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Asbestos-cement siding was installed on homes for over a century.
This means that countless homes didand still dohave asbestos-cement siding shingles.
Does this mean that it needs to be immediately removed?
Jan Hakan Dahlstrom / Getty Images
Learn about asbestos siding, how to identify it, and how to decide if you should remove it.
What Is Asbestos-Cement Siding?
Asbestos-cementsidingis a thintype of sidingshingle made from a mixture of Portland cement reinforced with asbestos fibers.
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The Portland cement binds asbestos fibers into a hard mass.
Asbestos can pose a health risk if inhaled or ingested.
When fiber-cement siding is broken, it displays a ragged, fibrous edge, much like asbestos siding.
Asbestos siding shingle replacements made from fiber cement contain no asbestos.
This product is recommended for replacing missing orbroken asbestos shingles.
J-M was a shortened version of Johns-Manville.
Siding material and other products using asbestos-reinforced concrete continued to be sold and installed well into the early 1970s.
Flintkote was advertised as being “permanently fireproof” and never requiring painting.
As late as the mid-1960s, asbestos siding was still sold.
There are countless homes and garages with this siding material.
The health hazards are minimal when the siding is undisturbed and in good shape.
Asbestos-cement siding is very brittle and easily chipped, cracked, or broken.
Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing, sanding, or breaking.
Finding replacement asbestos-cement siding for repairs can be difficult, with safe fiber-cement shingles being the best option.
No level of asbestos exposure is safe.
Removing Asbestos Siding
Removing asbestosexterior sidingcan be more hazardous than leaving it in place.
If left alone, however, asbestos-cement siding and other building products containing asbestos can be considered benign.
Have a certified asbestos abatement company do the job.
Begin by searching your state’s Department of Environmental Quality for a list of certified contractors.
In some areas, permits may be needed to remove and dispose of asbestos.
Although homeowners can do this work, special procedures and disposal methods must be followed.
Alternatives to Asbestos Removal
Covering asbestos siding with new siding is safer than removing it.
Covering the siding is an accepted practice, as it will seal in the asbestos material without disturbing it.
A home’s seller is not obligated by law to remove the asbestos siding.
It’s important to know that disclosure of asbestos siding to potential buyers may differ by state.
Thebest sidingto cover asbestos siding is a thin jot down of siding.
Thicker siding will push the siding out beyond the trim and other architectural details.
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