Home Asbestos Siding Characteristics

Asbestos siding was a very popular product back in the 1950s and 1960s where siding shingles were traditionally reinforced with asbestos fibers.

Home asbestos siding characteristics. Asbestos was also put into cement used on the exterior of buildings to help insulate the. Asbestos may be present in textured paint and in patching compounds used on wall and ceiling joints. Asbestos was used to make several exterior materials. Homes built between 1920 and the 1980s are likely to contain asbestos in any cementitious.

Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc. Asbestos itself is actually a rock that has an fibrous makeup that looks a lot like hair or fur. Once you know about asbestos you can t go back. Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely.

This would trigger dust and asbestos dust is a problem as i ve mentioned. With its strength and heat resistance asbestos is used in a variety of building construction materials prior to 1980 meaning there isn t one area of the home that it is typically in. Put on a mask and scrape away some siding material into a baggie. The areas asbestos is commonly found include.

Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation. Attic and wall insulation. You may choose to take a sample of siding from a damaged area of siding. Unless the asbestos in your home is damaged it doesn t pose any threat to inhabitants.

Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer. Their use was banned in 1977. Instead it can be found throughout the home. Some roofing and siding shingles are made of asbestos cement.

If your siding has these characteristics then asbestos could be present. Asbestos was particularly prevalent in siding that resembles shingles or was made to look like wood grain. Most older cement board products contain asbestos. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough.

There are some characteristics you can look for while trying to spot asbestos siding on your own such as. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but brittle. 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. Asbestos siding is a type of siding that was introduced in the 1920 s as a fire proof cladding for buildings and homes that could also resist rot and insects.

Roofing and siding shingles are among the most common materials to contain asbestos and will readily release fibers into the air if broken. Where can asbestos hazards be found in the home. If in good condition flooring siding or roofing materials with asbestos can last several lifetimes. Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken.