A piece of trim detail could be added to the bottom of the asbestos cement siding to reduce its vulnerability to cracking.
Asbestos siding damage.
Take appropriate care and precautions when removing and disposing of old asbestos siding pieces.
But because the material is easily damaged by a heavy handed worker unfamiliar with the materials involved asbestos cement siding has to be repaired and maintained with care.
These actions create new surfaces where there is the greatest potential for release of asbestos fibers.
It resists termite damage.
However fixer uppers and older homes with their original siding may still contain this dangerous material.
Even a single airborne fiber of the most dangerous types of asbestos can eventually cause a particular form of lung cancer if inhaled.
Although homes built after the 1980s are generally safe some newer builds may also have asbestos lurking in the siding.
Unless asbestos siding is disturbed it doesn t pose a significant health hazard and does not need to be removed.
Water helps keep asbestos fibers from becoming airborne.
When it comes to repairing an asbestos siding it is recommended to hand over the task to a certified and reputed professional.
In most cases you can pry out old pieces in one intact piece which is very important as asbestos only becomes dangerous when it s broken and made friable and fibers are released into the air.
The issue here is asbestos and the risks of serious lung diseases it can cause.
A common remodeling practice is to install new vinyl or aluminum siding over cement asbestos shingle siding as well as over many other older siding materials when the old siding has become damaged leaky or cosmetically ugly.
Installing vinyl siding will require disturbing the asbestos by nailing into it.
Guide to siding over asbestos cement siding.
Replacement cementious wall shingle materials are now available that look almost exactly like the original materials but that do not contain asbestos.
It has been manufactured with textures intended to simulate the look of other cladding materials such as wood grain.
It s pretty serious but according to health canada one of the world s leading sources of unbiased information on the subject if.
Avoid tearing ripping chipping cutting or grinding asbestos containing materials.
Both the epa and the vinyl siding institute recommend not disturbing asbestos if at all possible.
Most homes built after the 1980s no longer use siding that contains asbestos because of its obvious health risks.
And make no mistake asbestos is dangerous.
Asbestos cement siding is highly fire resistant and will not burn or melt the way vinyl and wood siding will.
Asbestos is a dangerous material and you would do good by calling professionals for the repair work.