Making the decision to remodel your home's exterior can be a great way to update your home's aesthetic and add some curb appeal to your property. Many people think that asbestos is only a concern when remodeling the interior of a structure, but there are many places where asbestos could be present on your home's exterior as well.

Here are three potential sources of asbestos that you should be watching for as you remodel your property in the future.

1. Soffit Boards

If you are planning to remove any of the soffit boards that line the underside of the roof overhang surrounding your home's exterior, then it's important you ensure these boards are not going to serve as a source of asbestos. Soffit boards were commonly made from asbestos cement or asbestos insulating board, making their removal from an older home potentially hazardous.

Handling old soffit boards that contain asbestos could release harmful asbestos fibers into the air. You can purchase an asbestos test kit from your local hardware store that will allow you to determine if your soffit boards are contaminated and will need professional removal.

2. Roof Gutters

Without access to functional roof gutters, your home's exterior would be subject to water damage. Replacing roof gutters can be a great way to improve the aesthetic of your home's exterior, but it's important to recognize that your gutters could be a source of asbestos contamination.

Some older roof gutters were constructed using asbestos cement, which could be hazardous to handle during the remodeling process. Having an asbestos inspector determine if your gutters are a threat (and hiring professionals to handle the removal process if asbestos is present) will help you protect yourself while updating your home's gutters in the future.

3. Deck Under-sheeting

Having access to a deck allows you to maximize the usability of your outdoor living space. Decks built in the past could serve as a potential source of asbestos, so you should be on the lookout for asbestos products when updating your home's deck.

The under-sheeting used to create a waterproof liner for your deck could possibly be constructed using materials containing asbestos fibers. If a professional inspector determines that you are dealing with asbestos under-sheeting, you can expect to add an additional $1,500 to $3,000 to the cost of your deck remodel for professional removal of these hazardous materials.

An exterior remodel can be exciting and productive, but it can also be dangerous if asbestos is present in any of the materials used to construct your home's exterior. Knowing that soffit boards, roof gutters, and deck under-sheeting are potential sources for asbestos will help you work with an inspector to protect yourself during your next exterior remodel. For more information, talk to a professional like Hutzel & Associates, Inc.