How To Safely Cut Asbestos Siding

Asbestos siding as it is on a house is perfectly safe.

How to safely cut asbestos siding.

Breakage releases asbestos fibers. If siding should begin to crack or crumble immediately wet the cracked or broken areas with the pint size spray bottle or garden pump sprayer. Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s. Use a hand saw with a water stream and wear a good quality dust mask.

Remove pieces of siding by pulling nails or cutting nail heads so as to minimize breakage. Asbestos dust which is what would be created by sawing it is the dangerous part. If necessary carefully lift siding pieces with pry tool to expose nail heads. The old style siding could be cut with a knife as the above poster stated make your score and lay on bench with the score on the edge of the bench and pop the shingle to snap it.

Use slow deliberate strokes to keep dust down. If you absolutely have to cut it do not use power tools. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but brittle. Wet the siding and start your cutting.

4 1 2 diamond blade in a grinder. Cut asbestos cement corrugated roofing material with a pair of heavy dolphin nosed tin snips. Cut a 45 degree bevel onto the edge joint of asbestos cement siding with a large carpenter s rasp. Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find.

Cut a 45 degree bevel onto the edge joint of asbestos cement siding with a large carpenter s rasp. Have a helper move a running hose to follow the rasp while cutting. Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely.