What Does Asbestos Siding Look Like on a House?

Back in the day, asbestos was a commonly used material in homes — found in everything from siding to floor tiles to roof shingles, thanks to its fire resistance and excellent insulating properties. Unfortunately, asbestos can be a health hazard, particularly with prolonged exposure. What does asbestos siding look like? Here's how to identify it.

1. Materials 

Take a look at your house. If it's made from brick or stone, you're in the clear, as your siding doesn't contain asbestos. If your house has siding that's made from a less easily identifiable material, such as cement or vinyl, there's a chance that asbestos is involved.

2. Texture or Wood Grain

The texture of your siding is another warning sign that asbestos may be present. Asbestos was often used in siding materials that have a wood grain pattern or that look like roof shingles. Often, asbestos siding has what looks like a chalky texture. It may feel brittle, too.

It's very likely that any asbestos siding on your home will be older, which means it may not be in the best condition. As asbestos siding ages, it starts to deteriorate and may look rough and flaky, particularly around the edges.

3. Layers of Paint

Older homes may have asbestos siding and are also more likely to have been painted several times over. Take a close look at any suspicious siding to see if it's been painted multiple times. The more layers of paint present, the higher the likelihood there's asbestos siding underneath.

4. Visible Fibers and Nail Holes

Asbestos is a type of mineral fiber, which can either look like loopy curlicues or thin, sharp needles. If you inspect your siding and see that it's made from a fibrous material, then asbestos could be present.

Another possible sign of asbestos in your siding is the presence of two or three nail holes on the bottom edge of each siding panel.

5. Labeling

Some companies made it easy for you to identify asbestos siding. The label on the siding may say "asbestos." 

Newer, asbestos-free siding will have a manufacturer code stamped on the back. If you see a code, you can feel fairly confident that your siding is asbestos-free.

6. Older Age

Was your home built in the 1980s, 1990s, or later? Then don't sweat it, as asbestos wasn't used in siding after the 1970s. 

If your home is older, particularly if it was first constructed in the mid-20th century, then there's a higher chance that the siding contains asbestos. 

7. Testing Is the Only Way to Know for Sure

The only way to identify asbestos siding with 100% certainty is to send a sample of the siding to a lab for testing. To do that, you should hire a local asbestos testing company to collect a sample safely, and send it to a lab for analysis. 

The golden rule with asbestos is to leave it alone. Disturbing the material can release the fibers into the air, putting you and others at risk for respiratory issues, particularly with prolonged exposure. A professional will wear appropriate protective equipment and will know how to handle the material in a way that limits exposure and disturbance.