There are a lot of unique architectural features associated with a historic property, and one of the most distinctive is the roofing system. Common historic roofing materials include clay tiles, slate tiles, metal, cedar, and potentially asbestos containing materials meant to resemble slate and tile roofing were popular in the early 1900s.
While most use of asbestos ended in the 1980s due to health concerns and new government regulations, many historic properties were modified using asbestos roofing, which can be problematic for property owners given the 100 year service life of the material. As a result, it’s critical that you identify if you have an asbestos roof and partner with a roofing restoration company skilled in this particular material.
Here, we’ll look at what you need to know about asbestos roofing, and we’ll also look at how to identify if your historic property uses this material.
What kind of roofing products contained asbestos?
While asbestos was initially used for just roofing slates, the perceived advantages of the material saw it soon used as a component for myriad aspects of both siding and roofing, including:
- Caulks, seals, and mastics, which were used to fix leaks or damage to repair and maintain the roof.
- Felt and underlayment, which was used to increase durability by providing a layer of protection.
- Flashing and vents, originally used around skylights, dormers, and vent pipes to prevent leaks.
- Insulation, which helped decrease temperature damage and increase energy efficiency.
- Tar and asphalt, used as a waterproof sealant to prevent leaks and water damage.
- Cement sheets, shingles, and tiles, which protected against fire and water and helped secure joints.
Asbestos rose to prominence as a roofing material due in large part to what were unique characteristics at that time. Compared to slate and clay tile, it was a cheaper, lightweight option, which made it easier to both transport and install. And because it was blended with asphalt, it also proved to be both fireproof and more durable, with little risk of rusting or rotting when compared to materials like wood.
The run of popularity came to a halt around the 1960s when it was discovered that the airborne asbestos fibers posed a significantly dangerous health threat, and it later became identified as being a cancer-causing agent. This was most found in employees involved in installation and manufacturing of asbestos products, and in 1989 the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule put an end to the use of the material in any roofing products.
how to know if your historic property has an asbestos roof?
As previously mentioned, properties built or renovated before 1980 have a greater chance of including asbestos roofing materials. It’s often difficult to identify them by visuals alone unless you’re experienced in historic roofing, but there are some visual cues to help determine if your roof uses materials that contain asbestos.
Some of the more common materials and visual signs include:
- Cement. Asbestos shingles often appear thicker and heavier, are more square-shaped, and have a grayish, black, or off-white color.
- Corrugated cement. These wider panels have a shorter lifespan due to easy breakage, but the asbestos fibers are visible on the material’s grained sections.
- Asphalt shingles. These can come in a variety of colors, everything from blue, green, and red to different gray hues.
- Mineral fibers. Made of a cement and asbestos fiber mixture, the striated texture and green color help to make it more recognizable than other asbestos roofing.
- Slate. With colors ranging from light orange and green to gray and purple, the only way asbestos fibers can be released is when they’re broken, so they don’t pose as great of a threat.
how to repair an asbestos roof?
If you’ve identified that your historic property has an asbestos roof and that it’s in need of repairs, the most critical thing to remember is that you should never try to remove or repair any part of the roof yourself. Not only could the attempt create more damage to the roof, it could expose you and those around you to harmful pollutants.
Asbestos roofing repairs and removals should only be done by professionals who have the proper training, tools, and experience to safely repair, remove, and dispose of the asbestos roof.
At Renaissance, we’ve restored and replaced thousands of historic roofs and have a skilled team of experts experienced in identifying asbestos roofing and performing the work that needs to be done to preserve not just the historical integrity of your roof, but the entire history property.
Reach out to Renaissance today about your restoration or repair needs.
