Asbestos Siding Appearance

Asbestos siding was used extensively in buildings and homes from the 1930s until the 1970s when it s use was banned.

Asbestos siding appearance.

Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc. It s available in a variety of sizes and shapes to match many of the old siding shingles installed over the last 60 years. Look for siding that looks like roof shingles. Cementious siding and roofing such as fiber cement siding lap siding and fiber cement roof shingles containing asbestos may then have appeared on homes constructed between 1906 and 1980 in north america and contining later in some other countries.

Laboratories accredited to analyze samples for asbestos. 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. These products use asbestos with a binder of portland cement. If you are one of the folks whose house got dressed up with asbestos siding back in the day all is not lost.

Look for asbestos cement shingles a mixture of asbestos fibers and cement or asbestos cement corrugated roofing which is thicker and more often found on old sheds barns and low income housing. Asbestos siding was manufactured to resemble many materials so it won t always look the same. The front may have a grainy sandy texture. Asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement.

What beanie babies were to the 1990s asbestos siding was to the the 1930s. It s available in a variety of sizes and shapes to match many of the old siding shingles installed over the last 60 years. It was immensely popular. Asbestos siding was all the rage in the early part of the 20th century.

Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough. Originally asbestos siding was used because of the fire resistant properties of asbestos. It is usually brittle and the back may be black and have the appearance of tar paper.

Asbestos roofing mastics often contained asbestos fibers and asbestos was a major ingredient in cement asbestos slate look alike products or roof tiles or cement asbestos roof shingles. Well maybe it wasn t quite the same but you get the idea.