Asbestos is a hazardous material that was used in insulation in older buildings, until it was discovered to be harmful to humans in the 1980s. Asbestos was also used in many building materials, including siding for homes. If you have a home built in 1978 or older and the siding has never been replaced, you may have asbestos siding. While asbestos itself it not extremely dangerous, it can be if the material is disrupted (i.e. ripped, shredded, etc), and the fibers get into the air. If you have asbestos siding that is unharmed and in fairly good condition, you may actually not have to do anything. However, if you see tears or holes in the siding, it may be time to have it removed and replaced. Keep in mind that if you choose the latter, it is best to have a professional remove the material to prevent any harm.
If you decide to remove the asbestos siding, keep in mind that the material is considered hazardous waste in every state in America. This is another reason it’s important to get the help of an expert in this situation, so they can remove and dispose of it properly. Otherwise you could be subject to a hefty fine if you are caught disposing of it incorrectly. Perhaps the asbestos siding on your home is only damaged in a few small areas. You can always just remove this portion, and replace it with traditional vinyl siding. Of course, finding a color match might be difficult since most asbestos siding is older. No matter what you choose to do, as long as you are aware of the effects of asbestos siding and how to remove or replace it, you should be just fine. Always ask an expert when in doubt just to be on the safe side.
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