Asbestos Siding And Asphalt Siding House

Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc.

Asbestos siding and asphalt siding house.

It is very brittle and has a tendency to crack and break when nailed which can release asbestos fibers into both the air and ground. Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find. The first option is to do nothing. Nonfriable means they cannot be broken up by hand pressure.

Asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement. Some homeowners opt to cover their asbestos containing siding with vinyl siding sheets or other materials in order to minimize risk instead of leaving their siding untouched. Asbestos siding was essentially a cement siding product that asbestos fibers had been added to. Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer.

Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but. Asphalt or cement roofing and siding that contain asbestos when intact and in good condition are generally considered nonfriable and are not hazardous. Some asphalt siding may contain asbestos in the asphalt impregnated felt backer or asbestos may also be in the asphalt impregnated paper tar paper or felt used as a house wrap under the siding.

Paper like vapor barriers can present more of a hazard since they are considered friable. Asbestos house siding was used in many homes until the epa banned its use in new products in 1989. Asphalt based roof shingle material on an organic paper mat or asphalt on hardboard siding products were later supplanted by cement asbestos siding shingles then aluminum siding and steel siding then currently by vinyl siding. Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s.

Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken. Removing asbestos is often cost prohibitive for most people. 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. If your siding is in good condition and intact the asbestos poses a relatively low health risk to your home and the environment.