Does Asbestos Siding Need To Be Removed

If asbestos is found to be present the following safety precautions should be taken if the siding or roofing is disturbed or removed.

Does asbestos siding need to be removed.

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. If you own a home that was built before 1989 there is a chance that you have asbestos somewhere within it. This way even if the asbestos is disturbed the fibers will not be released. Then you can choose to replace your roof with slate steel or asphalt shingles or your siding with vinyl asbestos free fiber cement or steel.

Epa suggests that if you opt not to have asbestos materials removed you should seal or cover them. A professional asbestos abatement team can quickly legally and safely remove your existing roof or siding and handle the disposal of this material. Cutting sanding or breaking asbestos cement tiles poses a distinct health hazard. Asbestos siding may be on the outside of the home and it needs to be removed.

Asbestos has been linked to asbestosis and mesothelioma lung diseases caused by breathing asbestos fibers. There is no legal requirement to do so nor is there significant real estate benefit. A lot of homes built prior to 1989 has asbestos siding. Installing vinyl siding will require disturbing the asbestos by nailing into it.

While health and safety should be of concern fully removing them may not be required. Sealing includes using specially created products that are designed to coat an asbestos product and bind the fibers together permanently. Asbestosis irritates and scars the lung tissues while the more dangerous mesothelioma causes a type of cancer that is often fatal. The hard brittle shingle siding and roofing that was used on many homes before 1980 often contained asbestos and should be tested before being disturbed or removed.

Toxic particles will stay where they are and the exterior will be safe to be near if it is complete and uncut. Unless asbestos siding is disturbed it doesn t pose a significant health hazard and does not need to be removed. Both the epa and the vinyl siding institute recommend not disturbing asbestos if at all possible. Cement asbestos siding tiles do not need to be removed simply because they contain asbestos.

If you fear that you have asbestos siding and you want to remove it here are a few steps that you will need to take.