Asbestos siding is very durable and in some cases remains in perfect condition 50 years after being installed.
Asbestos siding before and after improve.
Even a single airborne fiber of the most dangerous types of asbestos can eventually cause a particular form of lung cancer if inhaled.
If you live in such a house you re probably curious where asbestos could be.
A brief history of asbestos cement siding.
If you hire the job out painting asbestos siding doesn t require any special licensing as far as the contractor doing the work so you.
Asbestos siding is no longer used anymore and its presence.
Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken.
So when new siding is installed on houses having asbestos cement siding it s usually done to improve or update the appearance of the house and not because the shingles are worn out.
Wrap asbestos siding in 6 mil thick plastic sheeting and secure the plastic with duct tape or place the debris in heavy duty plastic bags.
Asbestos cement is a mixture of portland cement reinforced with asbestos fibers.
Asbestos was commonly added to cement siding for many decades.
The reported costs for such projects range from 500 to 4 500 while the typical cost for asbestos siding removal is generally between 1 000 and 2 500.
It added durability and kept siding from breaking and cracking plus it is very resistant to fire and weather.
Most notably asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma.
Using a respirator rated for asbestos and disposable tyvek suits is likely overkill for painting asbestos siding but they are definitely necessary when removing siding but peace of mind is priceless especially if your significant other insists.
Do not throw or drop removed asbestos siding.
Taking some extra time cleaning and prepping the siding before painting which is always recommended to remove dirt and mildew that may present is necessary.
Work from the top down removing the snails to keep from breaking the asbestos siding.
After the potential harm was discovered manufacturers stopped using asbestos in building materials but the asbestos is still commonly found in homes predating the 1980s.
And make no mistake asbestos is dangerous.
The portland cement binds asbestos fibers into a hard mass.
Houses and buildings built before the 1970s are as a rule suspected to include asbestos somewhere within the structure.
Asbestos siding removal isn t free but if you re having it replaced with something else you just might be able to get a good deal with the company you end up choosing.
Asbestos cement was first developed in 1905 by the johns manville company who became one of the premier manufacturers of cement asbestos materials.