Exterior Siding Asbestos

This product has been certified and tested by both the epa and underwriter s laboratories as a barrier solution for asbestos siding making it one of the most trusted names in the business.

Exterior siding asbestos. Removing asbestos is often cost prohibitive for most people. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but. Breakage releases asbestos fibers. Most siding companies are well experienced at techniques for covering over existing asbestos cement siding with new vinyl aluminum or fiber cement siding.

Unless asbestos siding is disturbed it doesn t pose a significant health hazard and does not need to be removed. Installing vinyl siding will require disturbing the asbestos by nailing into it. If necessary carefully lift siding pieces with pry tool to expose nail heads. Both the epa and the vinyl siding institute recommend not disturbing asbestos if at all possible.

The earlier years are when asbestos was extremely common since it was an inexpensive way to increase the durability and resistance of siding. If siding should begin to crack or crumble immediately wet the cracked or broken areas with the pint size spray bottle or garden pump sprayer. The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood grain texture to resemble cedar. Lower removed siding to the ground.

If your siding fits either of these descriptions you should consider having it tested. Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s. Because fiber cement siding manufactured in north america after around 1978 was made without using asbestos in those later products and because those non asbestos fiber cement shingles included products that by eye were an exact visual match for their older asbestos containing brothers and sisters already installed a building built. While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding.

Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find. Up until around 1985 fire resistant walls were produced with asbestos plaster. If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm. Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely.

Wet the back of each piece of siding as it is removed. These shingles are generally 12 by 24 inches and the bottom tends to have a wave like pattern though that is not always the case. Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne. Alternatively if you leave the asbestos on your home you can safely seal the old siding underneath the new siding and because asbestos is an excellent insulator you will actually be adding to the energy efficiency of your home by leaving it on.