Old Siding With Asbestos

If a siding company removes an outer layer of siding and finds an older layer of asbestos cement siding beneath the standard procedure is simply to cover it over with new siding rather than remove it.

Old siding with asbestos.

When disturbed tiny abrasive asbestos fibers are easily inhaled which damages lung tissue and can cause cancer. 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. Most siding companies are well experienced at techniques for covering over existing asbestos cement siding with new vinyl aluminum or fiber cement siding. Asbestos siding is a type of siding that was introduced in the 1920 s as a fire proof cladding for buildings and homes that could also resist rot and insects.

Asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement. Seal any protective clothing and gloves that were used in the asbestos removal in plastic bags and dispose of it properly as well. Older style cement siding shingles were traditionally made by mixing asbestos into the cement in order to fireproof and strengthen siding. Put the asbestos siding or roofing material in sealed plastic bags and dispose of it properly at a landfill designed to handle hazardous waste.

The only way to be sure whether your siding contains asbestos is to have it tested. Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer. Removing asbestos is often cost prohibitive for most people. Testing your siding for asbestos if your siding fits either of these descriptions you should consider having it tested.

Asbestos itself is actually a rock that has an fibrous makeup that looks a lot like hair or fur. 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. 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. In homes built prior to 1975 asbestos is most commonly found as thermal insulation on basement boilers and pipes.

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. We now know that prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to lung disease.