Aluminum Siding Over 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.

Aluminum siding over asbestos.

Typically aluminum is not used anymore to reside residential homes so the siding needed to be special ordered. 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. Asbestos siding in particular however has a tendency to chip crack and break with normal wear and tear of family life. On this particular job the home already had aluminum siding.

Removing asbestos is often cost prohibitive for most people. A typical procedure is to install furring strips on the existing wall avoiding breaking the existing siding. Most siding companies are well experienced at techniques for covering over existing asbestos cement siding with new vinyl aluminum or fiber cement siding. Asbestos was banned in 1989 so as the buildings that incorporated it age their roofing and siding will fall into disrepair.

A common remodeling practice is to install new vinyl or aluminum siding over cement asbestos shingle siding as well as over many other older siding materials when the old siding has become damaged leaky or cosmetically ugly. The easiest way to paint the asbestos siding is to use a paint sprayer. Unless asbestos siding is disturbed it doesn t pose a significant health hazard and does not need to be removed. See photos at asbestos siding in this document.

Choose a paint that is mold and mildew resistant as well as waterproof. Many asbestos roofs and siding are damaged cracked or broken. This can release fibers into the air. Both the epa and the vinyl siding institute recommend not disturbing asbestos if at all possible.

Asbestos siding though hard can flake over time which will lead to the possibility of you inhaling the asbestos. The client had a tight budget and just wanted to patch in new siding to match the existing siding. While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding. And see asbestos cement siding for details about cement asbestos building siding its repair removal demolition or cover over.

Painting the asbestos siding will help prevent this from happening. Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne.