How Long Do Asbestos Roofs Last

The thinner shingles about an eighth of an inch thick typically last about 50 to 60 years.

How long do asbestos roofs last. Contemporary roofing product manufacturers make reinforced fiber cement roofing shingles and other roofing products which look like perform similarly to and need to be installed similarly to the original corrugated asbestos cement sheet roofing but these new products are free of asbestos. Cement asbestos roof shingles typically have a much shorter life than the siding panels. There are at least three types of asbestos shingles. Accordingly if the material contains less than 1.

This is one of the most common questions we get asked by clients as well as how much does it cost to replace a roof. Neither question has an easy answer because both depend on a number of variables. 7 signs you need a new roof asphalt shingles last 15 to 30 years. It is not unreasonable to expect 100 years from a properly maintained asbestos roof.

In the early 1920s american roofing material manufacturers johns mansville carey eternit and century were all offering at least one asbestos cement roofing shingle to their customers. Determine when the shingles were installed on your roof. The use of asbestos cement roof shingles was growing at a steady rate in the united states. Asbestos shingles were so common during the 20th century that almost any shingles installed between 1920 and 1986 probably include asbestos.

There is more information about asbestos roofs in the slate roof bible. Let s break it down. If you don t know the age of the shingles inspect them for wear. Most of the times asbestos roofing materials are not dangerous if not damaged and left undisturbed.

The asbestos content in a typical asbestos cement roof is between 2 and 8 and this is encapsulated within the cement matrix. The roof was in excellent condition for long but over the past few months there were a few incidents of tree branches falling on the roof during heavy winds causing small portions of the roof on the edges to break off. Manufacturers used to make shingles that would last 40 years but those shingles were made using asbestos which is not used any longer. If they look old they might have asbestos fibers in them.

The only way to know for sure whether your roof contains asbestos is to have a sample tested by professionals in a certified laboratory. The thicker ones are about a quarter of an inch and i ve seen them last 70 to 85 years. Regular flat shingle tiles standard lap are shown below as are common diamond shaped tiles and side. How long do asbestos roofs last.

As long as the condition of the roof sheets is good then there is little risk of asbestos contamination.