Asbestos Exterior Siding

What beanie babies were to the 1990s asbestos siding was to the the 1930s.

Asbestos exterior siding.

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. 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. 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. Asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement. Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough.

It s available in a variety of sizes and shapes to match many of the old siding shingles installed over the last 60 years. Asbestos siding was all the rage in the early part of the 20th century. Well maybe it wasn t quite the same but you get the idea. Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely.

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. 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 siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken. 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. Asbestos shingles and siding. Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s. Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc.

We found this cement asbestos siding debris on the ground around a home that boasted new vinyl siding. Asbestos is an older material that was commonly used in siding and insulation for houses. Asbestos siding was made by adding asbestos a naturally occurring mineral to portland cement. 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.

Depending on coloration and texturing this siding can look like slate cement or other ceramic materials.