Does Asphalt Shingle Siding Contain Asbestos

Cementitious siding installed after 1973 is very unlikely to contain asbestos.

Does asphalt shingle siding contain asbestos.

Homes built between 1920 and the 1960s are likely to contain asbestos in any cementitious siding tiles. Most homes have asphalt shingles and asbestos is more common in asphalt shingles. In reality while asbestos was commonly used in many asphalt roofing materials asbestos was rarely used in the shingles themselves. Roofing adhesives roofing felt and base flashing also might include asbestos.

The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood grain texture to resemble cedar. Their width can range from 12 to 48 inches and are very simple to identify since asbestos fibers can be seen on the grained sections of the material. A similar looking product composite siding made of asphalt impregnated fiberboard was also used for lap siding and wall shingles but is not an asbestos cement product. Some asphalt roof shingle products and therefore quite possibly some asphalt siding products did indeed contain asbestos fibers in their substrate or coating.

Nonfriable means they cannot be broken up by hand pressure. These materials are known as fiber cement siding and they contain no asbestos. Asphalt or cement roofing and siding that contain asbestos when intact and in good condition are generally considered nonfriable and are not hazardous. Regular exposure to various temperatures will eventually weaken the material.

Paper like vapor barriers can present more of a hazard since they are considered friable. See siding types installation defects for a guide to siding products of various types. Areas that have a great deal of rainfall will also have problems with various types of mold and mildew that thrive on these kinds of shingles. History of uses of asbestos in modern products when was asbestos used in modern products.

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. Look to see what kind of shingles you have. Normally asbestos is mixed with concrete to form individual shingles. Corrugated cement panels were used for a short period of time as they break quite easily.

Manufactured from a mix of asbestos fibers and hydraulic cement asbestos cement roof shingles were rigid durable and fireproof. It is acknowledged by the asphalt shingle manufacturers that between 1963 and the mid 1970s some manufacturers did use asbestos in the fiber mat of shingles.