What Does Asbestos in Drywall Look Like?

Asbestos-containing building materials–like drywall–made buildings stronger, fire-resistant, and more insulative. These mineral fibers were added to many building products for decades and, even though they are no longer used, may still be found in older homes. What does asbestos drywall look like? It’s not something you can see just by looking at your wall. To determine if asbestos is present in your drywall, you will need a lab test.

Drywall Materials That Could Contain Asbestos

Drywall consists of several components—the sheetrock panels themselves, the joint compound or "mud" used to fill in the seams between the panels, the tape used to patch or prevent cracks, and the material applied to the surface of the panel. 

Each of these materials could contain asbestos, though it's more likely that the joint compound or drywall mud would contain the fibers. Asbestos was less commonly added to the drywall sheets themselves. 

Age Matters

Drywall first came on the scene in 1916, but it would be a few more decades before it really gained popularity as a building material. By the 1930s, drywall was common. It was in the post-war, mid-20th century period that its use exploded. 

In that post-war period, asbestos was likely to be used as an ingredient in drywall components, even though the health risks of the fibers were known at the time. If your home was built in the 1940s, 1950s, or 1960s and has never been renovated, there's a good chance that your drywall contains asbestos.

By the late 1980s, asbestos was banned in many home and consumer products. However, there may have still been some asbestos-containing drywall and building materials used up through the 1990s. 

Look at the Labels

Drywall that contains asbestos isn't likely to have a warning label on it. But, newer drywall materials are likely to have a manufacturer's label and code stamped on the panels. The label can tell you when and where the drywall was manufactured. 

If your walls are intact, it can be challenging to get a peek behind them to see the labels.  Your best bet may be to track down a leftover piece of a drywall panel to see if it has a label. 

Asbestos Under the Microscope

The only way to determine if drywall, joint compound, or drywall tape contain asbestos is to examine it under a microscope. Certain types of microscopes can detect the tiny fibers of asbestos.

You'll need to hire a lab to examine and analyze the material for you—you can't simply buy a microscope and do it yourself. You may order an at-home test kit, collect the sample yourself, and send it to the lab.

But because asbestos exposure can lead to respiratory illness and some types of cancer, it's best to hire a local professional asbestos testing company to collect and analyze the sample. A professional testing company will know how to contain the area, and limit the spread of asbestos fibers in the air.