Asbestos Siding

In the past, asbestos siding was widely used in buildings and homes. It was thought to have advantageous qualities because adding asbestos to siding increases strength and durability and provides insulation and fireproofing. However, its use rapidly declined as the harmful effects on human health were discovered.

There are several common home roofing and siding products that may contain asbestos:

• Asphalt roofing felt and shingles.
• Cement siding or roofing shingles.
• Wood shake vapor retardants.

Asbestos siding and be identified by a label on the product or packaging. If you are trying to determine if your siding is asbestos siding you should track the product back to its manufacturer. Another way is to submit a sample to a laboratory for microscopic asbestos analysis. You can check the yellow pages for a listing of laboratories in your area that will do the testing. Check under “Asbestos Consulting” or “Asbestos Testing.”

Simply having asbestos siding on a structure does not always mean that a health risk is at hand. Asbestos becomes a threat when it enters the air and can be inhaled. This generally occurs when asbestos siding is friable (able to be broken up by hand pressure). If asbestos siding is in good condition it is considered nonfriable and health risks are typically not a threat. For this reason, when your siding is in good condition it is best to leave it alone.

Unfortunately, over time, natural factors will cause the siding to weaken. Factors such as heat, water, weathering or aging can cause the siding to become friable. If you sense that your siding is beginning to weaken you should contact a professional licensed asbestos contractor to come to the site and determine the condition of your siding. If it appears to be a health risk, they can remove all of the asbestos materials in a safe manner.

Another alternative is to have the asbestos siding repaired or replaced in order to reduce the health risks associated with friable asbestos siding. Once again, you should contact a professional licensed asbestos contractor that is knowledgeable and will follow the safety procedures required to work with asbestos. Failure to use the proper removal techniques may result in a drastic increase in asbestos exposure and health risks.

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