If you re in the process of buying and selling a property and find asbestos it may generate sentiments of fear.
Asbestos siding house value.
Asbestos was used in uk homebuilding industry until 1999 when white asbestos was finally outlawed.
Unless asbestos siding is disturbed it doesn t pose a significant health hazard and does not need to be removed.
But finding asbestos isn t always a deal breaker.
Containing asbestos might mean encapsulating the asbestos tiles in the basement instead of removing them altogether.
You can see the earlier novelty wood siding at the area where there is missing and damaged asbestos siding.
Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne.
This article series includes a photo guide and text that can help in identification of asbestos containing wall siding products like asphalt shingles asbestos cement siding shingles.
While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding.
A brief history of asbestos cement siding.
If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm.
It can be old and look exactly like asbestos siding but contain no asbestos as not every siding manufacturer added asbestos t their products.
Both the epa and the vinyl siding institute recommend not disturbing asbestos if at all possible.
The portland cement binds asbestos fibers into a hard mass.
Because of the safety precautions necessary for repairing the damage or removing the siding it will be expensive.
Asbestos cement was first developed in 1905 by the johns manville company who became one of the premier manufacturers of cement asbestos materials.
The use and import of blue and brown asbestos was banned in the uk in 1985.
Also i recommend against installing new siding over top of the existing asbestos material as the process will damage the latter and cause asbestos fibers to be released.
The cost of removing asbestos entirely has a wide range of costs depending on where the asbestos is located.
Cutting asbestos siding is the only danger which is minimized with use of specialized tools that shear rather than cut the shingles.
This article explains the impact on home sales due to cement asbestos shingle siding time on market and resale value might be impacted by asbestos in buildings.
Houses built in the uk this century will not contain asbestos but be wary if you are buying any property that is pre 1999.
In the photo above a 1920s house was resided with asbestos cement siding likely sometime in the 1950s.
The first step would be to get a test done to make sure the siding on the home actually contains asbestos.
Learn what asbestos is why it.
Tests can be done is less than a week and usually cost 20 30.