What to know about asbestos.

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Your home might have asbestos-containing materials. Disturbing asbestos during renovation increases your risk of:

• Asbestos exposure, which can cause lung disease.
• Spreading asbestos and contaminating your home, which can increase costs and delay your project.

The only sure way to know if your home has asbestos is to have a professional inspect and collect samples to test.

Asbestos is the name given to a naturally occurring group of minerals made up of tiny, easily inhaled fibers.

Asbestos is a hazardous substance that was used in more than 3,000 different building materials.

Even today, some asbestos-containing products have not been completely banned. Testing should occur before planned renovation or demolition activities.

There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems. 

When asbestos gets in the air, breathing in the fibers can lead to an increased risk of:

• Lung cancer
• Cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity (mesothelioma)
• Scarring of the lung tissue (asbestosis)

Protect Your Family from Asbestos Exposure — Homeowner Dos and Don'ts (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Common building materials that contain asbestos are:

• Vinyl floor tile
• Drywall joint compound
• Attic insulation
• Vinyl sheet flooring
• Cement siding or roofing shingles
• Textured ceiling and ceiling tiles
• Roofing shingles or felts
• Certain mastics or glues
• Pipe insulation and mudded elbows
• and much more