Asbestos Found in Cement Siding

Wood shingles got replaced by Cement Sidings in the 1900s. Cement sidings were made from combining cement and asbestos, and the result was a material that was lightweight, durable, and resistant to fire, water, and corrosion. The material found wide application in the building industry in the form of cement roofing and cement siding shingles, among others. This product remained in use till the EPA ban in the 1970s.

Asbestos cement siding panels

Asbestos cement siding panels are lightweight, economical, and durable as they combine Portland cement with asbestos fibers. Large sheets of the asbestos cement were created that were highly amenable to being cut into different shapes and sizes. Uniformity of the product and holes pre-drilled into the 12 and 24-inch shingles made installation simple. It also leant itself to different styles, including horizontal and vertical grooving and a wide variety of patterns. Since it was possible to apply large cement sheets to tall buildings and big areas all at once, it was hugely popular in large construction projects.

Asbestos Exposure from Cement Siding

Cement siding remained the preferred material of use from the 1930s through the early 1970s. The popularity was contained only after the news linking asbestos to malignancy surfaced. By conservative standards, the EPA estimates that during the peak period of its popularity in the 1950s, there were over one billion square feet of cement siding in use in the United States alone. That puts the figure to several hundred million more square feet in millions of homes by the time the ban eventually came into force.

Cement Siding Containing Asbestos Fibers

The EPA clarifies that the cement siding by itself is not such a health hazard. The dust that arises when it crumbles through damage of some kind by cutting or sanding makes it dangerous. The mechanical saw releases dust into the atmosphere that goes into the lungs and the minute particles of the friable asbestos get innocuously lodged in the lining of the vital organs. It remains there without any symptom of its presence for many, many years; in fact, fifty years at times. But when the gestation period ends, it manifests itself in the form of a deadly cancer called mesothelioma that has no cure and is fatal.

Asbestos cement siding replacement & removal

Knowing the dangers of asbestos cement sidings now as we do, a lot of demolition and replacement is going on in homes that belong to that era. The job is necessary and unavoidable but carries the risk of releasing more dust in the process and posing a risk for the workers engaged in the task. It is essential, therefore, to take precautions such as wearing the right gear at the job. This includes respirators and disposable overalls for the men at work and disposal of debris according to EPA guidelines.