Asked by: Florin Bangart
home and garden indoor environmental quality

What if my house has asbestos siding?

Last Updated: 15th May, 2020

41
Removing Asbestos Siding
  1. Place 6-mil plastic sheeting on the ground around the house to catch any debris.
  2. Wear a properly fitted respirator that's approved for asbestos (HEPA filter, colored coded purple).
  3. Wear disposable coveralls with hood, rubber gloves, goggles, and rubber boots.

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Also asked, is asbestos siding on a house dangerous?

Asbestos siding can be very dangerous if handled improperly. Asbestos is only dangerous when cut, sawn, or broken into small enough pieces so that asbestos fibers are sent into the air. If asbestos remains intact in siding, insulation, popcorn ceilings, or other materials it poses no risk and is not dangerous.

Beside above, how do I know if my house has asbestos siding? Recognizing Siding with Asbestos Look for a siding that is made to look like roof shingles. It is generally very brittle, and the back may be black and have the appearance of tar paper. The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood-grain texture to resemble cedar.

Also to know is, what do you do if you have asbestos siding?

Do not bring asbestos contaminated clothing, boots, or tools inside your home. Post warning signs and keep other people well away from the area while working. Keep all windows and doors to the house closed during removal. Wet the asbestos siding and removed debris down with water before and during removal.

Does asbestos siding need to be removed?

Asbestos siding never needs to be removed simply because it is asbestos. As long as the siding remains intact, it can stay. In fact, you may be able to install new siding on top of the asbestos siding—no removal necessary.

Related Question Answers

Haritza Ekaterininsky

Professional

Is it legal to sell a house with asbestos?

Selling a House With Asbestos
It's not illegal to sell a house with asbestos. In some states, you may be required to have your home tested for its presence before you can sell your home. It's always best to talk with a local real estate professional who knows the disclosure laws in your state.

Tatyana Varriale

Professional

Can you pressure wash a house with asbestos siding?

Asbestos shingles are very easy to recoat and will last much longer than paints on most wood or other surfaces. I have been told not to power wash asbestos shingles, just use tsp, lightly scrub, and rinse off with hose.

Diann Meitzner

Professional

What does old asbestos siding look like?

Asbestos siding usually looks a lot like roof shingles. It is very brittle and has a black tar-paper-like backing. The front appears with a grainy sandy-like texture. Unfortunately, asbestos siding was originally designed to mimic many different types of materials.

Madlyn Heuze

Explainer

Can you nail into asbestos siding?

You can't nail through the asbestos siding if it is the rigid kind, it is brittle and will shatter.

Hiram Orgiana

Explainer

Can you touch asbestos siding?

Health Risks of Asbestos Siding
If asbestos is inert, there's absolutely no danger; you can touch, lick, or hold asbestos house siding with absolutely no risk of contracting mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other lung diseases and cancers linked to exposure to asbestos.

Juanma Lopez Cano

Explainer

How common is asbestos siding?

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. and Canada. It also can be extremely dangerous if the siding is broken up and asbestos fibers are released into the air.

Imanol Carsi

Pundit

Can you legally remove asbestos yourself?

DIY asbestos removal is not recommended and in some states is not legal. In the ACT, all asbestos removal work must be carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist. In all other states and territories, a non-licensed person is allowed to remove non-friable asbestos as long as the area is no bigger than 10m².

Yuko

Pundit

Can I paint Asbestos siding?

Painting asbestos siding is often a much better alternative than trying to remove it. It's not difficult at all to paint asbestos siding, as one of its benefits is that paint easily adheres to it and it is very durable and can last for decades without chipping or cracking.

Santino Guthier

Pundit

Should you buy a house with asbestos siding?

Cement asbestos board was a common house siding material in the 1940s and 1950s. That's because the potential health risks associated with removing asbestos-impregnated building materials are greater than the risks of living with them. As long as the material is not disturbed, it is perfectly safe.

Tore Porai-Koshits

Pundit

How long does it take to remove asbestos siding?

The cost to remove asbestos siding is around $8 per square foot. The total price includes the hourly labor from an abatement professional. Qualified contractors charge around $200 per hour. Since it takes about one hour to remove 25 square feet, the average removal costs about $800 to $1,200 for 100 square feet.

Lyndia Hervieu

Pundit

Can you still buy asbestos siding?

In many cases it's possible to buy replacement asbestos siding manufactured to look like older asbestos siding shingles. If your asbestos siding is largely in excellent condition and you decide to keep it, you may only a few pieces that are chipped or broken to replace.

Phylis Ruggeberg

Teacher

How do you side over asbestos siding?

How to Put Siding on Over Asbestos
  1. Inspect the outside of the home for any damages to the asbestos siding.
  2. Measure the house for siding and the backer board.
  3. Install the vapor barrier.
  4. Cut the backer board to fit the dimensions of your home.
  5. Install the starter strip at the bottom of the house.
  6. "Hang" the siding.

Enmanuela Senftleben

Teacher

Is asbestos siding a good insulator?

Also, the reason asbestos was originally used in exterior siding is because asbestos is an astoundingly good insulator. If you remove the asbestos tiles entirely and replace them with more modern insulation, you might experience a net loss in overall heat retention in the home.

Nesrin Giar

Teacher

What is asbestos shingle siding?

Asbestos Siding Shingles. The use of asbestos siding shingles was a popular one that was used in the US from the early part of the 20th century until the 1970s. The siding was made by combining cement with asbestos, which is a naturally occurring mineral that is fibrous in nature and fireproof.

Cornelia Ysebaert

Teacher

How do you remove asbestos siding from a house?

Wet down the asbestos siding or roofing with a mixture of water and liquid soap in a pump up sprayer to limit dust. Use a flat pry bar to remove the asbestos siding or roofing material, starting from the top. Keep the asbestos material that has been removed wet.

Randall Schutzendiebe

Reviewer

How do you cover asbestos?

Homes that were built in the early 1900s may contain asbestos.

  1. Turn off the heating or air conditioning system.
  2. Put on the disposable gloves.
  3. Lay down the plastic sheet in and around the area where the asbestos is.
  4. Cover the area affected with asbestos with duct tape if it is on the floor.

Andre Lewandowska

Reviewer

How do you clean asbestos siding?

How to Clean Asbestos Siding
  1. Remove any biological growth such as moss and fungus from the surface of the siding.
  2. Mix a mild detergent, such as Tide, with water to make a cleaning solution.
  3. Split the house into sections the size of your arm span.
  4. Use a ladder for the sections you cannot reach.

Wasim Teomim

Reviewer

Is Fibre cement the same as asbestos?

Today asbestos has been replaced by Fibre Cement; a material with almost identical properties, but without the dangerous fibres. Asbestos typically will have a distinct pattern on it which looks similar to the dimples on a golf ball. Fibre concrete also has a texture on it, however it is far less grooved.

Yevhen Da Mota

Reviewer

How do I know if its asbestos?

Keep an eye on asbestos-containing materials and visually check them over time for signs of wear or damage. If you suspect material contains asbestos, don't touch it. Look for signs of wear or damage such as tears, abrasions, or water damage. Damaged material may release asbestos fibers.

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