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Anybody done their own asbestos removal?

N

NetWareHead

THAT guy
Looking at possibly purchasing a house that has asbestos siding. I'm half tempted to undertake this project myself since being outdoors, any airborne asbestos won't have the chance to build up and concentrate like when removing asbestos indoors. Our state does not mandate hiring an asbestos removal company so if I can do this myself, I'd save alot of money. I'd protect myself with masks with appropriate filters. There is nothing wrong with the siding, it just looks ugly and is probably 30-40 years old. Anybody?
 
You'd save more money by just painting it. My first house and my current gf's house have asbestos siding. The stuff will last forever, it's highly fire resistant and has some insulting properties.

And unlike asbestos used for interior insulation, asbestos siding doesn't have loose particles that can go flying around unless you break/drill into the boards.
 
Capt Caveman said:
You'd save more money by just painting it. My first house and my current gf's house have asbestos siding. The stuff will last forever, it's highly fire resistant and has some insulting properties.

And unlike asbestos used for interior insulation, asbestos siding doesn't have loose particles that can go flying around unless you break/drill into the boards.
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^^^This. I'd keep it. It's not my favorite look, but regular siding isn't my favorite look either. If you insist on getting rid of it, I'd be leery of doing it myself. It can be removed with minimal risk, but it would take forever.
 
Capt Caveman said:
You'd save more money by just painting it. My first house and my current gf's house have asbestos siding. The stuff will last forever, it's highly fire resistant and has some insulting properties.

And unlike asbestos used for interior insulation, asbestos siding doesn't have loose particles that can go flying around unless you break/drill into the boards.
Click to expand...

That's a good idea. I have yet to go and inspect the house up front, but its one of those houses that has siding only up to the first story; so removal would be easy. The second and third stories are wood siding. If the asbestos siding can be painted, then I would definitely be open to that.

Removing siding is a different ball game than insulation. Siding, as long as removed carefully and you dont splinter it. Insulation due to its nature and manufacture has the potential to release airborne fibers and because the work is usually performed indoors requires professionals with equipment. Outdoor siding is a hard & non fibrous product that is not as risky provided precautions are followed.
 
Your asbestos siding is probably 100 years old. Don't know much about it though. I have asbestos floor tiling that I was looking to remove. I saw a video of how they remove it professionally and all they do is soap it down and remove it like normal flooring. They don't even wear safety equipment because the asbestos is not in loose fiber form. I had my tile tested and it is only 6% asbestos in vinyl.
 
NutBucket said:
Am I the only one that thinks you'll get in deep shit if some gov't type finds out you removed it yourself?
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Once removed, it needs to be packaged in double wrapped plastic bags and disposed of in accordance with local law. Otherwise we have no law stating a company needs to be used. Property owners can do the work themselves.
 
Paging Greenman...

On lead paint and the EPA

None of the new rules apply to the home owner, so yes, you can remodel whatever you want. But, if you put any of that contaminated material in your pickup, you're committing a federal crime as soon as you go on a public street. If you then go to the dump and empty your truck, you've committed yet another federal crime. So while you as the home owner can remove lead without fear of fines, you have to keep it on your property forever, except you would then have a class II dump on your property, that's a federal crime.

It's a neat little package, don't you think?
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Asbestos siding is perfectly safe to remove as long as you arent grinding the stuff up. We did it about 15 years ago. Wasnt a problem. Not sure where we dumped it, might have hired a company to do that part.
 
if you think you can do safe removal, go ahead, but I sure wouldn't, it sounds too much like those news you hear from time to time of amateurs doing stuff they shouldn't.

Painting would probably be easier. Asbestos is perfectly safe as long as you don't break/touch/consume it and it's not in the dangerous form.
 
Don't forget the suit:

images
 
Legios said:
Asbestos siding is perfectly safe to remove as long as you arent grinding the stuff up. We did it about 15 years ago. Wasnt a problem. Not sure where we dumped it, might have hired a company to do that part.
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Yup. As long as you do it yourself it's legal. Just wet it down before you start is all.

You can actually just dump it at the dump like normal garbage. Well they have a section for it. But just bring it down and throw it in there. Asbestos siding is actually quite safe. It doesn't dust off and get into the air. As long as you don't grind it or something. Just snapping it doesn't even pose a risk. It's called non-friable asbestos.

It's a shame they banned this stuff. It's makes an amazing siding. Lasts for ages. Super resistant to the elements, fire resistant and termites won't touch it. The asbestos is locked in the siding so it's quite safe. I have some on my house. It's probably 60 years old or more and is like new. I'm in the process of replacing a few that broke over the years right now with mine. They have replacement tiles you can buy online (made with a type of cement now a days.) After I'm done and paint them it's going to look like a brand new house. The stuff is incredible.
 
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T9D said:
.

You can actually just dump it at the dump like normal garbage. Well they have a section for it. But just bring it down and throw it in there. Asbestos siding is actually quite safe. It doesn't dust off and get into the air. As long as you don't grind it or something. Just snapping it doesn't even pose a risk. It's called non-friable asbestos.
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Figured the EPA would be all over it like lead paint.
 
Well asbestos is just a natural mineral. It's found all over in nature. Depends how it's used in a product too. Once it's back in the ground where it came from it's not really a problem.

Most the people that got sick were workers in the factory that didn't wear any protection at all. So it packed and caked into their lungs for decades. Which is stupid to allow anything to do that. It usually takes about 30 years after that before it starts becoming a problem and can kill you. Although if you are unlucky I suppose a little bit could kill you. It doesn't want to break down in the lungs. So it sits for a long time.

Not saying I'd want it in everything. Certainly deserves some bans in some uses. But it's too bad certain products aren't allowed to use it anymore.
 
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my parents bought a really old cottage when I was a kid. it had asbestos siding and they had me take it off. I had one of those dinky 3M masks, a pair of gloves, and a pry bar.

I'd pry up the plate, it would crack at the two nail holes, and I'd toss it into a dumpster. I'll let you know in 20 more years if there were any health complications.
 
T9D said:
It's a shame they banned this stuff. It's makes an amazing siding. Lasts for ages. Super resistant to the elements, fire resistant and termites won't touch it. The asbestos is locked in the siding so it's quite safe. I have some on my house. It's probably 60 years old or more and is like new. I'm in the process of replacing a few that broke over the years right now with mine. They have replacement tiles you can buy online (made with a type of cement now a days.) After I'm done and paint them it's going to look like a brand new house. The stuff is incredible.
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Considering what you said, if the siding is salvageable, then I'll keep it. At the very least I would paint it.
 
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