Identifying asbestos can be a challenge if one is unfamiliar with it because it can look very much like non-asbestos materials found in the home as well. For the most part, as pipe insulation and also in siding shingles, it looks very much like cement. With the siding, it almost always has a ridged affect to it. Fiberglass is easy to spot as opposed to asbestos. You can see the pink or yellow fibers of the fiberglass where as asbestos looks like cement. For someone considering having reconstruction done to their home, it would be best to have an experienced contractor come in and inspect your home for asbestos. Asbestos is not always dangerous. If it is intact, it poses no problem. It is when the asbestos is broken apart or torn apart and the fibers become airborne that the danger exists. Contacting a professional can save you a lot of worry as well as the risk of Mesothelioma. Most contractors today know how to deal with asbestos or they know who they can refer you to should it be present in your home. Most people are not experts in asbestos, nor are they expected to be. However, better safe than sorry when it comes to your health and the health of your family.