Asbestos Siding I

The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood grain texture to resemble cedar.

Asbestos siding i.

Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken. Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely. While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding. If your siding fits either of these descriptions you should consider having it tested.

The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough. If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm. 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. 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.

Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne. Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s. Portland cement is still used to this day in mixing with other materials to create fiber cement siding that in turn is installed by fiber cement siding contractors. In fact asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was added to portland cement between the 1920s and 1980s.

Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but brittle.