Nailing Asbestos Siding

Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer.

Nailing asbestos siding.

You can t drive screws and nails through them without pre drilling. Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find. When you nail siding to the house remember to nail the siding loose. About asbestos siding asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement.

A typical procedure is to install furring strips on the existing wall avoiding breaking the existing siding. 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. Place the top edge of the plastic sheeting at the top of the exterior wall above the siding. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but brittle.

Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely. A common remodeling practice is to install new vinyl or aluminum siding over cement asbestos shingle siding as well as over many other older siding materials when the old siding has become damaged leaky or cosmetically ugly. Start by hooking the siding on the bottom of the starter strip with the nail holes facing upward.