How Do You Paint Asbestos Siding

Painting cement asbestos siding or non asbestos fiber cement siding is in part a cosmetic decision.

How do you paint asbestos siding.

If you hire the job out painting asbestos siding doesn t require any special licensing as far as the contractor doing the work so you. Do not throw or drop removed asbestos siding. Durable paint can hold out for a long time without cracking or chipping. We have rarely seen this material in a worn friable condition but should that occur one might paint the surface also to stop fiber shedding and to preserve the material.

This presents a problem when it s time to repaint the exterior of the house. Do not sand or saw the asbestos shingles to prevent particles from entering the air you breathe. Is it safe to remove loose paint in the usual way or do i have to do something different because of the asbestos. Paint can easily adhere to asbestos siding.

Do you need to use special paint for cement asbestos siding. There is no legal requirement to do so nor is there significant real estate benefit. Wear safety goggles if you are using a water blaster. Normally you d scrap down the old paint from your siding but doing that with asbestos can release dangerous particles into the air.

Cutting sanding or breaking asbestos cement tiles poses a distinct health hazard. 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. Using a respirator rated for asbestos and disposable tyvek suits is likely overkill for painting asbestos siding but they are definitely necessary when removing siding but peace of mind is priceless especially if your significant other insists. Repeat the painting process until you have two complete coats of oil based paint on the siding.

Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but. Besides the need to create a good surface for painting asbestos siding there are two other areas of concern. You do not want to scrape or sand the shingles directly as you could release asbestos but otheriwse you will be fine. The walls are covered in asbestos siding that was probably installed during the mid 1950s.

Work from the top down removing the snails to keep from breaking the asbestos siding. Cut in paint along windows doors and eaves with a good brush that disperses paint smoothly. Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s. Remember that it is more affordable to keep the old asbestos siding and simply paint it.

Cement asbestos siding tiles do not need to be removed simply because they contain asbestos. Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find. Allow the shingles to dry for a couple of sunny days before you start to paint.