Does Fiber Cement Siding Contain Asbestos

Fiber cement siding is manufactured with cellulose fibers along with cement and sand.

Does fiber cement siding contain asbestos. While most siding containing asbestos has been removed from public buildings due to health concerns it may still be present on some older buildings and homes. 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. Recognizing siding with asbestos. Older style cement siding shingles were traditionally made by mixing asbestos into the cement in order to fireproof and strengthen siding.

The asbestos network recommends bringing in a professional to collect samples. 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. The only way to be sure whether your siding contains asbestos is to have it tested.

Manufacturers use asbestos in fiber cement siding. Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral used for insulation and fireproofing. When the fibers become airborne they pose health concerns. 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 before 1978 and sided with cementious shingles may contain a mix of both asbestos containing and non asbestos containing cementious shingles.

Cement asbestos siding tiles do not need to be removed simply because they contain asbestos.