Choosing Better Environmental Products

What Materials In An Old Barn Can Contain Asbestos?

18 July 2023 by Cassandra Welch

If you have an old barn on your property, it may contain asbestos. Asbestos was commonly used in the construction of homes and outbuildings before its health risks were known. As a construction material, asbestos' incredible durability and fire resistance made it a very popular choice.

Unfortunately, asbestos fibers can cause health issues (including cancer) if they become airborne and you inhale them. Old asbestos-containing materials are more likely to break apart and release their fibers when you touch them, and this means that an old barn built using asbestos can be a health risk. To protect your health, it's important to find out if the old barn on your property contains asbestos. To learn where asbestos-containing materials can be found in old barns, read on.

Asbestos Cement Siding

One of the most common places you'll find asbestos in an old barn is the siding. Asbestos cement siding was frequently used to build old barns because it can withstand harsh weather conditions and won't be eaten by pests like termites. If your barn's siding has a chalky appearance and feels hard like concrete, then it may be made of asbestos cement.

Corrugated Asbestos Cement Panels

Corrugated roofing panels are often found on old barns, and they can be made from either metal or asbestos cement. If your barn's roof is old and shows no signs of rust, then the panels are likely made from asbestos cement instead of metal. Corrugated asbestos panels also look more dull than corrugated metal panels.

You can also sometimes find corrugated asbestos cement panels inside the barn. If the old barn on your property is large, it may be divided into several sections. The standing partitions used to create these sections were sometimes made from corrugated asbestos panels.

Asbestos Roofing Cement

Your barn's roof may still contain asbestos even if the panels don't contain asbestos. Asbestos cement was sometimes used to patch holes in barn roofs to stop leaks. If your barn's roof has areas that are patched with a tacky, dark gray cement, it may contain asbestos.

Asbestos Gutters

Your barn may have a gutter system to divert rain away from it and prevent the ground around it from becoming muddy. Asbestos cement gutters were sometimes used instead of metal gutters because asbestos cement won't rust. If the gutters on your barn have a dull appearance, they may be made from asbestos cement.

If you suspect that the old barn on your property was built using asbestos, contact a professional asbestos inspection service in your area and have all of the materials in your barn tested. Once you find out where all of the asbestos is located in your barn, you can take steps to remove it. Once removed, you'll be safe from inhaling any asbestos fibers and the health risks of asbestos exposure. Learn more about testing for asbestos by contacting a professional near you.

Share  

Search