Aluminum Siding Over Asbestos

While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding.

Aluminum siding over asbestos.

The easiest way to paint the asbestos siding is to use a paint sprayer. If a siding company removes an outer layer of siding and finds an older layer of asbestos cement siding beneath the standard procedure is simply to cover it over with new siding rather. Choose a paint that is mold and mildew resistant as well as waterproof. Most siding companies are well experienced at techniques for covering over existing asbestos cement siding with new vinyl aluminum or fiber cement siding.

Painting the asbestos siding will help prevent this from happening. If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm. Removing asbestos is often cost prohibitive for most people. Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne.

Asbestos siding though hard can flake over time which will lead to the possibility of you inhaling the asbestos. A common remodeling practice is to install new vinyl or aluminum siding over cement asbestos shingle siding as well as over many other older siding materials when the old siding has become damaged leaky or cosmetically ugly. Asbestos was banned in 1989 so as the buildings that incorporated it age their roofing and siding will fall into disrepair. Typically aluminum is not used anymore to reside residential homes so the siding needed to be special ordered.

Cement asbestos wall shingles outside and not easily friable unless being demolished or cut with power tools. Installing vinyl siding will require disturbing the asbestos by nailing into it. This can release fibers into the air. Both the epa and the vinyl siding institute recommend not disturbing asbestos if at all possible.

On this particular job the home already had aluminum siding. A typical procedure is to install furring strips on the existing wall avoiding breaking the existing siding. Unless asbestos siding is disturbed it doesn t pose a significant health hazard and does not need to be removed. Many asbestos roofs and siding are damaged cracked or broken.

Alternatively if you leave the asbestos on your home you can safely seal the old siding underneath the new siding and because asbestos is an excellent insulator you will actually be adding to the energy efficiency of your home by leaving it on. Asbestos siding in particular however has a tendency to chip crack and break with normal wear and tear of family life.