Asbestos Brick Siding

Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s.

Asbestos brick siding.

Asbestos siding was manufactured to resemble many different materials so it doesn t always look the same. The mastic company then of south bend indiana developed inselbric asbestos siding in 1932. Cementious siding and roofing such as fiber cement siding lap siding and fiber cement roof shingles containing asbestos may then have appeared on homes constructed between 1906 and 1980 in north america and contining later in some other countries. It is very brittle and has a tendency to crack and break when nailed which can release asbestos fibers into both the air and ground.

Look for a siding that is made to look like roof shingles. Removing asbestos is often cost prohibitive for most people. Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer. Inselbric is a trademarked name for a particular product sold by mastic.

While older homes will likely contain asbestos in roofing insulation and tiles it can also be present in exterior siding. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough. It has been spelled insulbrick and other things. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but brittle.

Insulbrick was the preferred choice for replacement siding until aluminum and vinyl siding became available in the late 1950s. Asphalt siding was available from the 1930s to about 1960. Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne. Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find.

Continue reading below our video of the day. It is generally very brittle and the back may be black and have the appearance of tar paper. Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc. If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm.

Alternatively if you leave the asbestos on your home you can safely seal the old siding underneath the new siding and because asbestos is an excellent insulator you will actually be adding to the energy efficiency of your home by leaving it on. As a rule tar paper and insulbrick were applied over wood siding. Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely. It was widely used in the colder climates and can be seen on some older building.

Fabrics that contained asbestos or were made entirely of asbestos were numerous and were used in a wide range of applications such as aluminized suits for fire fighters foundry workers and furnace repairmen. Houses clad in insulbrick can appear to be brick houses from a distance.