What You Need to Know About Asbestos Siding

Learn about the dangers of asbestos siding and options for remediation.

As a homeowner or prospective homeowner, one of the last things you want to hear is that there may be asbestos-containing materials on your property. Many people have an immediate, knee-jerk reaction to asbestos-containing materials, immediately presuming their health is in danger. The reality is that asbestos-containing materials are only dangerous when they become broken or damaged, as this allows hazardous asbestos fibers to escape.

Actually, if you had to choose a type of asbestos-containing material to have on your property, siding is probably one of the least offensive products you could have. Not only is it very durable, but since it is located outside the home you are at a lower risk of breathing in dangerous amounts of asbestos fibers should the siding become damaged. Of course, this doesn’t mean asbestos siding is safe. You will still need professional help to deal with it.

What Kinds of Siding Contain Asbestos?

Many different kinds of siding made from Portland cement between the 1920s and the 1980s may contain asbestos. The naturally-occurring mineral was added to the cement into order to create siding that was durable, fire-resistant, easy to maintain, and cheap to manufacture.

How Do I Find Out if My Siding Contains Asbestos?

Not all older cement siding contains asbestos. Many manufacturers made multiple different lines of siding that looked virtually identical, with the only difference being one line contained asbestos and the other did not. Therefore it is virtually impossible to tell if your siding has asbestos with a simple visual inspection. Instead, you need to get professional asbestos materials testing.

What Are My Options for Asbestos Siding Removal & Remediation?

If it turns out that your siding does indeed contain asbestos, you have two main options for eliminating the danger. First, you may consider encapsulating the existing siding beneath a layer of new vinyl siding. This option is ideal for siding that has very minimal damage and it will help prevent asbestos fibers from contaminating the soil or air around your home.

Secondly, you may consider asbestos siding removal. This option will completely eliminate all future risk of asbestos contamination by getting the asbestos siding off your property.

In either case H2 Environmental can coordinate a safe and effective asbestos siding remediation project for you. We can handle everything from initial testing to the creation of a sealed work zone to asbestos waste disposal. We will ensure that you are working with qualified contractors every step of the way.