Asbestos Exterior Siding

It was immensely popular.

Asbestos exterior siding.

Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne. We found this cement asbestos siding debris on the ground around a home that boasted new vinyl siding. While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding. It is very brittle and has a tendency to crack and break when nailed which can release asbestos fibers into both the air and ground.

Depending on coloration and texturing this siding can look like slate cement or other ceramic materials. Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find. Asbestos siding was made by adding asbestos a naturally occurring mineral to portland cement. 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.

Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s. Asbestos siding is similar in composition to the roofing being made into a covering as a mixture of asbestos fibers and portland cement. Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but brittle.

It has also been used extensively in fiber cement siding which can make applying a top coat of exterior paint a stressful event. It s available in a variety of sizes and shapes to match many of the old siding shingles installed over the last 60 years. What beanie babies were to the 1990s asbestos siding was to the the 1930s. Asbestos siding was all the rage in the early part of the 20th century.

Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough. Asbestos is an older material that was commonly used in siding and insulation for houses. The presence of multiple layers of exterior siding can be spotted by noticing that the wall cladding extends out past the original window or door trim.

Asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement. Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer. If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm. It was a very effective insulation but it has the unfortunate side effect of causing cancer.

Weatherside fiber cement siding is the 1 and only solution for replacing or repairing old asbestos siding shingles.