How to Identify Asbestos Siding
Jun 01, 2008 in Air Quality
Asbestos siding disposal is very important to be done correctly. Asbestos has long been used in many applications largly because it is so effective as for insulation and it’s also very fire resistant. There are so many different products that asbestos has been used in such as siding. Asbestos has been very popular in homes that are a bit older and you’re likely to find it in homes that were built between roughly 1930 and 1970.
It’s not easy to tell whether a product has asbestos in it or not and quite often there is no label to say what it is. If you want to ensure you are really dealing with asbestos then you should have a specialist contractor out who is experienced in such matters. If you don’t know where to find one you could always look at the asbestos removal contractors association for advice.
Only professionals can take samples away for analysis and this isn’t something that you should try yourself. If you do decide that you want to have a look, then you need to ensure that no spores are allowed to be released into the air. If your siding looks in good condition then you may not have any need for disposal. It’s only if it becomes damaged that you will need it to be analyzed and then disposed of.
Remember, you should not poke about with this sort of material unless you genuinely know what you are doing because asbestos can cause asbestosis which causes the lungs to be scarred and this in turn causes problems with breathing and also your heart. Other problems that can occur by breathing in asbestos is lung cancer and mesothelioma. This is not all, asbestos is also linked to many other types of cancer such as stomach, rectum and intestines. This is why there have been so many court cases on the matter and if you want to take action then there are lawyers who specialize in asbestos.
Disposal of asbestos siding isn’t always necessary unless there is damage to it or you plan on carrying out major renovation work. By drilling and sawing you will release the spores into the air which is why you shouldn’t do this if suspect that you siding is asbestos. Unfortunately asbestos siding disposal isn’t very cheap and can take some time to remove. So this is why repair work might be preferable. However if it is damages then you should not live with it in the condition it can be dangerous. Many people are horrified at the thought of asbestos but you don’t have to remove it if you really don’t need to. This is no cause for panic and many homes have asbestos in some form which don’t need to be removed.