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ddhiggi · Mar 5, 2009, 06:03 PM

Is it possible to put up vinyl siding over top of asbestos tiles? The house was built
In 1954 and is half frame and half asbestos.

darkvision · Mar 5, 2009, 06:13 PM

The only thing I would recommend on that is to contact a professional who has the equipment to work on/with asbestos safely. Working on that is not a DIY project in my opinion. So your local version of yellow pages and a phone (and of course the cash to pay) would be what you need.

21boat · Mar 5, 2009, 06:30 PM

To be honest this could get real costly. The stickler here is nailing on the furring strips causing a tile to crack and fall. " loose abestos "

In the old days we just went over it.

Its very possible. The window jambs will be built out and the sills also. Not all needs this but gust to nail the siding directly over asbestos siding usually requires pre drilling holes for nailing on the siding. Installing the siding nails has a bit of a trick. Nails to tight and the siding buckles in heat. To loose and it flaps in wind. So, furring strips.

Signed 21 Boat

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ddhiggi · Mar 5, 2009, 07:09 PM

Thanks for your answer. I think I'll try the furring strips

ballengerb1 · Mar 5, 2009, 07:26 PM

There is no way to install siding and/or furring strips without creating friable asbestos(dust). The asbestos industry is making big money handling this risk. Now some folks feel the stuff is only dangerous to those who are repeatedly expose, like asbestos miners or workers in the old insulation industry. I am not willing to participate in that experiment.

vwdieseljunkie · Mar 5, 2009, 07:32 PM

One basic rule when dealing with asbestos, or "presumed asbestos containing materials": So long as it is not disturbed, it is not hazardous. They are considered "non-friable" asbestos materials.

However, if a nail or screw is driven through them, or they are broken, scraped, or otherwise manipulated outside of their current form, they will become "friable", as they will create an airborne 'dust' of the asbestos fibers.

There are ways to get around this, but I would suggest you contact your local code office, or a local contractor that is licensed to handle and abate asbestos, and verify what practices are accepted in your area. I would imagine some form of encapsulation will be required.

I too do not consider this to be a DIY project, unless you are yourself well educated on asbestos and it's handling, as well as abatement procedures and precautions.

darkvision · Mar 6, 2009, 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by ddhiggi

Thanks for your answer. I think I'll try the furring strips

As I was saying earlier I really wish for your safety you would get outside help, even in the US Navy where we do 99% of the work on a ship ourselves when it comes to handling asbestos we hire an outside outfit to do it for us, and they come in with a lot of special equipment, and seal off a very large area around where they are working to prevent exposure to others.