Asbestos Exterior House Siding

Asbestos cement is a mixture of portland cement reinforced with asbestos fibers.

Asbestos exterior house siding.

Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne. Instead of replacing asbestos siding on an old house homeowners have the option of treating it with specialty paint that will prevent any exposure to the dangerous chemicals. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but. Asbestos siding is a cement based siding that contains asbestos.

Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find. Installing vinyl siding will require disturbing the asbestos by nailing into it. It was popular in the 1960s and 1970s across the nation and is still on homes constructed during that period. Asbestos siding was very commonly used in buildings and homes from around the 1920s until the 1980s and can still be found in many older homes in the u s.

The portland cement binds asbestos fibers into a hard mass. A brief history of asbestos cement siding. While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding. This was done in order to add fireproofing and stability to cement siding so that it wouldn t crack or break as easily.

Both the epa and the vinyl siding institute recommend not disturbing asbestos if at all possible. Since it doesn t expand or contract with the outside temperature asbestos siding makes a good base for paint. These paints seal the asbestos and prevent it from spreading as dust particles. Plywood siding is an all wood exterior grade panel.

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. Unless asbestos siding is disturbed it doesn t pose a significant health hazard and does not need to be removed. Containing the asbestos typically costs 15 25 less than removal because you won t have to pay for disposal costs.

Asbestos house siding was used in many homes until the epa banned its use in new products in 1989. Plywood siding features a rough sawn textured face for a beautiful rustic appearance. Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s. It is ideal for siding applications from new home construction utility buildings planters dog houses and other remodeling or do it yourself projects.

It plywood siding is an all wood exterior grade panel. The cost of removing asbestos entirely has a wide range of costs depending on where the asbestos is located. Asbestos siding was made by adding asbestos a naturally occurring mineral to portland cement. Containing asbestos might mean encapsulating the asbestos tiles in the basement instead of removing them altogether.