Asbestos House Siding

Asbestos house siding was commonly used in the US from the 1920s until the late 1970s, as it was a popular choice for exterior siding due to its low cost, durability, and the fact that it came in many different sizes, profiles, and textures.

Asbestos siding was essentially a cement siding product that asbestos fibers had been added to. This was done in order to add fireproofing and stability to cement siding, so that it wouldn’t crack or break as easily. At the time, no one knew that asbestos fibers were carcinogenic if they became airborne and inhaled, so asbestos was commonly used in a variety of building materials aside from just asbestos house siding, including joint compound, drywall, pipe insulation, flooring tiles, and more.

The use of asbestos house siding in new construction was discontinued in the late 1970s/early 1980s, but its still present in many older homes. Due to its durable nature (it never rots or decomposes and is impervious to termites and ants), it’s not uncommon to find asbestos siding that is more than 50 years old and in perfect condition.

If you own a house with asbestos house siding or are considering buying one, do your research before making any decision as far as whether to remove or replace the asbestos siding, as there are pros and cons to both asbestos removal and to leaving it as is.