Distinguishing Asbestos Fiber Siding
It was standard practice to make use of asbestos in homes that had been built back in the 19th and 20th centuries and whilst most individuals recognize the risk of asbestos inside their older homes, what they may not understand is that it was also commonly utilized in house siding as well. in the 1980’s the asbestos link to cancer was made and the practice was stopped. That still leaves a great deal of houses with asbestos siding.
Here are some suggestions to help you identify the problem in case you suspect that you have asbestos siding.
Firstly take a look at the deed to your home, it ought to contain details on exactly when your home was built. If your home was built prior to 1978 there is a good chance that asbestos was part of the original building materials used to create your home. If the siding is intact you ought to leave it in place and contact a professional to come and examine it.
Look over siding for a manufacturing code, should you find manufacturer information printed on the siding it’s unlikely to contain asbestos. Manufacturers didn’t start coding their siding until after 1980 and by this time asbestos wasn’t being used. However if your siding has several layers of paint you’ll need to have an expert take a look at it to determine if it contains asbestos.
Shingle siding was a common form of siding in the years before 1980 and was frequently manufactured out of asbestos. Check the back of the siding for appearances of tar paper, or the front might have a sandy textured or grainy appearance which can be an indicator of asbestos.
A fake cedar wood grain finish has also been produced by several manufactures. These siding shingles were usually about 12X24 inches in size with a wavy pattern on the bottom. They are however only one of several asbestos shingles manufactured at that time.
In the event you do your own inspection and determine that there is a possibility of asbestos, you need to call in a professional to do some tests to confirm its presence. Many styles of asbestos containing siding had been produce to seem like non asbestos containing siding so it can be tough to pick which is which.
The most effective way to tell if asbestos is present is to send a modest sample to a reputable lab for testing. Even if your siding appears to be asbestos free, having a sample tested is advisable if the home was built prior to 1980. Asbestos exposure is the direct trigger of mesothelioma cancer.
Find further home siding information and discussion of topics such as Composite Siding.
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