How To Tell If Your Ceiling Has Asbestos

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How to tell if your ceiling has asbestos. An asbestos ceiling is also called an acoustic ceiling or popcorn ceiling due to its soundproofing qualities and it looks a little like popcorn once it s sprayed on. Popcorn ceilings were a popular feature of 1960s and 1970s homes. There is no way to tell if you have asbestos in your ceiling unless you have a sample analyzed.

When purchasing an asbestos kit you will have to extract a sample of the ceiling and mail. I have the test kit on the way to me but i want to feel better if possible. Check for cover traps light bases.

Your best plan of action is to test your ceilings for asbestos. If your building was constructed after 1995 it likely won t contain asbestos but if it was made between the 1940s and 1980s there is a good chance that it does. If the sample contains more than 1 asbestos you should protect yourself and remove the popcorn ceiling from your property.

Asbestos can cause many health problems including lung cancer so it s very important to test your ceilings if they were built prior to the. I have lived in this space for years and had a lot of activity where tiles have broken open and been damaged. A quick visual inspection can tell you whether or not you should get your insulation tested for asbestos.

To find out if your old popcorn ceiling contains asbestos you can purchase a test kit or hire an asbestos abatement professional. Identifying asbestos in ceilings. Known as popcorn ceiling cottage cheese ceiling or stucco ceiling it was typically 1 to 10 percent asbestos.

To determine if your building has asbestos check areas where the material was most commonly used like the roof bathroom and basement. You can either diy this process by purchasing a testing kit and submitting material samples to a certified testing lab or you can hire an asbestos testing specialist. Loose fill insulation if your attic or wall insulation is in batt or blanket form whether it s fiberglass cellulose or another material you generally don t have to be concerned about asbestos.