What Does Old Asbestos Siding Look Like

It is part of the serpentine family whilst all other types of asbestos are part of the amphibole family.

What does old asbestos siding look like.

Asbestos siding usually looks a lot like roof shingles. It was commonly used in a range of materials from brake pads to roofing materials. Layers of paint or finish coatings. 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.

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. It is very brittle and has a black tar paper like backing. Amosite is also known as brown asbestos. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough.

Look for siding that looks like roof shingles. Chrysotile was the most widely used asbestos and is commonly referred to as white asbestos. The original shingles of both asbestos cement and fiber cement usually come from the factory painted white on one side. It is usually brittle and the back may be black and have the appearance of tar paper.

Asbestos ceiling tiles are also comonly used. The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood grain texture to resemble cedar. Asbestos siding was manufactured to resemble many materials so it won t always look the same. These products use asbestos with a binder of portland cement.

The vermiculate look like popcorn and many of you might remember your old high school science lab with this material. Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken. Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc. Testing your siding for asbestos if your siding fits either of these descriptions you should consider having it tested.

The front may have a grainy sandy texture. Owners often painted cement asbestos shingle siding to make it look fresh or if it was weathered and fuzzy to preserve it. 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.