Cleaning Asbestos Siding

When you say asbestos shingles i presume you mean asbestos siding shingles.

Cleaning asbestos siding. You can power wash any loose paint or simply scrape and remove any. Cleaning this siding takes some care since asbestos could be released into the air and cause health problems for those present. Many homes used this type of siding because it was easy to clean and more durable than other substances. Apply a liquid sander solution by rolling on liberally with a paint roller and using clean rags to rub and smooth the surface.

Asbestos siding achieved its height in popularity between the 1920s and 1970s. Since asbestos is only dangerous when it is in a friable state you will remove the paint without sanding or scraping. In the 1970s the public learned what the asbestos industry had known for 60 years that asbestos is highly toxic and that inhaling its fibers can cause lung scarring lung cancer and mesothelioma. Use a water blaster for the large pieces and allow the siding to dry thoroughly.

Wrap asbestos siding in 6 mil thick plastic sheeting and secure the plastic with duct tape or place the debris in heavy duty plastic bags. Scraping or brushing off old paint from asbestos siding is necessary before repainting but dangerous because it can release small asbestos fibres the approach of removing the old shingles and replacing them with new siding is an option that many homeowners have pursued though probably not as safely as they should. These are easily prepared and easy to repaint.