Does Fiber Cement Siding Contain Asbestos

They were installed as overlapping units directly to the framing.

Does fiber cement siding contain asbestos.

Fiber cement siding is sometimes confused with asbestos cement siding a shingle format type of siding widely used in the first half of the 20th century and which has since been discontinued. Cement asbestos siding tiles do not need to be removed simply because they contain asbestos. Waterproof board and method of preparing same u s. The siding may also contain asbestos if it is old with a wood grain texture to resemble cedar.

They were considered a lower cost utilitarian cladding. Soakers were used over joints and at corners. If your siding fits either of these descriptions you should consider having it tested. Most fiber cement products come with a warranty of up to 50 years thanks to a natural resistance to fire termites and rot.

Fiber cement siding was manufactured as a replacement for asbestos siding which was popular for its attributes of being fire retardant and rot and insect proof. Asbestos cement planks asbestos cement planks made in new zealand were readily available during the 1970s. These patents assigned to flintkote give more details of the history and constituents of flintkote insulating sheathing. Patent 1 793 810 issued february 24 1931.

Asbestos ranks high on the list of dangerous substances because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties when airborne. Despite its many benefits fiber cement siding comes with its share of problems ranging from adverse. Because fiber cement siding manufactured in north america after around 1978 was made without using asbestos in those later products and because those non asbestos fiber cement shingles included products that by eye were an exact visual match for their older asbestos containing brothers and sisters already installed a building built. It is formulated using sand cement and cellulose fibers.

Planks were up to 5 m long and became available with a wood grain finish. Today there are several companies that produce fiber cement siding and building products. 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. There is no legal requirement to do so nor is there significant real estate benefit.

Fiber cement siding does not contain asbestos. Cementitious siding installed after 1973 is very unlikely to contain asbestos. These shingles are generally 12 by 24 inches and the bottom tends to have a wave like pattern though that is not always the case. The company prodcued roofing products containing asbestos and also asbestos cement shingle siding.

If you suspect that your siding may contain asbestos there is no need for alarm. Fiber cement siding is made from a blend of cement silica sand wood fiber and other ingredients making it a siding option that is known for durability and strength.