What Does Asbestos Look Like? How to Identify It in Your Home or Building

What Does Asbestos Look Like How to Identify It in Your Home or Building

Many homes built or renovated before 1990 in Australia still contain asbestos in various forms. During those decades, asbestos was widely used in construction, especially in insulation boards, ceiling panels, roofing, and wall cladding. This means that homeowners, renovators, and builders today might still be exposed to asbestos fibres without even realising it. Knowing what asbestos looks like and how to identify it could make all the difference when assessing the safety of a property.

In this blog, we’ll learn about asbestos, what does it looks like, how to identify asbestos and some useful tips to stay safe around asbestos.

What Is Asbestos and Where Was It Used?

Asbestos is a natural mineral made of tiny, needle-like fibres. This comes in six types, the most common in Australia being chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), and crocidolite (blue). All types can be dangerous when disturbed, as their fibres become airborne and are easily inhaled.

In the past, asbestos was widely used in thousands of building products, including:

  • Cement sheeting for walls, roofs, and fences
  • Ceiling panels and insulation boards
  • Vinyl floor tiles and underlay
  • Pipe lagging and hot water system insulation
  • External cladding and eaves

If your home was built or renovated before 1990, there’s a fair chance that asbestos could be present. If you’re planning a reno, make sure to contact us before getting started so you can avoid unnecessary risks.

What Does Asbestos Look Like?

Asbestos can be tricky because it often looks like other building materials. Here are some signs you should look for: 

  • Colour: It appears in white, grey, brown, or blue
  • Texture: It can be fibrous, chalky, brittle, or powdery
  • Form: Flat sheeting, corrugated panels, or loose-fill insulation

It’s important to remember that even if a material looks undamaged, it could still contain asbestos. Always treat older materials with caution.

Asbestos in Ceilings and Flooring

Popcorn ceilings were a stylish finish in the late 1960s to ‘70s, but many of them still could contain asbestos. Those ceilings were a rough, textured look, resembling cottage or foam.

Ceiling panels and vinyl floor tiles installed before the 1990s are also suspect. Older tiles might be square, 9×9 inches in size, and come in neutral colours like beige, grey, or brown. They may show signs of age, peeling, cracking, or curling edges. Some tiles may look perfectly intact, but if they were installed during the asbestos use period, caution is still necessary. If removal is needed, always go with a licensed asbestos removal service to stay safe and compliant.

Asbestos in Walls and Sheeting

Asbestos was often used in wall sheeting and backing boards, especially in homes built before the late ’80s.

At first glance, it can look just like normal cement sheeting or plasterboard. But asbestos sheets are usually older, more brittle, and might have a dimpled or fibrous texture.

Compared to modern wall linings, asbestos sheets are heavier, often have straight or slightly rough edges, and may be held in place with old-style nails or screws. Newer materials are smoother, lighter, and don’t have that same aged look.

How to Identify Asbestos in Your Home

To identify asbestos in the home, start with these common clues:

  • Your home was built or renovated before 1990.
  • There are textured ceilings, vinyl tiles, or cement wall sheeting.
  • You notice discolouration or flaking around insulation boards or eaves.
  • The material looks fibrous, brittle, or powdery.
  • Parts of the wall or ceiling appear aged or outdated.

If you spot these signs, it doesn’t confirm the presence of asbestos but it does mean testing is a good idea.

Can You Identify Asbestos by Smelling It?

No, asbestos cannot be identified by smell. It is a common myth that asbestos gives off a distinctive odour, but this is false. Asbestos is odourless and cannot be recognised by any sense alone, not by smell, taste, or touch. The only way to confirm the presence of asbestos is through proper asbestos testing by licensed professionals.

Identifying Asbestos Sheeting

Asbestos sheeting was used extensively in roofs, walls, fences, and even floors. This material often has a grey or off-white appearance, and it may be smooth or corrugated. Older sheeting might have rough edges, cracks, or layers that seem to crumble when disturbed (though testing should be left to professionals).

Modern fibre cement sheeting usually includes product markings or stamps, whereas older asbestos products often don’t. If the sheet lacks identification and looks aged, it’s better to assume caution.

Common Areas Where Asbestos May Be Found

Asbestos materials could be hiding in many parts of your property. Some of the most common places include

  • Roofs and eaves: corrugated or flat cement sheets
  • Wall cladding: internal and external asbestos wall panels
  • Ceilings: popcorn texture or ceiling tiles
  • Flooring: vinyl tiles and underlay in kitchens or bathrooms
  • Bathrooms and laundries: near water heaters or behind tiles
  • Garages and fences: wall linings or old cement fencing panels
  • Wall cavities: sometimes hidden behind tiles or insulation

If your property is due for major works, it’s worth checking if asbestos is present before engaging demolition services or starting construction.

What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos

Do Not Disturb It

If you suspect a material contains asbestos, do not cut, sand, drill, or break it. Disturbing it can release dangerous asbestos fibres into the air, increasing the risk of inhalation.

Leave the area undisturbed and well-ventilated. Avoid touching or brushing against the material. If you must be near the area, wear a P2-rated mask and do not attempt removal yourself.

Contact Licensed Asbestos Inspectors

The safest step is to hire a licensed asbestos assessor to inspect the property and collect samples for testing. At PureSafe, we offer professional asbestos testing and inspection services to confirm the presence of asbestos in your home or building.

A certified professional can help you understand the risk level and what steps to take next.

Tips to Stay Safe Around Suspected Asbestos

  • Never attempt DIY removal of materials that may contain asbestos.
  • If you’re renovating, have a pre-renovation asbestos check done.
  • Use only licensed asbestos professionals for inspection and removal.
  • Educate your family and contractors about areas likely to contain asbestos.
  • Dispose of asbestos products at approved facilities under state regulations.

Conclusion

Asbestos walls were commonly used in older buildings and can easily be mistaken for regular cement sheeting. They’re usually more brittle, heavier, and may have a fibrous or dimpled surface. Because asbestos can be harmful when disturbed, it’s important not to touch or damage any suspicious materials.

If you’re unsure whether your walls contain asbestos, the safest option is to have them professionally tested.

At PureSafe, we specialise in asbestos identification and safe removal. Our team operates across Australia to help keep homes and workplaces safe from the dangers of asbestos.

FAQs About Asbestos Identification

Asbestos can appear as flat, fibrous sheeting, brittle grey cement panels, popcorn-textured ceilings, or aged vinyl tiles. Its appearance varies based on the product and condition.

No. While certain features like fibre patterns or texture may hint at asbestos, you can’t confirm it visually. Asbestos testing is the only reliable method.

The full ban on asbestos products in Australia came into effect on 31 December 2003. However, its use was already declining by the late 1980s.

You should hire a licensed asbestos assessor to collect samples and send them to a laboratory for analysis. DIY testing is not recommended.

Asbestos has no smell. It may feel brittle or fibrous, but many asbestos products are indistinguishable from safe materials without testing.

The main way to identify asbestos is through professional sampling and laboratory testing. Visual inspection alone isn’t enough.

Older underlays or adhesives used beneath carpet may contain asbestos. These may look like black mastic or felt-like pads. Testing is required to confirm.

It can appear in many forms: grey cement sheets, fibrous insulation, rough-textured ceilings, or brown/white floor tiles. Age and material type are key indicators