Where is asbestos usually found?

April 10, 2023

Asbestos was used in all sorts of construction materials throughout the last century. Here are some of the most common places it can still be found.

Asbestos is common in New Zealand homes and buildings, but the tough part is that you won’t know it’s there unless you test for it.

That’s because asbestos isn’t something you can see. However, there are scenarios in which experts can often guess where it might be found on a property, simply because asbestos is often present in the same materials again and again.

To begin, remember that asbestos was often used in properties that were built or renovated prior to the year 2000. Unless a pre-2000s property has been certified as asbestos free, it is best to assume that property contains asbestos so you can take the proper safety precautions during any renovations or demolition.

In these properties, these areas are the most common places where you may find asbestos containing materials (ACM).

Roofing materials

Many roofing materials were made with asbestos prior to the 2000s.

These included cement sheets, gutters and downpipes, bitumen and membrane roofing, decramastic roof tiles, and roofing shingles.

Asbestos was often used in these materials because it is highly durable and fire resistant, which are both important properties in any kind of roofing material.

If your property was built in the last century and contains any of these roofing materials, it is best to have asbestos testing carried out prior to making any renovations or changes.

Flooring materials

Thanks to the high durability of asbestos, it was also often used when fabricating materials used in flooring.

It can therefore sometimes be found in linoleum and vinyl floors, and in the backing of vinyl flooring and in some adhesives. It was also commonly used in flooring that surrounded wood-burning stoves and fireplaces, due to its flame resistance.

Insulation

For homes built or renovated between 1900 and the 1980s, asbestos was also sometimes used in the insulation.

This is especially common in properties built between 1930 and the 1950s, so be sure to look at your property records and have your insulation tested if you are looking to replace it or work around it.

Textured paint

Of all the places asbestos can be found, textured paint is one of the ones that is the most well known.

This is perhaps because paint is easily visible within the home. Even though you can’t ‘see’ asbestos (testing is the only way to ascertain if asbestos is present), you can see textured paint. Asbestos was often used in textured paint for its insulating and fire-retardant properties, but also simply because it was trendy at the time.

Therefore, textured paint can be a common place to find asbestos.

Do you have asbestos containing materials in your home?

The problem with asbestos is that it was once so beloved for its many beneficial properties, that it was basically used everywhere throughout construction before it became known that it might be dangerous.

That’s why if you are considering making changes to your home with renovations, or demolishing your home, it’s best to get it tested. Or, if your home is older and there are parts that are falling apart or visibly crumbling, a test is a good idea to determine if asbestos is present.

We know that it can be a shock to learn about the presence of asbestos, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in an unsafe home, or put your plans for renovation on the backburner. Instead, our professional asbestos removal services can remove the asbestos from your property and provide an ‘all-clear’ certification so you can get back to your life and your plans.