Cement Siding
In the early 1900s, the US building industry discovered the versatility of combining asbestos with cement to create new building materials. Asbestos, lightweight and durable, increased the already impressie features of cement - fire resistant, low heat conductivity, water resistant, corrosion resistant - add the two together, and the result was a lightweight, eminently moldable substance that could simulate many different surfaces.
What is asbestos cement?
Asbestos cement combines Portland cement with asbestos fibers to create a lightweight, economical and durable building material. It was widely used for construction purposes in many different applications and forms from the early 1900s through the early 1970s. Those applications included asbestos cement roofing and cement siding shingles.
What was cement siding used for?
Cement siding was widely used in place of wood shingles. The asbestos cement was formed in large sheets that were cut into 12 and 24 inch sizes. The advantages of asbestos cement siding over wood shingles were many. The sizes were uniform, and pre-drilled holes made installation simple. Because it was easy to form asbestos cement siding, there were many different styles available, including horizontal and vertical grooving and other patterns.
Cement siding was also widely used for large construction projects, since the cement siding sheets could be extruded in large sizes and applied to tall buildings and large areas all at once.
How widely was cement siding used?
Cement siding was one of the most popular siding materials from the 1930s through the early 1970s, when the news about the dangers of asbestos led to a quick death for cement siding projects. The EPA estimates that there were over one billion square feet of cement siding in use in the United States by 1950 - twenty years before its popularity peaked. It's possible that additional uses of cement siding after 1950 amounted to several hundred million more square feet - millions of homes throughout the U.S.
How dangerous is cement siding containing asbestos?
According to the EPA, asbestos cement is not considered friable when it is intact. As long as it cannot be crumbled or broken by hand pressure alone, cement siding is not a health hazard. However, if the asbestos cement is severely damaged or is sanded or cut using mechanical means like a saw or sandpaper, it is considered friable, and can release asbestos dust into the air. Once asbestos dust or fibers are being shed by the cement siding, it presents a health risk.
Who should be concerned about asbestos cement siding?
If you worked in the construction industry before the mid-1970s and worked with cement sidings, you may be at risk of developing mesothelioma. If a family member worked in the same industry and worked with asbestos cement siding, they may have brought asbestos fibers home with them, and you may have inhaled the fibers. Anyone who has worked with renoating or restoring an older house with asbestos cement siding may be at risk of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. If you work in renovation or siding industries, and or in demolition, you may have been exposed to asbestos laden dust.
What should I do if my home is sided with asbestos siding?
Contact a local asbestos abatement firm for advice on what to do about your situation.
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