The result of the test will lead you to the next step. Asbestos sheets are often fixed together by aluminium runners held on by blunt ended nails. 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.

Many garage roofs which contain asbestos are constructed using flat or corrugated sheets of cement. Most older cement sheets contain asbestos. Therefore when deciding to get a sample do so with certain precautions. Mineral fiber probably the easiest to recognize of possible mesothelioma contributing materials is this product.

Asbestos sheets are often fixed together by aluminium runners held on by small nails without a point on the end. To determine if your building has asbestos check areas where the material was most commonly used like the roof bathroom and basement. Here are some ways to help identify if your garage roof contains asbestos. Cement which contains asbestos is usually fairly thin with visible fibres running through it.

The only way to know for sure whether your roof contains asbestos is to have a sample tested by professionals in a certified laboratory. This government guide contains a useful diagram to identify where asbestos may be present on your property.