QA

Quick Answer: How To Clean Asbestos Siding

Mix one part bleach and three parts water and spray the growth. The bleach will kill the organic matter. Within a week, you can come back and simply brush the moss or fungus off the surface.

How do you clean painted asbestos siding?

If you’ve decided to handwash your asbestos siding, you should scrape and scrub down the siding with a hard-bristled brush soaked in a mild abrasive cleaner or sudsy dish detergent and warm water solution. Break up the cleaning and scraping into sections and rinse the siding thoroughly soon after the scrub down.

What kind of paint do you use on asbestos siding?

Latex paint is the preferred paint for asbestos cement siding, but needs a base coat of latex primer for proper adhesion. Select the highest quality satin latex paint and prepare the tiles properly for a perfect finish.

How do you clean asbestos shingles?

Leeper explained that asbestos shingles must be cleaned “with a soft-bristle brush” similar to a car-cleaning brush. You can also use detergent, like dishwashing liquid, with the brush. Leeper called this method “the safest way” to clean shingles.

Is it safe to paint over asbestos siding?

There really is no “right” paint when painting asbestos siding, as it doesn’t require anything out of the ordinary. Pick a good quality exterior paint from a company like Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams and you’ll be fine.

Should you pressure wash asbestos siding?

Do not power wash your siding. This could release cancer-causing particles into the air which could end up in your lungs.

Can you pressure wash asbestos?

If the materials remain in good condition, roof cleaning via pressure washing would seem to be the answer, but it’s not. Even when the roof, siding, stucco or other building materials in question are not friable, meaning that they are intact and not prone to crumbling, power washing materials with asbestos is illegal.

How much does it cost to paint asbestos siding?

For 1,500 sq. ft, it can cost from $3,000 to $9,000. Encapsulating is a more inexpensive option for full replacement. An expert will painstakingly paint your siding using a latex masonry primer and high-grade latex paint.

Can you put siding on top of asbestos siding?

Some experts recommend screwing, rather than nailing, when new siding is installed over existing asbestos-cement siding. If the shingles are to be removed, they should be wetted during the process to prevent fibers from becoming airborne, and they must be properly disposed of at a landfill.

How do you seal asbestos siding?

As long as the material is not disturbed, it is perfectly safe. A fresh coat of paint is a good way to seal in the asbestos and keep it in its place. Someday, you’ll probably want to repair or replace the asbestos siding.

How long do asbestos shingles last?

The life expectancy of an asbestos cement shingle roof is 40 to 60 years, with an average of 50 years. It will last longer with luck and diligent maintenance, and we saw one roof a few years ago that was just beginning to fail at 60 years old.

How do I know if my siding is asbestos?

How do I know if my roofing or siding contains asbestos? Look for asbestos markings on the roofing or siding material or the packages in which they came, or call the manufacturer. Another alternative is to hire a Minnesota certified asbestos inspector to sample the material and submit it for laboratory analysis.

Can you sand asbestos siding?

As long as you don’t drill, sand or brush the shingles, the asbestos remains encapsulated in a type of mortar-like base that makes it harmless. You’d still want to wear a respirator working with the stuff, just to be safe, but that’s just an added precaution.

Is it OK to scrape moss off asbestos roof?

Don’t brush or scrape off moss, lichen or algae growing on the roof sheets; this may release asbestos fibres unnecessarily. Seal it and dispose of it with the waste asbestos-cement.

What can you do with asbestos siding tiles?

Wrap asbestos siding in 6-mil thick plastic sheeting and secure the plastic with duct tape, or place the debris in heavy duty plastic bags. Dispose of the asbestos properly at a landfill, or contact your local waste collection service to find out if they will pick up asbestos material.

Can you seal asbestos roof?

Developed primarily as a remedial treatment to improve the safety of corrugated asbestos cement roof sheets, Asbestos Roof Sealer and Primer is a fine liquid acrylic-ester dispersion, which helps to suppress dust and limit the release of potentially hazardous, chrysotile asbestos fibres.

Can I sell a house with asbestos in it?

Is it illegal to sell a property with asbestos? Absolutely not, although you will have to disclose its presence if you are already aware of it.

What can I replace asbestos siding with?

Finding Replacement Asbestos Siding As far as finding replacement siding, various types and styles are now available from companies such as GAF,, with the GAF Weatherside line of fiber cement siding being one of the most popular and readily available.

How long does asbestos siding last?

How long does asbestos cement siding last? You can expect asbestos-cement siding to last 80 years or more. It was used extensively from the 1940s through the ’60s, but not produced after the ban by the EPA on construction products that contain asbestos in 1973.