Since 1989 the epa environmental protection agency has prohibited the use of asbestos in the united states.
Asbestos shingle siding dangerous.
Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken.
And make no mistake asbestos is dangerous.
Before that asbestos products were used in the construction of homes in many ways including in shingles siding insulation floor tiles and cement.
The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough.
Asbestos siding is far less dangerous due to the fact that it installed outside and very few fibers are released even when siding shingles crack and break.
Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc.
Intact siding that is still in place poses no health risk as mesothelioma and other lung diseases only occur when a large amount of fibers are inhaled.
Past usage of asbestos.
Repair and removal.
Asbestos cement roofing shingles and siding products are not likely to release asbestos fibers unless sawed dilled or cut.
Care and proper procedures should always be taken during removal and disposal but in general asbestos siding ranks very low on the list of materials that contain asbestos as far as danger.
If it is a problem there are two types of corrections.
It s pretty serious but according to health canada one of the world s leading sources of unbiased information on the subject if.
If the asbestos material is in good shape and will not be disturbed do nothing.
Even a single airborne fiber of the most dangerous types of asbestos can eventually cause a particular form of lung cancer if inhaled.