Is Old Asbestos Siding Dangerous
Cement asbestos siding is non organic and so it does not decay and actually holds paint quite well which by the way is not dangerous contrary to what you have been told.
Is old asbestos siding dangerous. Scraping or brushing off old paint from asbestos siding is necessary before repainting but dangerous because it can release small asbestos fibres the approach of removing the old shingles and replacing them with new siding is an option that many homeowners have pursued though probably not as safely as they should. 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 can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc. As for handling it you do need to take a few precautions.
If it is intact and in good condition siding can be safely painted or new replacement siding can be installed over the old asbestos siding. Fact is i am back living in the old asbestos sided home my folks lived fifty plus years in without any problems dad installed the asbestos. While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding. Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne.
Quite apparent i am still above ground seventy years later. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough. Seventy years ago we used to throw chunks of asbestos siding in a bonfire to hear them explode. If you do decide to remove asbestos siding from your home the answer to is asbestos siding dangerous isn t necessarily yes.
If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm.