Asbestos Shingles

The Past and Future of Asbestos Shingles

Asbestos means inextinguishable in Greek. That is only one of the advantages of asbestos shingles. From the early 1940s through the mid 1970s, asbestos was celebrated and used extensively for home construction projects. The material enjoys a long lifespan, is fireproof and inexpensive. It functions as an insulator from heat and noise, strong as a rock and lends itself to manipulation into various forms and shapes, thus comfortably stepping in to replace wood siding and other products. Asbestos shingles may appear in roofs built prior to 1975, usually on flat roofs.

Genealogy of Asbestos

Asbestos is still a beneficial mineral, but the use of asbestos shingles is almost nonexistent as health hazards have been made apparent. Long exposure to damaged asbestos may release fiber that, if inhaled, causes lung cancer and other diseases. The roofing industry has instead developed asbestos shingles alternatives, simulating the advantages of the hazardous material without its harmful health aspects. Asbestos is used and handled according to strict regulations, nothing like the days of old. Chances are slim to find an asbestos shingle cutter in this day and age. Although asbestos shingles and asbestos cement roofing and siding, unless damaged, sawed or cut, are not likely to release asbestos fibers, there is often a need to remove asbestos shingles.

Asbestos Shingles Removal Tips

Repair is a cheaper option when compared with complete removal of asbestos shingles. But later, if such removal is necessary, it may make the operation more difficult and costly. In any case, any repair work involving asbestos roof shingles is not recommended. It may in fact cause more problems than it can solve. Roof 101 makes sure that only professionals handle asbestos roofing shingles removal, following asbestos removal and disposal laws. Depending on your needs, we will provide testing, assessment and correction services for your asbestos roof shingles. Removal or replacement is not always necessary, as siding that is intact can remain serviceable well into the future. If replacement is indeed called for, Roof 101 supplies asbestos alternatives, developed especially for this purpose and containing no asbestos but as durable and fireproof as the original.