Asbestos Lap Siding
Lap siding, also referred to as clapboard siding, is widely used in home construction as an exterior covering to provide visual appeal as well as to protect structures from weather damage, termites, rodents, dirt, smoke, excessive sunlight and other environmental factors. Lap siding is characterized by a horizontal pattern of repeating boards or shingles in which the higher rows overlap the lower rows.
From the 1940s until the 1970s, lap siding was often manufactured using asbestos in the U.S. and in Europe. In many cases, asbestos lap siding, also known as asbestos-cement siding, was considered to be the lowest-maintenance, longest-lasting siding available. Asbestos lap siding has since been replaced by fiber-cement siding, as exposure to asbestos fibers has been linked to a myriad of health conditions, including lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Identifying Asbestos Lap Siding
Asbestos lap siding was manufactured with a light concrete, often portland cement, that was then reinforced with asbestos fibers. The mixture was pressed into thin, wide sheets and then cut into shingles or boards. Asbestos lap siding can be identified by the following characteristics, which may be visible in some cases:
- Wavy bottom edge
- Wood-like grain pattern
- Bright white color
- Corrugated grooves in the surface
Overlapping shingles or boards containing asbestos were used widely in home and building construction in the mid-20th century. The asbestos siding could be applied directly to the studs and framework of a building or applied over a layer of sheathing (which often contained asbestos).
Asbestos lap siding was prized for its fire-resistant and noncombustible properties, as well as its durability and resistance to rot and moisture. However, asbestos lap siding boards have also been known to be brittle, thin and easily broken.
Potential Dangers of Asbestos Lap Siding
While most asbestos lap siding is relatively harmless if left undisturbed, the material is unfortunately very brittle and easily broken, which can release asbestos fibers into the air.
Asbestos fibers in lap siding normally remain encapsulated by cement, but if the lap siding is sanded, cut, drilled or broken, the material can crumble and release asbestos powder. Asbestos may also be released into the air if asbestos lap siding is removed or otherwise disturbed by renovators or construction workers.
Airborne asbestos fibers pose a serious health hazard if the fibers are inhaled or ingested by people nearby. The fibers can lodge in lung tissue, where they can remain for many years and lead to health complications such as asbestosis, lung inflammation, lung scarring, as well as mesothelioma, lung cancer and other cancers.
Lap siding products known to have contained asbestos include Gold Bond Asbestos Siding manufactured by the National Gypsum Company.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
