Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring minerals that were commonly used in construction materials from the 1950s to the late 1990s. Some of the most common materials that contain asbestos include:

• Insulation
• Roofing and siding shingles
• Vinyl floor tiles
• Textured paints and coatings
• Pipe insulation
• Furnace cement and duct tape

Asbestos is dangerous because it can cause serious health problems when fibers are inhaled. Asbestos fibers are tiny and can easily be inhaled unnoticed. Once they are inhaled, they can become lodged in the lungs and cause a range of serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.

These health problems may not appear until years after exposure to asbestos, which is why it is important to have asbestos testing done if you suspect that your property may contain this hazardous material.