[1940cape]

I recently purchased a 1940’s cape built in central Connecticut. Recently when replacing the dryer vent, I took a closer look at the sheathing material of my house. It appears to be a fibrous like material, almost like fiberboard. It has silver coating on the outside. On top of that is wood clad board and on top of that is vinyl siding. What is this material? Asbestos!?
I took a look at my garage and it does not appear to have this, just normal wood sheathing.

 

[Wildie]

I recently purchased a 1940’s cape built in central Connecticut. Recently when replacing the dryer vent, I took a closer look at the sheathing material of my house. It appears to be a fibrous like material, almost like fiberboard. It has silver coating on the outside. On top of that is wood clad board and on top of that is vinyl siding. What is this material? Asbestos!?
I took a look at my garage and it does not appear to have this, just normal wood sheathing.

Your house is very similar to mine, although I don't have the fibre board. Mine is 3/4" shiplap, black building paper, wooden clap board covered with aluminum clap.

Its my impression that this fibre board may be what is called ' Masonite'.
Asbestos siding is usually used on the outside surface, in the form of a shingle!
I have never heard of asbestos sheets used on the outside surface of a residential house!
However, even if it was, there will be no harm, if the asbestos is undisturbed!

 

[Wildie]

may i ask why wouldn't it be dangerous?

Asbestos is only dangerous if its ingested into the human body!
This usually happens when asbestos fibre's are floating around in the air, and is breathed into the lungs!
As long as the asbestos is encapsulated in a product, no fibre's can be given off. Its not as if it gas's such as would be given off from paint, gasoline etc.
The danger happens when asbestos products are cut or broken or ground off, such as happens with the brake shoes on a car!
Thats when trouble starts!
You are in much greater danger of ingesting asbestos fibre's during your job commute, than from encapsulated asbestos in your home!

I knew several people who have died of asbestosis. Its interesting to note, that they were all smokers!
It appears that the combination of tobacco and asbestos makes a very deadly brew!

 

[Maintenance 6]

Most likely the stuff you are looking at is fiberboard. Lots of it was sold under the Celotex brand name as sheathing. Some is empregnated with asphalt as an attempt at moisture-proofing. I never heard of it having any asbestos count. Mostly just wood fibers.

FWIW: The tar in smokers lungs traps and holds asbestos fibers much better than a non-smokers. Meaning that they retain a much higher number of fibers in their lung tissue, so the odds of having a problem dramatically increase.

 

[Wildie]

Most likely the stuff you are looking at is fiberboard. Lots of it was sold under the Celotex brand name as sheathing. Some is empregnated with asphalt as an attempt at moisture-proofing. I never heard of it having any asbestos count. Mostly just wood fibers.

FWIW: The tar in smokers lungs traps and holds asbestos fibers much better than a non-smokers. Meaning that they retain a much higher number of fibers in their lung tissue, so the odds of having a problem dramatically increase.

One product that comes to my mind was a asplalt impregnated fibre board. In my area it was known as Tentest!
Bet it was the same stuff!
This stuff was about 1/2" thick! Any sheets of asbestos that I ever encountered were about 3/16" thick!