About Asbestos Siding

A brief history of asbestos cement siding.

About asbestos siding.

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. The cost for asbestos siding encapsulating is 2 to 6 per sq. This was done in order to add fireproofing and stability to cement siding so that it wouldn t crack or break as easily. Most homes built after the 1980s no longer use siding that contains asbestos because of its obvious health risks.

Asbestos siding was made by adding asbestos a naturally occurring mineral to portland cement. Even a single airborne fiber of the most dangerous types of asbestos can eventually cause a particular form of lung cancer if inhaled. 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. However fixer uppers and older homes with their original siding may still contain this dangerous material.

The portland cement binds asbestos fibers into a hard mass. 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 was first developed in 1905 by the johns manville company who became one of the premier manufacturers of cement asbestos materials. The epa asbestos web site contains general information on asbestos sources exposure and health effects what to do if you suspect asbestos training and laws and regulations.

Asbestos cement is a mixture of portland cement reinforced with asbestos fibers. Asbestos siding was essentially a cement siding product that asbestos fibers had been added to. Ft it can cost from 3 000 to 9 000. It s pretty serious but according to health canada one of the world s leading sources of unbiased information on the subject if.

The issue here is asbestos and the risks of serious lung diseases it can cause. An expert will painstakingly paint your siding using a latex masonry primer and high grade latex paint. It is thankless because after all of that time and money spent on removal you are now the owner of a house that needs immediate re siding and more expenditure of money. Asbestos house siding was used in many homes until the epa banned its use in new products in 1989.

Encapsulating is a more inexpensive option for full replacement. The reported costs for such projects range from 500 to 4 500 while the typical cost for asbestos siding removal is generally between 1 000 and 2 500. And make no mistake asbestos is dangerous. Asbestos siding removal is a thankless yet often unnecessary task.