How do I know if my shingles have asbestos?
How do I know if my shingles have asbestos?
How do I know if my roofing or siding contains asbestos? Look for asbestos markings on the roofing or siding material or the packages in which they came, or call the manufacturer. Another alternative is to hire a Minnesota certified asbestos inspector to sample the material and submit it for laboratory analysis.
When was asbestos cement shingles used?
In 1893, a European chemist filed the first patent for asbestos cement roofing shingles. He called it “Eternit” after the Latin term for everlasting. By 1907, asbestos became a prime roofing material additive for making shingles based on an asbestos-asphalt blend.
How long do asbestos shingles last?
The life expectancy of an asbestos cement shingle roof is 40 to 60 years, with an average of 50 years. It will last longer with luck and diligent maintenance, and we saw one roof a few years ago that was just beginning to fail at 60 years old.
What year did they start putting asbestos siding on houses?
Cementious siding and roofing such as fiber-cement siding, lap siding, and fiber cement roof shingles containing asbestos may then have appeared on homes constructed between 1906 and 1980 in North America and continuing later in some other countries.
Is asbestos still used in pavement?
Asbestos was used as an additive to asphalt from the 1960s to mid-1980s, Miller said. “It is not used in asphalt anymore, but many municipalities with roads built from between the ’60s and early ’80s could contain asbestos.”
When did asbestos stop being used in homes?
Next up: The 1989 Asbestos Ban In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; uses established prior to 1989 are still allowed.
Does old siding have asbestos?
Most homes built after the 1980s no longer use siding that contains asbestos because of its obvious health risks. However, fixer-uppers and older homes with their original siding may still contain this dangerous material.
Can you side over asbestos shingles?
Siding shingles are nonfriable because the asbestos fibers are held in place by a cement binder in the shingles. But damaging the shingles can release some of the fibers. Some experts recommend screwing, rather than nailing, when new siding is installed over existing asbestos-cement siding.
What are asbestos shingles made of?
Made from asbestos, an inorganic, fibrous mineral, and Portland or hydraulic cement, asbestos shingles were lightweight, economical, and fireproof. Manufacturers promoted their shingles as substitutes for traditional roofing materials such as slate, wood, and clay.