Applying a layer of sheathing or sheets of foam insulation over the asbestos then covering it with vinyl siding is a common practice.
Asbestos siding covered with vinyl.
There is a vinyl siding product that uses adhesive instead of nails but it has not been in field use long enough for me to consider it.
Most siding companies are well experienced at techniques for covering over existing asbestos cement siding with new vinyl aluminum or fiber cement siding.
Removing the whole asbestos is often too costly.
The siding has elongated nail holes to allow the siding to expand and contract and if you nail the siding tight to the house your siding will buckle.
But be sure to check your local building codes first to see if it is allowed in your area.
It is best to just replace the asbestos siding but that can be very expensive.
You can t nail through the asbestos siding if it is the rigid kind it is brittle and will shatter.
Make sure to carefully discard any fallen broken pieces of asbestos away.
However removing the asbestos siding first though more expensive is the best alternative in the long run.
This is usually the preferred method of dealing with asbestos building materials.
Continue the process of hooking the siding pieces together and nailing them to the house working your way up to the top.
I told the contractor who recommended it for a rental in nc to call me in 15 years and let s see how it holds up.
You should have no problem covering asbestos siding with vinyl siding.
A better strategy may be to cover it over with new siding which effectively seals in the asbestos material.