Exterior Siding Asbestos

Both the epa and the vinyl siding institute recommend not disturbing asbestos if at all possible.

Exterior siding asbestos.

Fiberlock is the gold standard when it comes to covering up asbestos siding and preventing any potentially harmful exposure to chemicals. 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 siding should begin to crack or crumble immediately wet the cracked or broken areas with the pint size spray bottle or garden pump sprayer. Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find.

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. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but. Installing vinyl siding will require disturbing the asbestos by nailing into it. Breakage releases asbestos fibers.

Testing your siding for 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. The earlier years are when asbestos was extremely common since it was an inexpensive way to increase the durability and resistance of siding. Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne.

If your siding fits either of these descriptions you should consider having it tested. 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. Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s. The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood grain texture to resemble cedar.

If necessary carefully lift siding pieces with pry tool to expose nail heads. 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. Removing asbestos is often cost prohibitive for most people. Lower removed siding to the ground.

If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm. Up until around 1985 fire resistant walls were produced with asbestos plaster. Wet the back of each piece of siding as it is removed. Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely.