Does Asphalt Siding Have Asbestos

Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer.

Does asphalt siding have asbestos. Paper like vapor barriers can present more of a hazard since they are considered friable. If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm. Nonfriable means they cannot be broken up by hand pressure. Most homes have asphalt shingles and asbestos is more common in asphalt shingles.

Testing your siding for asbestos if your siding fits either of these descriptions you should consider having it tested. It is very brittle and has a tendency to crack and break when nailed which can release asbestos fibers into both the air and ground. While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding. Asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement.

Some asphalt siding may contain asbestos in the asphalt impregnated felt backer or asbestos may also be in the asphalt impregnated paper tar paper or felt used as a house wrap under the siding. Asbestos roofing materials photos above containing asbestos included. Generally the product is made from wood fibers not asbestos see the insulating board msds data sheet quotations in the faq discussion just above. The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood grain texture to resemble cedar.

Some asphalt roof shingle products and therefore quite possibly some asphalt siding products did indeed contain asbestos fibers in their substrate or coating. The health risks of asbestos have been known for many years since the early 1960s. 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. Asphalt or cement roofing and siding that contain asbestos when intact and in good condition are generally considered nonfriable and are not hazardous.

Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne. Inhaled asbestos fibers have definitively been linked to a variety of lung diseases including asbestosis and different types of cancer such as mesothelioma. It is very difficult to remove spray paint graffiti without also dissolving or discoloring some of the siding surface coating material itself. No level of exposure to asbestos is deemed safe although the people suffering from serious asbestos related diseases are usually those who have handled.