Old Asbestos Square Siding

Because fiber cement siding manufactured in north america after around 1978 was made without using asbestos in those later products and because those non asbestos fiber cement shingles included products that by eye were an exact visual match for their older asbestos containing brothers and sisters already installed a building built.

Old asbestos square siding.

Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer. About asbestos siding asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement. Asbestos siding was used extensively in buildings and homes from the 1930s until the 1970s when it s use was banned. You can t drive screws and nails through them without pre drilling.

Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely. Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc. 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. The minute you start removing it you ll disturb the asbestos and need professional abatement.

Originally asbestos siding was used because of the fire resistant properties of asbestos. Asbestos siding never needs to be removed simply because it is asbestos. This would trigger dust and asbestos dust is a problem as i ve mentioned. On average asbestos siding removal costs between 4 and 6 per square foot.

It s easy to install after properly removing the old siding simply nail the weatherside siding in place and paint. In fact you may be able to install new siding on top of the asbestos siding no removal necessary. However if you want to remove you have two options. Weatherside fiber cement siding is the 1 and only solution for replacing or repairing old asbestos siding shingles.

If installing new siding you can install it over the existing asbestos siding as long as the existing siding is flat. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough. Weatherside is even resistant to warping denting rotting expansion contraction and termite infiltration. It s available in a variety of sizes and shapes to match many of the old siding shingles installed over the last 60 years.

As long as the siding remains intact it can stay.