Asbestos siding is exterior wall cladding, usually flat shingles or panels, made of cement reinforced with asbestos fibers. It was installed on millions of American homes and other buildings from the 1920s into the 1970s. It is fairly stable when intact, but cutting, drilling, breaking or power-washing it can release fibers.
Origin
Asbestos-cement products were developed in Europe around 1900 and soon made in the United States, where asbestos-cement siding shingles became popular because they were durable, fireproof and cheap. Several large U.S. building products companies made them, and production fell off in the 1970s as asbestos hazards became widely known.
Significance in Asbestos Context
Asbestos siding is classified as nonfriable under EPA rules while it is intact, which means it does not readily release fibers. Exposure comes from working it: siding installers cutting and nailing shingles, carpenters and remodelers removing or drilling it, and homeowners repairing it or tearing it off during renovation. Dry cutting with a power saw is the most dangerous practice. Broken shingles left on the ground or in a yard can also crumble over time. For a claim, siding work is usually one of several exposures, and identifying the brand from old receipts, house records, photos or the shingle itself can help. Rules on removal and disposal vary by state and locality.
Example Sentence
In the summer of 1968 he worked for a contractor putting asbestos siding on new houses, scoring and snapping the shingles and trimming them with a saw.
Related Terms
Asbestos-Cement, Transite, Category I and II Nonfriable ACM, Friable, Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM), Consumer Product Exposure, Product Identification
Notes
- If you remodeled or re-sided a house, note the address, year and how the old siding was removed.
- Do not power-wash, sand or saw old siding; if it must come off, local rules may require a licensed contractor.
- A piece of the old siding, if it can be saved safely, may help identify the maker; ask your lawyer first.
Category: Exposure Concepts · All Lexicon terms A–Z
This page is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every asbestos case turns on its own facts, exposure history, diagnosis, deadlines, available evidence, and applicable law. Reviewing this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, call 833-4-ASBESTOS for a free case review.