What Does Asbestos in Drywall Look Like? 4 Warning Signs

Many homeowners have heard about the risks of asbestos, and this can bring some fears when it comes to remodeling an older home. What if there’s asbestos in the popcorn ceilings or in the drywall? What does asbestos in drywall look like, and how can you avoid it? While asbestos isn’t detectable by eye or even smell, there are some common signs that your drywall may contain asbestos. And with a pro’s help, you can get your home back to its safest ASAP.

Why Asbestos in Drywall Is Dangerous

Testing for drywall or removing asbestos from drywall should only be done by a local drywall repair pro or asbestos testing pro. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to asbestos, either from multiple short-term exposures or long-term, presents a major risk of lung, larynx, and ovarian cancers.

Asbestos exposure is also linked to mesothelioma, a cancer in the thin membrane lining of the organs. Additionally, inhalation of asbestos can cause asbestosis, a type of lung scarring that makes it harder to breathe, and pleural disease, an illness impacting the lungs that can cause fluid buildup.

Signs of Asbestos in Drywall

There are a few things that could point to asbestos in drywall, including the age of your home, the look of your insulation, your ceiling type, and a lab analysis. However, keep in mind that there’s no way to visually tell what asbestos in drywall actually looks like. You can only identify asbestos under a microscope, which is a job you need to leave to the pros. 

Here are some potential signs of asbestos in drywall:

1. Your Drywall Was Installed Before the 1980s

While drywall nowadays doesn’t contain asbestos, the joint compound or mud used to install drywall before the 1980s may have. Asbestos in spackling and tape joint compounds for drywall was banned by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1977, and the EPA banned most uses of asbestos in 1989.

For homes built or drywall installed or repaired in the 1980s or earlier, asbestos could be present.

2. Your Insulation Looks Like Gravel or Sand

While you can’t actually see what asbestos in drywall looks like, the insulation behind the drywall could give you a clue that there’s asbestos present. Vermiculite insulation is a type of insulation that could contain asbestos, even if it was installed after the 1980s.

This insulation has a fine, gravel-like or sandy texture and a light brown, gray, or white color. Don’t touch it. Just look for this texture and then have a pro take a sample to test for asbestos.

3. You Have Old Popcorn Ceilings

The look of popcorn ceilings has been controversial for a while, but don’t start trying to scrape down the ceilings so fast. Popcorn ceilings that were added before the 1980s may contain asbestos for improved fire resistance, but if you start scraping into the textured ceiling, you could agitate and expose the asbestos. 

4. A Lab Analysis Reveals Asbestos

Unfortunately, there are no asbestos drywall pictures to compare your drywall to in determining if it contains asbestos. Asbestos isn’t visible to the naked eye—it requires professional lab testing to detect.

You’ll need to hire a pro to collect a sample to send to a lab. The lab results will tell you if your drywall contains asbestos, and this is the only true way to know.

How to Know You Need to Hire a Pro for Asbestos Removal

You will always need to hire a pro for asbestos abatement to protect yourself and your family. The pros have the proper equipment and safety gear to effectively remove asbestos and prevent it from contaminating other parts of your home.

Can I DIY Asbestos Removal?

No, you should never attempt to DIY asbestos removal because exposure can pose extreme health risks. Even if you think there’s a chance that asbestos is present, you should put on protective gear such as gloves, disposable coveralls, goggles, and a HEPA-filter respiratory mask if you will be near the affected area. Avoid touching or disturbing the potentially affected area. Always leave this job to asbestos abatement and drywall repair pros.

How to Prevent Asbestos in Drywall

These days, asbestos is fully banned for ongoing use in drywall and other products and manufacturing processes. That makes it easier to choose materials that are safer for your home. However, there are ways to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure.

• Double-check the age of any secondhand building materials you consider upcycling for your own home. Older materials may contain asbestos.

• Hire a pro to test any potential asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in your home. Asbestos testing costs $230 to $770.

• Don’t disturb any potential ACMs. Doing so could release asbestos into the air.

• Schedule asbestos abatement immediately if lab tests reveal asbestos in your drywall or other parts of your home.

How Much Does It Cost to Remove Asbestos?

Asbestos removal costs $1,200 to $3,300, depending on how widespread the asbestos is. If your entire home contains drywall with asbestos, the cost will be higher than if just one room is affected. Removing asbestos from drywall costs $8 to $13.50 per square foot.

If your drywall contains asbestos, you’ll need to replace the drywall altogether rather than trying to repair the drywall. Drywall installation costs $990 to $3,200. If you suspect asbestos in your popcorn ceilings, popcorn ceiling removal costs $9 to $20 per square foot when asbestos is involved.