Asbestos Asphalt Shingle Siding

If you don t know the age of the shingles inspect them for wear.

Asbestos asphalt shingle siding. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but brittle. From the 1940 s to perhaps the early 1970 s it was popular to cover peeling wood clapboard buildings with this durable material. You can t drive screws and nails through them without pre drilling. If they look old they might have asbestos fibers in them.

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. No installing new siding over the old asbestos siding isn t a viable option. Originally asbestos siding was used because of the fire resistant properties of asbestos. It is very difficult to remove spray paint graffiti without also dissolving or discoloring some of the siding surface coating material itself.

Determine when the shingles were installed on your roof. Asbestos shingles were so common during the 20th century that almost any shingles installed between 1920 and 1986 probably include asbestos. The building shown at left located in hughsonville ny using the thatch edged shingle siding style is almost certainly sided with asbestos cement shingles. Because asbestos in a mineral and fibrous adding asbestos to siding materials also increases strength and durability while providing some insulation and fireproofing to the structure.