Asbestos Siding Vs Cement Fiber Siding

The common reinforcing fiber used was asbestos.

Asbestos siding vs cement fiber siding.

All of these products use some sort of fiber along with cement. As the experts at asbestos siding note it is sometimes difficult to spot because it was often manufactured to resemble different types of siding in a variety of colors and textures. Very hard to cut and work with. Since asbestos was included as an additive when siding was manufactured for many decades the odds are good that original shingle siding on holder homes may contain asbestos.

These materials are known as fiber cement siding and they contain no asbestos. Two fire marshals i work with one in texas the other in nj have both opined that in their experience fires spread slower in asbestos clad houses than vinyl. Some manufacturers use the term fiber reinforced cement for these products. The resulting product was very durable fire resistant and absorbed paint well.

There is no legal requirement to do so nor is there significant real estate benefit. Cementitious siding installed after 1973 is very unlikely to contain asbestos. Siding is cement impregnated asbestos it s going nowhere unless you grind or pulverize it. Left on your house it s a darn good insulator and fire retardant.

Some evidence of delaminating or gapping. Asbestos siding was made by adding asbestos a naturally occurring mineral to portland cement. Manufacturers use asbestos in fiber cement siding although some of the earlier versions of fiber cement siding did indeed have some asbestos particles blended in fiber cement was actually designed to replace the asbestos siding products to create a safer environment for the installers and the home s residents. It is formulated using sand cement and cellulose fibers.

It is available in a variety of sizes and shapes to match many of the old siding shingles installed over the last 60 years. That cement was then pressed into siding shingles that came in a wide variety of sizes profiles and textures. Cement asbestos siding tiles do not need to be removed simply because they contain asbestos. I have had many houses built with fiber cement and have never seen any delaminating in 8 years.

Before 1978 in the u s. Siding materials that use fibers and aggregate other than asbestos are properly called fiber cement building siding products. Weatherside fiber cement siding is the one and weatherside fiber cement siding is the one and only solution for replacing or repairing old asbestos siding shingles. Silica dust is a danger to those cutting and installing the product if they do not use the right tools.

Older style cement siding shingles were traditionally made by mixing asbestos into the cement in order to fireproof and strengthen siding.