Asbestos and lead paint in old roofs: what to check before a tear-off

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

Could an old roof contain asbestos?

It could. The Environmental Protection Agency says asbestos was used in a wide range of building materials, and its list of where asbestos may be found in a home includes roofing and siding shingles, alongside asbestos cement products, vinyl floor tiles and pipe insulation. The building code acknowledges the same material in its reroofing rules, which name asbestos-cement tile among the coverings that may not be roofed over.

The EPA does not give a date when asbestos stopped being used in roofing, and nothing on the pages read for this guide does either. What the EPA does say is that you generally cannot tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it, unless it is labeled.

Is it dangerous if it is just sitting there?

Generally not. The EPA says asbestos-containing material that is not damaged or disturbed is not likely to pose a health risk, and that exposure generally happens only when the material is disturbed or damaged and releases fibers into the air. It names the health effects of exposure as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis, with the risk made worse by smoking.

A roof replacement is exactly the kind of disturbance it describes. The EPA says asbestos materials may release fibers when they are removed improperly, repaired, cut, torn, sanded, sawed, drilled or scraped.

What should happen before an old roof is torn off?

Testing, by the right person. The EPA says that if in doubt you should treat a material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone, and that you may want an inspection by a trained and accredited professional if you are planning work that would disturb building materials. It says taking samples yourself is not recommended, because sampling done wrongly can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone.

If testing finds asbestos and the work will disturb it, the EPA says removal must be done only by trained and accredited professionals, and that improper removal may actually increase exposure. It suggests using different firms to assess and to remove, to avoid a conflict of interest, and getting a written contract that sets out the work plan, the cleanup and the federal, state and local rules the contractor must follow.

Who may remove asbestos in Pennsylvania?

The state certifies them. The Department of Labor and Industry, which says Pennsylvania has no licensing for most construction contractors, lists asbestos and lead removal contractors and workers among the few trades it certifies.

Federal law, the EPA notes, does not require people who inspect, repair or remove asbestos in detached single-family homes to be trained and accredited, though some states and localities do. That makes it worth asking any contractor what certification it holds.

What does Philadelphia require?

A notice or a permit. In the city, encapsulating or removing less than 40 linear feet or 80 square feet of asbestos requires a notification form at least 24 hours before the work, and anything larger needs an asbestos project permit, which only a licensed asbestos abatement contractor can get. The city says property owners and business owners must follow these rules, and runs an Asbestos Information Line on (215) 685-7576.

Why would lead paint rules apply to a roof job?

Because they turn on paint, not on the roof. The EPA's renovation, repair and painting rule requires anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 to be certified in lead-safe practices, and it applies to all firms, even sole proprietors. The EPA says about three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint. Its page does not mention roofs, so the question for a roof job is whether it will disturb paint, for example on wood trim.

The rule generally does not cover owners working on their own home, but it does apply if you rent out all or part of it. The EPA recommends that owners of pre-1978 homes hire a certified contractor either way. It also has an emergency provision exempting firms from certain requirements after a disaster.

How many local homes are old enough for this to matter?

Many. The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 estimates say 25.0 percent of Pennsylvania's housing was first built in 1939 or earlier, rising to 39.9 percent in Philadelphia and 22.1 percent in Delaware County. Every one of those homes predates 1978. The profiles do not give the share built before 1978, so the share old enough for the lead rule is at least that high, and the pages read do not say how much higher.

What about the attic?

Look before anyone works up there. ENERGY STAR warns that some attics contain vermiculite insulation, a lightweight, pea-sized, flaky gray mineral that may contain asbestos, and says not to disturb it unless it has been tested by an approved lab. If a roofer will be working in the attic, on vents or decking, tell them what insulation is there.

What should you ask a roofer about an old house?

1. What is the existing roof made of, and how will you find out whether it contains asbestos?
2. If it does, who will remove it, and what certification do they hold?
3. Is your firm certified for lead-safe work, if the job will disturb paint on a pre-1978 house?
4. How will debris be contained and disposed of?
5. In Philadelphia, who will file the asbestos notice or permit?

What a homeowner can safely do explains why sampling is not a DIY job, what happens during a roof replacement covers the tear-off itself, and the Philadelphia guide the city's rules. Roofers serving the area are on the roofers directory page.

Sources

1. Learn About Asbestos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
2. Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
3. Contractor Licensing, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
4. Apply for an asbestos project permit, City of Philadelphia
5. Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
6. Chapter 9 Roof Assemblies, 2021 International Residential Code, International Code Council
7. Attic Air Sealing Project, ENERGY STAR
8. 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
9. 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
10. 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau