Roofing and Siding Materials

Asbestos cement siding and roofing shingles are rigid panels, often with a textured surface, that were widely used on homes from the 1920s into the 1970s. Built-up roofing on commercial buildings used felts that could contain asbestos, along with asbestos-containing mastics, cements and coatings. Flashing compounds and some roof patching products also contained it. Corrugated asbestos cement sheets were used on industrial and farm buildings. These materials can look similar to non-asbestos products, so only testing can confirm what is present. Some roofing products were sold under brand names that investigators can trace to manufacturers. Pay attention to any markings you remember on bundles or rolls.

Installers cut shingles and siding with saws or scoring tools and drilled or nailed through them, producing dust. During tear-offs, old materials were broken, scraped and thrown into dumpsters, often without any dust control. Roofers heating and applying mastic and felts could also be exposed, especially when removing older layers. Weathered materials tend to become more brittle, which can make removal dustier. Workers often did these jobs outdoors, which some assumed was safe, but wind and close work still meant breathing in fibers. Crews sometimes swept debris off roofs by hand, adding to the dust. Clothes and tools carried dust back to trucks and homes.

Removal of asbestos roofing and siding is regulated. In commercial settings, federal rules require inspection and specific handling methods before renovation or demolition. Many states and localities also set rules for residential work. Common requirements include wetting materials, removing them intact where possible, avoiding power tools and disposing of waste at approved sites. Homeowners should check local rules before starting a project. Contractors should document what was removed and how, and those records can matter later for both regulatory compliance and any health claims. Following these steps protects both workers and nearby residents from fibers released during a project.

1. 1

   List roofing and siding jobs where you cut or tore off older materials, with approximate years.

2. 2

   Note the brands of shingles, siding or roofing felts you remember handling.

3. 3

   Check with your local environmental agency before removing old siding or roofing yourself.

4. 4

   Keep contractor paperwork showing how any asbestos roofing was removed from your home.