Asbestos shingles were so common during the 20th century that almost any shingles installed between 1920 and 1986 probably include asbestos.
Asphalt siding asbestos.
The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood grain texture to resemble cedar.
Testing your siding for asbestos.
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.
Determine when the shingles were installed on your roof.
Asphalt or cement roofing and siding that contain asbestos when intact and in good condition are generally considered nonfriable and are not hazardous.
Removing asbestos is often cost prohibitive for most people.
Use a flat pry bar to remove the asbestos siding or roofing material starting from the top.
Roofing siding this old house has asphalt siding the type that comes in panels that measure about 18 x 28 inches designed to look like several courses of brick.
Asphalt brick look siding tags.
Asbestos cement is a mixture of portland cement reinforced with asbestos fibers.
The portland cement binds asbestos fibers into a hard mass.
Wet down the asbestos siding or roofing with a mixture of water and liquid soap in a pump up sprayer to limit dust.
Wrap asbestos siding in 6 mil thick plastic sheeting and secure the plastic with duct tape or place the debris in heavy duty plastic bags.
Dispose of the asbestos properly at a landfill or contact your local waste collection service to find out if they will pick up asbestos material.
A brief history of asbestos cement siding.
Asbestos cement was first developed in 1905 by the johns manville company who became one of the premier manufacturers of cement asbestos materials.
If your siding fits either of these descriptions you should consider having it tested.
If they look old they might have asbestos fibers in them.
Alternatively if you leave the asbestos on your home you can safely seal the old siding underneath the new siding and because asbestos is an excellent insulator you will actually be adding to the energy efficiency of your home by leaving it on.
Keep the asbestos material that has been removed wet.
Asphalt based roof shingle material on an organic paper mat or asphalt on hardboard siding products were later supplanted by cement asbestos siding shingles then aluminum siding and steel siding then currently by vinyl siding.
Nonfriable means they cannot be broken up by hand pressure.