Painting Asbestos Siding

Asbestos cement is a mixture of portland cement reinforced with asbestos fibers.

Painting asbestos siding.

A brief history of asbestos cement siding. Begin by analyzing a paint sample for lead content. Paint for asbestos cement siding works by creating a permanent polymer based barrier between the asbestos and the elements. Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s.

Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely. Asbestos cement was first developed in 1905 by the johns manville company who became one of the premier manufacturers of cement asbestos materials. Untouched asbestos is just as safe as any other siding or insulation. Allow the primer to dry completely.

When you are done cleaning paint the siding with a suitable primer. Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find. It s not difficult at all to paint asbestos siding as one of its benefits is that paint easily adheres to it and it is very durable and can last for decades without chipping or cracking. One concern when repainting this type of siding is the small gaps between the shingles.

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. The first is the possible and almost certain presence of lead based paint on the siding and the second is the asbestos in the siding itself. The danger of asbestos lies in the particles that escape and can be inhaled. Painting cement asbestos siding or non asbestos fiber cement siding is in part a cosmetic decision.

Unless asbestos siding is disturbed it doesn t pose a significant health hazard and does not need to be removed. Both the epa and the vinyl siding institute recommend not disturbing asbestos if at all possible. Unfortunately asbestos never remains truly untouched because of nature. You can roll it or brush it on but make sure you get under the small lip at the bottom of each asbestos siding shingle.

Our method of choice to first apply zinsser peel stop triple thick primer which is a water based acrylic binding primer designed to penetrate and stop previous coatings from peeling. Preparation before coating is the key to a successful paint job. Begin painting the siding with your choice of brushes and rollers making sure to check often for runs. Painting asbestos siding is often a much better alternative than trying to remove it.

Installing vinyl siding will require disturbing the asbestos by nailing into it. Besides the need to create a good surface for painting asbestos siding there are two other areas of concern.