Signs of Asbestos in a Home
By Daniel SmokeDirector of Operations
The single strongest sign that a material may contain asbestos is the age of the building, not how it looks. Asbestos cannot be identified by sight, smell, or touch, so a lab has to analyze a sample to say for certain. But knowing which materials commonly contained asbestos, and recognizing their visual characteristics, helps you decide what to test before a renovation disturbs it.
Age of the Building
The most important indicator of asbestos risk is the age of the building. Homes and commercial buildings constructed before 1980 are most likely to contain asbestos-containing materials. Buildings from the 1950s through the 1970s had the highest concentration of asbestos use in construction. If your building predates 1980, treat suspect materials as potentially containing asbestos until testing confirms otherwise.
Materials That Commonly Contained Asbestos
Spray-applied popcorn ceiling texture, vinyl floor tiles and the mastic adhesive underneath them, and pipe insulation and duct wrap were all produced with asbestos during the period of widespread use. So were drywall joint compound, roofing shingles and siding panels, vermiculite attic insulation, and certain types of acoustic ceiling tiles. If these materials are present in a pre-1980 building, testing is recommended before any disturbance.
Condition of Suspect Materials
Materials in good condition that are not being disturbed generally present lower immediate risk than materials that are deteriorating. Look for materials that are crumbling, friable, showing water damage, or in areas of physical disturbance. Deteriorating pipe insulation, ceiling tiles with water staining, and floor tiles that are cracking or lifting are higher-risk situations that warrant testing.
What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos
Do not disturb, sample, or attempt to remove suspect materials yourself. Do not sand, scrape, drill, or cut materials until testing is complete. Contact a licensed asbestos inspector to conduct a professional inspection and collect samples for laboratory analysis. Testing is the only reliable way to confirm the presence or absence of asbestos.
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