LCS Laboratory Inc tests thousands of asbestos samples a year, and by now, we have an educated understanding of where you can likely find asbestos in your home. We frequently find asbestos in construction materials manufactured between 1920 and 1985. Asbestos was cheap, and available so it was added to everything, sometimes as a cheap filler. Besides being a common component of construction materials, asbestos was used in specialty clothing, technical canvases, cigarette filters, automotive parts, cardboard, laboratory equipment, home heating appliances, and more.
There are still many houses with asbestos in Canada. This page will help you to identify materials that may contain asbestos. Please remember, that only laboratory tests can tell if asbestos is present or not. The images below are used as examples and may look different from yours.
If you are ready to order the test you can always see the rates and place an order in our online store.
1. Transite pipes. These cement-like pipes are usually grey in color with a rough surface. They were used as heavy-duty cement pipes. They can contain up to 60% of asbestos
2. Transite boards, asbestos-cement boards, and corrugated boards have texture and color similar to transite pipes above. Flat panels were used as a water and weather-resistant material. Corrugated panels were used as a common roofing material.
3. Vermiculite attic insulation. This insulation may contain up to 6% of asbestos.
4. Insulation for pipes or boilers, pipe wrap (fabric), and mastic (glue). All three of these components may contain asbestos.
5. Vinyl floor tiles, underlay, and adhesive. Asbestos was used in all three materials. Usually, we see up to 5% of asbestos in these samples.
multiple layers of tiles
6. Textured ceiling paint (popcorn ceiling). May contain up to 4% of asbestos.
7. Ceiling tiles. They contain up to 10% of asbestos.
8. Putties, caulks. Typically contains less than 3% of asbestos.
9. Roofing shingles. They may contain up to 5% of asbestos. Common for very old roofing.
10. Joint compound. It may have up to 3% of asbestos.
- Roofing tar, and especially from flat roof buildings.
If you suspect that your house is contaminated with asbestos, bring a sample of the suspected material to our laboratory for analysis. We will test your samples and send you a formal, detailed report. Please feel free to examine an example of our report and our price list. To learn more about how to collect an asbestos sample, the cost of analysis and how to order the test, please visit our FAQ page. If you are ready to place your order for asbestos testing, you can prepay it using the “add to cart” link below:
Please call us if you have any questions.
