Any asbestos siding experts here?

[ETD66SS]

After my pond project was finished (it's now complete) I was going to start building my house.

Due to the market the way it is, and builders still wanting top buck, and some tax incentives, I have been seriously considering buying a house close to my lot. I've looked at many, and I found one that could be the one.

Problem is it has fiber-cement siding shakes that may contain asbestos. They could be fiberglass too.

The seller gave me a chunk of the siding, I will see if I can get it tested. In the mean time I have some pictures of it, maybe some of you here can help me identify it.

http://www.infinity-universe.com/~dev/WhiteDwarf/AB/DSCF3910.JPG

http://www.infinity-universe.com/~dev/WhiteDwarf/AB/DSCF3911.JPG

http://www.infinity-universe.com/~dev/WhiteDwarf/AB/DSCF3912.JPG

http://www.infinity-universe.com/~dev/WhiteDwarf/AB/DSCF3913.JPG

 

[ray66v]

My guess is that is Masonite. Masonite has soft fuzzy fibrous edges when broken. It expands, and gets soft when soaked in water. If the material is falling apart that is probably what it is. It's harmless, it's junk, but it's harmless.

The asbestos cement siding materials I am familiar with the fibers are very hard to see when you look at pieces. Asbestos siding is very brittle. It will break like a piece of china, when you drop it. FYI: The asbestos is trapped in the cement. The big problem is when you cut it with a saw. That will release the asbestos into the air.

 

[kthompson]

Did this get my attention. When we get through with our pond project we will be tearing down a house with asbestos siding. About three months back checked into what that was going to entail and was surprised not that much. Was told needed to call our state DHEC to see how they wanted it wrapped but local landfill who accepts it says the amount determines how it is disposed of. But he was right sure for our amount wrapping it in a heavy plastic sheeting would be all needed. Did say to spray with water hose before tearing it off to prevent any fibers becoming air borne (99% sure that was the reason) as that is the only time it is an issue.

Based upon my experience with both Masonite and Asbestos siding which has been some but no expert totally agree with Ray's thoughts.

 

[MarkV]

Do you know the year the house was built? Asbestos is a problem when it becomes airborne and not so much when embedded in siding and tile like they use to. If the house was built at the time the siding used asbestos I would take a close look at exposed insulation. That is the stuff that is pricey to remove.

MarkV

 

[ETD66SS]

The house was built in 1972.

And no, this siding is not flaking, it's in really good shape. It's very hard and about .340" thick.

There are just some pieces busted off here and there on the bottom course from lawn mowing, etc.

I'm fine leaving the siding on. This house for me would be a starter house/5 year thing until I'd start to build the house at my lot.

I'm really just concerned about it being a bad selling point ~5 years down the road.

Unfortunately I don't have a more closeup shot of the siding on the house than this:

http://i1.e-net.com/mls/import/BuffaloNY/property/full/153/344153_1000.jpg

 

[Duffster]

The house was built in 1972.

And no, this siding is not flaking, it's in really good shape. It's very hard and about .340" thick.

Any asbestos siding I dealt with wasn't that thick.

 

[ETD66SS]

Oh, it's definitely not masonite siding, I know what that stuff is. I spent many years as a kid painting that crap on my Dad's house & garage.

This is definitely cement tiles with fibers mixed in. I just can't find a good website with pictures & information on asbestos vs fiberglass cement shakes.

The shakes on the house are like 12in x 12in, and meant to mimic cedar shakes.

 

[CurlyDave]

I'm really just concerned about it being a bad selling point ~5 years down the road.

I am convinced it will become a bigger and bigger negative over time.

Get it tested now (look in your phone book for asbestos contractors) and let the offering price reflect the cost to remove it.

I was lucky enough to tear out all the asbestos in my house 20 years ago when a guy could still throw it away.

 

[Builder]

It's not that big a deal since it's outside. If you're OK with the way it looks and don't want to spend $$ to remove it, just leave it. It ain't dangerous until you get the dust airborne and breathe it in your lungs.

I've torn plenty of it off, just wet it use a breather and follow state guidelines for disposal before going into landfill. As you know, it pulls off pretty quick & easy. You could probably strip the whole exterior in 1-2 days.

It's a bad selling point only to someone under-educated about asbestos on the exterior. If you think asbestos siding is bad, you should see the problems with synthetic stucco.

 

[ETD66SS]

It's a bad selling point only to someone under-educated about asbestos on the exterior. If you think asbestos siding is bad, you should see the problems with synthetic stucco

The word asbestos freaks people out similar to the word nuclear. Even though in reality the risk is not that great, and blown out of proportion by those with environmental agenda's.

If these shingles do contain asbestos, from what I've read it's less that 1%. And the current regulations allow me to remove the siding, and put it at the curb for the town to properly dispose of.

I'd be doing all that work myself. I'm not afraid of the stuff, just concerned the regulations in 5 years could make it a nightmare to try and sell the house.

If I go and make an offer on it, and subtract what the cost of a contracting out siding removal, I simply won't get the house. So it's not really on the seller to deal with it, someone will come along and buy it, and not even ask or care about the siding. It's all on me on whether or not I want a potential future headache.

I'm trying to get under the $8000 tax credit here. And in NYS, it's common for a house closing to take 3 months. So I have to make my mind up pretty much now.

 

[Builder]

The word asbestos freaks people out similar to the word nuclear. Even though in reality the risk is not that great, and blown out of proportion by those with environmental agenda's.

If these shingles do contain asbestos, from what I've read it's less that 1%. And the current regulations allow me to remove the siding, and put it at the curb for the town to properly dispose of.

I'd be doing all that work myself. I'm not afraid of the stuff, just concerned the regulations in 5 years could make it a nightmare to try and sell the house.

If I go and make an offer on it, and subtract what the cost of a contracting out siding removal, I simply won't get the house. So it's not really on the seller to deal with it, someone will come along and buy it, and not even ask or care about the siding. It's all on me on whether or not I want a potential future headache.

I'm trying to get under the $8000 tax credit here. And in NYS, it's common for a house closing to take 3 months. So I have to make my mind up pretty much now.

That's what i mean. It's more hysteria than anything. If it were really as big of a problem as the hysterical types like to make it, then the seller would be happy to compensate you. He knows it's not that big of a deal, so he's not going to take much, if anything off the selling price. He knows it's a small and relatively safe job to remove it. Replacing the siding, even with something cheap, like new vinyl siding is where the real cost is.

If it's a good deal, you should probably buy it as long as all your other due dilligence & inspections check out OK.

 

[ETD66SS]

Yeah, I personally have no issues. But all it takes is one hysterical neighbor raising **** to make it a big costly ordeal when/if I do decide to remove it.

I'm just a worry wart, for sure...

The cost to re-side would be minimal, as my brother owns a sawmill and can make me any kind of wood siding I'd want for this house. And I have a 63 acre lot with many evergreen trees to harvest for siding.

As usual, just worried about others freaking out and causing me grief. Or, leaving the siding on it, and in 5 years the regulations become such that I take a big hit on the sale price.

 

[Builder]

Yeah, I personally have no issues. But all it takes is one hysterical neighbor raising **** to make it a big costly ordeal when/if I do decide to remove it.

I'm just a worry wart, for sure...

The cost to re-side would be minimal, as my brother owns a sawmill and can make me any kind of wood siding I'd want for this house. And I have a 63 acre lot with many evergreen trees to harvest for siding.

As usual, just worried about others freaking out and causing me grief. Or, leaving the siding on it, and in 5 years the regulations become such that I take a big hit on the sale price.

If you are truly believing it will be worse (stiffer regulations) in 5 yrs, then it's better to do it now, than 5 years from now.

I think the asbestos hysteria is all but over and done with. Sure the litigation for interior/work place exposure is still red hot, but everyone with common sense knows exterior exposure is of little concern.

Good luck with it.

 

[MarkV]

A house built in the 70's was on the tail end of the asbestos use in siding. You will only be sure by having it tested. As you already know asbestos embedded in concrete is inert and not harmful at all unless you turn it into dust by cutting. It would not stop the deal for me.

MarkV

 

[ETD66SS]

I dropped off the sample for testing, I'll know for sure tomorrow. $110 later...

 

[ETD66SS]

I got the results back, the siding is 8.50% Chrysotile Asbestos.

 

[RRILEY]

You can put siding over it and not bother with EPA about removal and the cost involved with disposal and neighbors.

 

[ETD66SS]

You can put siding over it and not bother with EPA about removal and the cost involved with disposal and neighbors.

Quite true. But in ~5 years when I go to sell the house I need to disclose that the asbestos siding is under the new siding. So if I buy this house, I want the asbestos gone, so it can not affect a future selling price.

My preferred course of action is to see how much it would cost to have professionals remove the asbestos siding, and see if I can get the seller to come down a bit. (unlikley)

I'm not afraid of the materials, just the threat of lawyers years down the road when they have pictures of me removing the siding 20years ago, and some old neighbor has lung cancer because I didn't remove it to the letter, etc. Highly unlikely I know, but I'm a worry wart.

 

[LBrown59]

The house was built in 1972.

And no, this siding is not flaking, it's in really good shape. It's very hard and about .340" thick.

There are just some pieces busted off here and there on the bottom course from lawn mowing, etc.

I'm fine leaving the siding on. This house for me would be a starter house/5 year thing until I'd start to build the house at my lot.

I'm really just concerned about it being a bad selling point ~5 years down the road.

Unfortunately I don't have a more closeup shot of the siding on the house than this:

http://i1.e-net.com/mls/import/BuffaloNY/property/full/153/344153_1000.jpg

I don't blame you I wouldn't buy a place that has asbestos in it.

 

[Builder]

I'd buy it in a heartbeat if the price is right. I've bought & sold dozens of houses and asbestos siding was only a small distraction.

Defective synthetic stucco, bad copper plumbing or other problems I've encountered were much worse.