If you suspect your home might have asbestos, knowing where to look — and what to do — can make all the difference for your family’s health and your peace of mind.
Where Might Asbestos Be Hiding in Your Home?
Asbestos has long been valued in construction and industry for its strength, low cost, and fire resistance. We now know that long-term asbestos exposure can cause serious illness, lung problems, and other lasting health concerns. Though it was more commonly used in homes built before 1970, asbestos-containing materials are still being used in construction today.
It’s virtually impossible to detect asbestos just by looking at a material — but some places in older homes are more likely to contain it than others. Here are the most common spots to be aware of:
- Vinyl floor tiles: Some floor tiles and the adhesive used to secure them were made with asbestos
- Siding shingles: In older homes, shingles were sometimes made with asbestos to improve fire resistance
- Textured paints: Until the 1990s, paint manufacturers commonly used asbestos in their products
- Attic insulation: If your home was built between the 1920s and the 1980s, attic insulation may be contaminated with asbestos
- Fireplaces or wood stoves: Fire-resistant materials in older homes are likely to contain asbestos
- Glue that attaches floor tiles to concrete or wood
- Window caulking and glazing
- Plaster
- Linoleum
- Fiber cement siding
- Blown-in attic insulation
- Corrugated heavy-duty panels
Why You Should Never Test for Asbestos on Your Own
There’s no master list of every brand or product that contains asbestos, so it’s impossible to be certain just from looking. Damaged drywall, frayed insulation, crumbling floor tiles, and corrugated cement roofing can all be red flags — but none of them are a guarantee.
The only way to know for sure is professional testing. Taking samples on your own can actually disturb the material and release fibers into the air, making the situation more dangerous. Please don’t attempt to test for asbestos yourself — contact a licensed professional instead.
What Precautions Should You Take Around Possible Asbestos?
If you’re uncertain whether a part of your home has asbestos, the safest thing to do is leave it undisturbed until it can be professionally tested, removed, or controlled. Limit activities in that area of your home in the meantime.
Asbestos fibers only become a health hazard when they’re released into the air and inhaled — so avoiding any disturbance to suspect materials is key. Keep an eye on the area, though. Any structural damage can cause fibers to be released, and prolonged exposure increases health risks. If you’re planning any remodeling in an area where asbestos might be present, have the materials assessed and removed by a professional asbestos removal service first.
When Should You Get an Asbestos Test?
Asbestos-containing materials that are intact and in good condition are generally unlikely to pose a hazard. However, there’s no way to guarantee that undisturbed asbestos stays that way forever. Fires, floods, earthquakes, remodeling work, and even normal wear and tear can all cause fibers to be released. Consider getting your home tested if any of the following apply to you:
- There is visible damage to part of the building, such as drywall or insulation
- You’ve had water damage in an area where you suspect asbestos may be present
- You are planning to do any remodeling, since the work can disturb asbestos-containing materials
- You’re retiling a floor in an older home, as floor tiles and old adhesive can contain asbestos
- You have an insulated attic in a home built between 1920 and 1989
How Is Asbestos Detected and Managed?
There’s no question that having asbestos in your home carries health risks — but the way you respond matters enormously. If you decide to have asbestos testing done, always work through a professional. Taking samples yourself can be far more dangerous than simply leaving the material in place.
Asbestos identification and management is a specialized skill. If you believe your home has asbestos, stay calm, step back, and contact a qualified asbestos professional.
Do’s and Don’ts of Asbestos for Homeowners
- Do take every precaution to avoid damaging asbestos-containing materials.
- Keep activities to a minimum in areas where there is damaged asbestos-containing material.
- Have asbestos removal and significant repairs performed by trained and qualified personnel. It is strongly advised that asbestos specialists handle sampling and minor repairs as well.
- Don’t use abrasive pads or brushes on power strippers to strip wax from asbestos flooring. Never use a power stripper on a dry floor.
- Don’t dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos.
- Don’t saw, sand, scrape, or drill holes in asbestos materials.
- Don’t track material that could contain asbestos through the house. If you cannot avoid walking through the area, clean it with a wet mop. If the material is from a damaged area or a large area must be cleaned, call an asbestos professional.
- Don’t sand or try to level asbestos flooring or its backing. When asbestos flooring needs replacing, install new floorcovering over it if possible.
For more information or to schedule a professional assessment, visit Environmental Services of America or send us a message at services@es-america.com. We’re here to help you keep your home safe.