Can you cover asbestos siding?
Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer. Applying a layer of sheathing or sheets of foam insulation over the asbestos, then covering it with vinyl siding is a common practice; but be sure to check your local building codes first to see if it is allowed in your area.
How long does asbestos siding last?
How long does asbestos siding last? Due to its highly durable nature, asbestos siding can remain perfectly intact for 50 years or more.
Does asbestos siding rot?
Asbestos is a silicate mineral that was commonly added to cement board siding for durability and resistance to fire and weather during the 1920s to 1980s. Asbestos never rots and doesn’t decompose, but asbestos is extremely brittle.
When was asbestos siding outlawed?
Asbestos house siding was used for many decades in the U.S. and Canada. Asbestos house siding was used in many homes until the EPA banned its use in new products in 1989.
Can you vinyl side over asbestos siding?
Vinyl siding, indeed, can go over asbestos.
Is it OK to put vinyl siding over asbestos siding?
Melvin Rice of Baltimore asks whether it’s better to remove or to side over the asbestos shingle siding on his house when vinyl siding is installed. Half of the contractors he’s talked with recommend removing the shingles, but the others say to leave them and side over.
What can you do with asbestos siding on a house?
Just having asbestos siding and roofing on your home does not pose a hazard to your health. Asbestos-containing roofing and siding in good condition are best left alone. Damaged roofing and siding should be carefully repaired. Sometimes asbestos-containing roofing and siding can be covered with new materials.
How do I dispose of asbestos siding?
A pry bar for lifting nails
Can I safely remove asbestos siding myself?
You must never handle or try to remove asbestos yourself. Asbestos becomes harmful once it has been disturbed, as this causes the fibres to be released, which then may be inhaled. If you encounter what you suspect to be asbestos, you must not touch it.
Should I replace asbestos siding?
With proper precautions and care, this is a safe, economic alternative if you decide to remove the asbestos siding yourself. Another choice is to install new siding, but to leave the asbestos siding in place. This is commonly done with vinyl siding, with the new siding installed over the old asbestos siding, encapsulating it.
How do you safely handle and remove asbestos?
Crowbar to remove the nails.