Old Asbestos Roof Shingles

Asbestos shingles were so common during the 20th century that almost any shingles installed between 1920 and 1986 probably include asbestos.

Old asbestos roof shingles.

For decades asbestos roof shingles were considered an invaluable resource offering a superior inexpensive alternative to traditional roof coverings. The asphalt shingle became the preferred roofing choice. Only a trained professional can tell for sure if your shingles contain asbestos. If you don t know the age of the shingles inspect them for wear.

The most common and least expensive solution is to leave the original asbestos shingles in place and remove only the aluminum siding. Asbestos cement shingles can be removed safely without costly teams of abatement professionals. This way you ll avoid the hazardous dust created by tearing the shingles off. Many asbestos roofs and siding are damaged cracked or broken.

When you remove those shingles they will either come off when you pull out the nails require you to snap them off or require you to cut them. Do you have asbestos in your home. Asbestos was banned in 1989 so as the buildings that incorporated it age their roofing and siding will fall into disrepair. If they look old they might have asbestos fibers in them.

Asbestos siding in particular however has a tendency to chip crack and break with normal wear and tear of family life. While asbestos based roofing shingles and siding were still available their popularity had waned drastically well before the federal ban of the product in 1989.