Asbestos roof shingles, Royal Oak: weathered grey cement-type shingles laid in a diamond pattern on an older detached garage roof

Asbestos roof shingles: before a tear-off in Michigan

Asbestos-cement shingles were sold in the US until 1992 and still cover some older roofs and garages. How to find out what's on yours, what testing costs, and the rules a roofer follows to remove them.

  • Testing: $75 – $150 per specimen in Southeast Michigan
  • No EGLE notice for most single-family re-roofs
  • Removed intact, wetted and lowered, never dropped

Published

The short answer

Asbestos-cement roof shingles were cut from rigid cement sheet containing 15 to 40% asbestos and were sold in the US until 1992, according to EPA. EPA lists some asphalt shingles, felts and roof cements as products that may contain asbestos too. You can't tell by looking: EPA says to have an accredited professional cut a small piece for lab testing, which one Southeast Michigan firm prices at $75 to $150 per specimen. Left intact and undisturbed, they're unlikely to pose a risk. For a single-family home, the federal asbestos rule and EGLE's notification don't apply unless the house is part of a larger project, but Michigan's construction safety rules still bind the roofing crew: remove the shingles intact where feasible, wet any that break, and lower them to the ground rather than dropping them.

How to tell if roof shingles contain asbestos

EPA's 1994 roofing manual describes asbestos-cement (A/C) shingles as cut from flat sheet made of asbestos, cement and silica, 15 to 40% asbestos, in sizes from 9 × 16 inches to 14 × 30 inches. They were nailed on like asphalt shingles through holes punched at the factory, made in a range of styles and colors, and lasted 30 to 50 years. EPA says A/C shingles were sold until 1992, and asphalt-asbestos shingles until 1979, though those weren't widely used. Roofing felts, flashings and roof cements could contain asbestos too.

None of that lets you identify them from the ground. EPA is direct about it: "Generally, you can't tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone."

Getting shingles tested

EPA advises having "a trained and accredited asbestos professional" take material for testing, because doing it wrong can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone, and it doesn't recommend taking it yourself. Michigan's MIOSHA Asbestos Program has a search for accredited individuals, including inspectors. Labs accredited under NIST's NVLAP program analyze building materials for asbestos by polarized light microscopy. EPA also suggests the person assessing the roof shouldn't work for the firm that would remove it.

Asbestos testing prices

TestingPublished priceWho publishes it
Building material specimen, collected and lab-tested$75 – $150 per specimen, with a minimum number requiredPersonal Air Consulting, Belleville
Lab analysis only, building material (PLM)$36.50 (2 weeks) to $147.00 (3 hours) per specimenEMSL Analytical (national lab, commercial price list)

As published, checked October 22–23, 2026: Personal Air Consulting, August 3, 2026 (includes collection and accredited lab analysis, 3 to 5 business days; minimum number not stated); EMSL 2026 commercial price list, January 9, 2026 (lab fee only, excludes collection and shipping; customer-specific pricing may differ). Tax isn't stated.

Need this done?

Planning a tear-off on an older house or garage? Say in your estimate request whether the shingles have been tested for asbestos, or whether you suspect they contain it.

Roof replacement in Royal Oak

Michigan and federal rules for removing asbestos shingles

How the crew should take them off

Under the federal standard MIOSHA adopts, asbestos roofing "shall be removed in an intact state to the extent feasible", wet methods are used for material that isn't intact or will break, and removed material "shall not be dropped or thrown to the ground": it's carried or passed down by hand, or lowered by a covered chute, crane or hoist, by the end of the shift. Broken pieces left on the roof are kept wet, bagged or wrapped. Workers removing asbestos roofing need an asbestos roofing course of at least 8 hours that includes hands-on training.

Intact or crumbling

Intact A/C shingles are nonfriable: they can't be crumbled by hand. EPA says careful removal and lowering normally won't turn them to powder, but dropping them or scraping them off with heavy machinery would. Shingles that are already crumbling are friable, which brings in Michigan's abatement licensing.

Which asbestos rules apply to a re-roof on a house

RuleOn a single-family home in Royal OakWho sets it
Asbestos NESHAP and EGLE notificationDoesn't apply to a privately owned home of four or fewer units, unless it's demolished or renovated as part of a public or commercial project, or with other buildings by the same owner in one projectEPA (40 CFR 61 Subpart M); EGLE
Work practices for roofing crewsApplies to the roofer's employees: Class II asbestos work, with intact removal, wet methods and no droppingMIOSHA Part 602, adopting 29 CFR 1926.1101
Asbestos abatement contractor licenseNeeded for friable (crumbling) asbestos. Licensed residential builders and M&A contractors are exempt for incidental work up to 160 sq ft or 260 linear ft1986 PA 135, administered by MIOSHA
DisposalRegulated asbestos waste goes to a Type II landfill; intact nonfriable material in good condition can go to a Type III landfill. Ask the landfill firstEGLE (Part 115)
Re-coveringNo new roof over slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tileMichigan Residential Code R908.3.1.1

From the eCFR (current as of October 20, 2026), EGLE's asbestos NESHAP fact sheet (revised May 2026), MIOSHA Part 602 (March 30, 2021), 1986 PA 135 as rendered March 14, 2026, and the 2015 Michigan Residential Code, which remains in effect under a July 7, 2025 court order. Checked October 22, 2026. A summary, not legal advice.

Can you put a new roof over asbestos shingles?

Michigan's residential code says a roof re-cover isn't permitted "Where the existing roof covering is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile", where it's deteriorated, or where there are already two layers. The code says tile, not shingle, so ask the City of Royal Oak Building Division (248-246-3210) how it applies to asbestos-cement shingles before anyone prices a layover. A roofer can also tell you whether the new roof's manufacturer allows it.

Asbestos roof shingle removal cost

Published asbestos roof removal prices

RemovalPublished priceWho publishes it
Roof asbestos removal (Michigan page)$5 – $20 per sq ft, up to $150 for complex jobsHomeAdvisor (national cost guide)
Asbestos removal from a roof and shingles$50 – $120 per sq ftHomeAdvisor (national cost guide)

As published, updated June 17, 2026, checked October 23, 2026. Removal only; the new roof is extra. HomeAdvisor's Michigan roof page and its national asbestos page disagree widely, so treat both as rough. We found no Michigan contractor publishing a price for asbestos roof shingle removal, so get it priced on the estimate.

What to do, and not do, as a homeowner

EPA's first line is "If you think there may be asbestos in your home, don't panic." Material that isn't damaged or disturbed is "not likely to pose a health risk", and Michigan's asbestos program says that unless it's crumbling and in poor condition, it may be safer to leave it alone. EPA's advice:

  • Leave undamaged material alone, and take care not to damage it
  • Don't saw, sand, scrape or drill it, and don't dust, sweep or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos
  • Don't track possible asbestos material through the house
  • Have removal and major repair done by people trained and qualified in handling asbestos

Our own advice, in the same spirit: don't pressure-wash or walk on a roof you suspect is asbestos-cement, and don't nail through it to hang lights or a satellite dish.

Questions to ask the roofer before a tear-off

  • Has the roof, or the garage roof, been tested, and will they test before quoting if it hasn't?
  • How will the crew remove it: intact where feasible, wetted where broken, and lowered rather than dropped?
  • Has the crew had asbestos roofing training?
  • Where does the waste go, and has that landfill agreed to take it?
  • If any of it is crumbling, who will handle that part, and are they licensed for friable asbestos?
  • What's their Michigan license? See how to check a roofer's license

Questions about asbestos roof shingles

How do I know if my roof shingles contain asbestos?

Only a lab test can confirm it. EPA says you generally can't tell by looking, and recommends having a trained, accredited asbestos professional take the material for testing rather than doing it yourself. Asbestos-cement shingles were sold in the US until 1992.

Are asbestos roof shingles dangerous?

EPA says asbestos materials that aren't damaged or disturbed are not likely to pose a health risk, and that fibers are released when the material is disturbed, damaged, cut, sanded, drilled or scraped, or removed improperly. Leave intact shingles alone until a professional deals with them.

Do I need to notify EGLE before removing asbestos shingles from my house?

Not for a privately owned home with four or fewer units, according to EGLE, unless the work is part of a public or commercial project or several buildings under one owner. The roofing company's crew still has to follow MIOSHA's asbestos work rules.

Can I put a new roof over asbestos shingles in Michigan?

Michigan's residential code doesn't allow a re-cover over slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, or over two existing layers. It says tile rather than shingle, so ask the Royal Oak Building Division how it applies to your roof.

How much does asbestos roof shingle removal cost?

HomeAdvisor publishes $5 to $20 per square foot on its Michigan roof page and $50 to $120 per square foot on its national asbestos page, removal only. No Michigan contractor we found publishes a price, so have it priced on the estimate.

Can I remove asbestos shingles myself?

EPA says removal is complex and should be done only by a trained and accredited asbestos professional, because improper removal can increase your family's exposure. A roofing company removing them must follow MIOSHA's asbestos work practices.

Where this information comes from

The facts and figures on this page come from these published pages, checked on October 23, 2026.

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