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Is it safe to buy a house with asbestos siding? If I remove it then can't the toxic partials fly through the windows to inside the house or into the AC condenser or into attic air vents? If asbestos siding exists then is it possible for it to exist in other areas as well like inside the walls such as insulation etc.? I am nervous because I thought about knocking down a few walls to open up the floorplan. It's a shame because I found a house I truly love located in the perfect neighborhood but I am extremely nervous about my health/safety. Asbestos is very dangerous, should I not buy this house anymore?
Is it safe to buy a house with asbestos siding? If I remove it then can't the toxic partials fly through the windows to inside the house or into the AC condenser or into attic air vents? If asbestos siding exists then is it possible for it to exist in other areas as well like inside the walls such as insulation etc.? I am nervous because I thought about knocking down a few walls to open up the floorplan. It's a shame because I found a house I truly love located in the perfect neighborhood but I am extremely nervous about my health/safety. Asbestos is very dangerous, should I not buy this house anymore?
Asbestos siding is safe as long as it isn't friable (crumbling). It's actually quite durable and non-flammable as well, and can be painted many times. Many people simply install vinyl siding right over the asbestos siding, thus encapsulating it, without any problems. If you as the homeowner remove it, you can usually dispose of it at the local landfill (but check beforehand). Most asbestos siding just cracks as it is removed and particles can be kept down by keeping it wet while removing the shingles/tiles. Just because a home has asbestos siding doesn't mean it has asbestos inside, and you can test for it. BTW, the danger from asbestos is highly overrated. I wouldn't shy away from buying the house due to its presence. I've owned several with no problems at all.
Yes, it is safe to remove asbestos siding. There is a process to seal the windows, doors, etc with plastic to keep any friable fibers from entering your home. I remove it when it is on my investment properties, but I hire specialists to do it. Why don't you get a quote for removal of the asbestos and then decide if you want to take it on yourself or hire a pro.
You should do an asbestos survey. If you want to remove some walls, they will test for asbestos as some joint products contain it.
Yes, you could have vermiculite insulation which sometimes contains asbestos. Don't freak out about it. It can be safely removed.
Do not grind your asbestos siding into dust, fling it into the air, and breathe it while also smoking a couple packs of cigarettes a day. If you avoid this, you'll be fine.
Now if you have major work done on the house, cutting into the siding, or removing it, you'll need your contractors to follow certain guidelines, which are well established and understood by any experienced licensed contractor.
Asbestos is not "very dangerous" unless you work with asbestos dust every day.
If there is then there are two options either encapsulate it or if you can then remove it. If you are deciding to do some reconstruction in the house then it is recommended to remove it.
We have a house built in 1957 with asbestos shingles. We repainted the house when we moved in. All the tiles are complete with no cracks or breakage. We have looked into getting siding for the house and one company said they would remove the old shingle siding and the other said they just cover it with the new siding. There was a difference in price of $1,500 between the two quotes (higher for the removal of shingles).
We are thinking if we do get new siding, we will just have the old siding covered. We have noticed that our house is quite cozy. Stays toasty in the winter and cool in the summer. We tend to think it might be because of the old siding.
We don't have any other asbestos that we are aware of (inside). I don't think you would have anything to worry about in regards to having asbestos siding. Depending on the age of the home, doing work in the interior walls might stir up some old lead paint but I don't believe asbestos unless your pipes are wrapped with it.
About 3 years ago we had to get a new boiler. But the old one was covered with an asbestos jacket that had to be removed by a team of specialists. Cost was $1800.00 and delayed getting the new boiler installed by 6 weeks due to the trouble finding a contractor who handled that specialized job, and filing paperwork (that's paperwork as in non-electronic paper sent via the U.S. mail, as required) with the state of Pennsylvania and getting approval.
Not saying it's going to be an expensive headache if you ever have to remove asbestos siding, but if your state legislature gets bored or the governor's cousin owns an asbestos removal company then they may decide to make it so.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Safe? Yes, but I wouldn't buy it. The fact that you asked means that potential buyers are going to be shy about it, and in fact, will perceive less value with it. Our first house had it, but a previous owner had put aluminum siding over it. The people next door to that house had it replaced, and the cost to have it removed and properly disposed of cost more than the new siding, about $8,000 and that was years ago.
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