How Dangerous Is Removing Asbestos Siding

Asbestos siding never needs to be removed simply because it is asbestos.

How dangerous is removing asbestos siding.

Asbestos contained in siding known as cement asbestos is far less of a risk than when used in other applications as the asbestos fibers are bound within the siding s cement composition and can not be easily released into the air. Safely removing asbestos siding if you do decide to remove asbestos siding from your home the answer to is asbestos siding dangerous isn t necessarily yes. Because this siding contains a bit of asbestos and part of the precautions in removing asbestos is to keep it nice and damp. Removing asbestos siding is a tricky issue as it often poses no real health threat if left intact.

That s because the greatest danger of this material comes from breathing the dust. Asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement. Reader warns about amateur cement asbestos shingle siding or roofing removal. One common misconception is that asbestos must be removed and that removing it is very expensive and dangerous.

However if you want to remove you have two options. In fact you may be able to install new siding on top of the asbestos siding no removal necessary. 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. As long as the siding remains intact it can stay.

First off don t panic. 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. Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer. Heat water weathering or simple aging also makes the material more fragile at which point it can become dangerous to work with.

The real safety issue with asbestos is when large amounts of it are removed indoors and proper protocol and equipment is not used to capture and collect all asbestos fibers released. If you are a contractor know that 29 cfr 1926 1101 osha asbestos standards apply and you need to remove the material properly. Asbestos siding poses absolutely no health risk of the siding is intact and in place. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough.

Siding that is being removed can become friable meaning it can be damaged by hand pressure at which point you could be exposing yourself to those damaging fibers. Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken.