Asbestos siding was widely used in houses between 1930 and 1978. It was used because it makes an excellent insulator, and asbestos is heat- and chemical-resistant. Asbestos itself is not dangerous. The danger comes from the asbestos crumbling or breaking and asbestos spores being released into the air. These spores have been found to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural plaques and asbestosis.
If you notice that the siding on your house is beginning to show signs of damage and it was built within this time frame, you should have the siding analyzed to see if there is asbestos in it.
Instructions
1. Examine the siding on the exterior of your house. Look for areas that may be crumbling and cracking. If you think you may have asbestos, you will need to have it tested by a professional. Do not touch or scrape at the siding until you know for sure that it is or is not asbestos.
2. Contact a professional asbestos-removal company to have them test your siding. They will remove a small portion of the siding and test it for asbestos. They will contain the area so asbestos spores are not released into the atmosphere. They will wear HEPA filters to avoid exposing themselves to asbestos.
3. Wait for the results. You should know in a matter of days whether or not your siding has asbestos.
4. Determine what you want to do next. Asbestos on its own is not dangerous; however, the particles that are released into the air can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural plaques or asbestosis. If you have cracking or crumbling asbestos, have a professional remove these areas and replace the siding with more up-to-date vinyl siding. If the siding is not asbestos, you can replace the siding yourself.
Tips Warnings
Asbestos siding can be safely painted over. You can side over asbestos siding without removing it.
If you choose to try to remove asbestos siding yourself, you risk developing a serious condition known as asbestosis, which causes lung scarring and can lead to heart damage. Hire a professional to remove asbestos siding.
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