What Does Asbestos Ceiling Material Look Like?
It is common knowledge these days that asbestos exposure can lead to a variety of health issues. Some of the most common asbestos-containing items in an older home include asbestos floor tile, asbestos insulation, and asbestos ceiling material.
But it is important to know what does asbestos ceiling look like in order to properly diagnose the harmful substance. While asbestos use has become heavily regulated in the United States, there are many structures and household products with asbestos that were created before that time and are still used today.
As a homeowner, renter, or owner of any type of building space, it is important to be knowledgeable about asbestos to eliminate the dangerous material and prevent further health issues from occurring. We’ll discuss how to identify asbestos ceilings, and how APM can help if your building might contain an asbestos ceiling.
Why Were Ceiling Tiles That Contain Asbestos Used?
While asbestos is one name, it actually refers to a group of 6 fibrous minerals falling under two categories: serpentine and amphibole. The categories suggest what form the fibers take. Serpentine asbestos fibers form layered sheets, while Amphibole asbestos features rigid, straight fibers.
These fibers are microscopic, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, asbestos can be released into the air when a surface containing asbestos is disturbed. These particles can stay in the air for a long time and are potentially dangerous if inhaled.
Unfortunately, asbestos fibers were commonly used at one point in the creation of various building materials prior to the early 1970s. As its dangerous after-effects were observed in the 1970s and early 1980s, it was regulated to not be used but nothing was done about the material already out in the world.
This is how ceiling tiles that contain asbestos were put into circulation. Now, Asbestos Project Management is here to take them back out. Slowly but surely, one asbestos ceiling tile at a time, we are slowly helping to officially eradicate the sinister material. A full-service company, we offer inspections, testing, and removal of any and all asbestos materials.
How to Tell if a Ceiling Has Asbestos
The U.S. government began regulating asbestos use in the 1970s. However, existing products like asbestos floor tiles, asbestos popcorn ceiling, and asbestos insulation, were not taken off the market, pushing the timeline of asbestos use into the 1980s. While they won’t always be contaminated with the toxic mineral, ceilings built before the mid-80s are most at risk of containing asbestos.
Asbestos is found mostly in drop ceilings and ceiling finishes like popcorn ceiling, also known as stucco or an acoustic finish. In order to tell if a ceiling has asbestos, you must be aware of the method and material used to build it. If your ceiling is a drop ceiling with fiberglass tiles, it likely does not contain asbestos.
However, some of the more common asbestos-containing ceilings do have a particular look. While testing is always critical, thankfully some asbestos ceiling materials can be picked out by sight.
During the years when asbestos was allowed to be a component of building materials, there were also certain home trends at this time. One of them was allowing homes to have textured ceilings.
Does Popcorn Ceiling Have Asbestos in It?
Textured asbestos ceilings and popcorn ceilings are one and the same. The textured style allowed it to gain the nickname of popcorn ceilings. While this popular design was a creative way to cover inconsistencies in ceilings, having asbestos ceiling material above every room is extremely dangerous.
An easy way to identify these textured ceilings is that they look like they sound! This ceiling texture is rough and bumpy, and these ceilings are likely to contain asbestos.
Drop ceilings may also contain asbestos. They are often made of tiles and connected by metal placeholders. It is the material the tiles are made out of that makes asbestos ceiling tiles harmful in your home.
While popcorn ceiling and asbestos ceiling material is easily removable, only a professional should ever tamper with these toxic textures and tiles! As the material is scrapped off, the tiny asbestos fibers can easily be ingested. Removing popcorn ceilings is very difficult and should only be handled by professionals.
Because asbestos is a mineral included in the production of building materials, sometimes you won’t be able to tell if a ceiling contains asbestos just by looking at it. This is why performing proper testing with professional help is so important.
Other Important Places To Perform Asbestos Testing in Chicago
As one of the leading Chicago asbestos removal services, APM emphasizes how important it is to note if your home has material suspicious of an asbestos ceiling. Making sure your home is safe is our top priority due to asbestos’s dangerous health effects.
The number of potential materials that are asbestos-positive is numerous and varied. This is largely due to the fact that asbestos was such a widely used material in all aspects of construction products.
So whether you have just bought a new home, are remodeling a home someone else built, or are using older building materials to cut costs on a new home, you need to check and test your entire space for asbestos.
How to Identify Asbestos Materials Inside the Home
As previously stated, popcorn ceilings, textured ceilings, and asbestos ceiling tiles are key indicators of an asbestos ceiling. But these are not the only spots asbestos is found in your home. Other materials and areas asbestos is most commonly found in include:
- Floor tiles
- Insulation
- Drywall
- Paint
- Roofing
- Siding
No one wants to worry about living in an unsafe environment. If you suspect that asbestos is within the four walls of your home, check out APM’s blog on the top 10 places you might find asbestos.
How To Identify Asbestos Outside the Home
Asbestos is dangerous wherever it may reside, whether that is inside the home – or out of it. Building materials that contain asbestos are not only restricted for residential use but in all types of building projects. Unfortunately, because of their heat resistance, asbestos ceilings can also be commonly found in commercial buildings.
While it is important to check your home, having any building you own inspected for asbestos is critical, especially if it is a public space. The top buildings APM recommends checking for asbestos besides residential properties are:
- Commercial Sites
- Municipal Buildings
- Industrial Structures
Any building built before or around 1980 should be checked for asbestos. If the property is technically a newer site, asbestos ceiling tiles and other asbestos materials were still used from time to time in builds and should be checked to insure the total safety of the area.
Use APM’s At-Home Asbestos Test Kits
If you are concerned your home has an asbestos ceiling, asbestos ceiling tile, or asbestos material in it, an asbestos test kit can verify your suspicions. But when it comes to tests, you want to make sure you are using the best at-home asbestos test kit!
It is safest to consult a professional, but you can also use an at-home asbestos test kit from Asbestos Project Management. In four simple steps outlined in our recent at-home asbestos test kit blog, you send your samples, and we provide the results.
Once the sample from your at-home asbestos test kit is properly analyzed, APM can then help you move forward with the inspection and removal of asbestos should the test come back positive. We believe that making this stressful process as easy as possible for our local community is important.
Think You Have an Asbestos Ceiling Problem? Call the Chicago Asbestos Removal Experts
If you think you have an asbestos ceiling, APM does not recommend our clients address this major issue alone. While our at-home asbestos test kits do provide convenience, scraping an asbestos popcorn ceiling or repairing ceiling tiles that contain asbestos can be dangerous to your health.
Avoid any harmful health issues, and let the leading Chicago asbestos removal service handle your asbestos. Our 24-hour emergency call line is available 7 days a week to help our Chicago customers.
All of our professional and courteous staff are trained and certified in OSHA, IEPA & IDPH protocols to deliver the highest quality service. We are here to help our customers and do it professionally!
If you’re wondering how to tell if a ceiling has asbestos, make sure to contact the knowledgeable staff at APM. If you feel an inspection is required, schedule an appointment with us today!
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