Asbestos siding. - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

mdshunk · 05-15-2008, 10:02 PM

I was working across the street, outdoors, from a home that was getting new vinyl siding. The contractor was doing a fantastic job, near as I could tell. The one thing that troubled me is that he was ripping off old asbestos siding and shoveling it into the back of his truck. Onto the porch roof too. He did sweep everything up nice, however, with a pretty nice dust cloud. How do I know it was asbestos? It was quite old, so it had to be. In any event, is this permitted, since it was outdoors? Was I exposed, being across the street?

neolitic · 05-15-2008, 10:07 PM

If a bus went by, it probably
caused you more harm.
The guys doing the work on the other hand...
Just a crap-shoot for them really.
I have to hope, no one
ever told us when we
were sawing that stuff in the
60's and 70's.

Patrick · 05-15-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdshunk

I was working across the street, outdoors, from a home that was getting new vinyl siding. The contractor was doing a fantastic job, near as I could tell. The one thing that troubled me is that he was ripping off old asbestos siding and shoveling it into the back of his truck. Onto the porch roof too. He did sweep everything up nice, however, with a pretty nice dust cloud. How do I know it was asbestos? It was quite old, so it had to be. In any event, is this permitted, since it was outdoors? Was I exposed, being across the street?

Are you SURE it was asbestos? There are a several products that look like it. Not many guys that are balsy enough to do that anymore as the legal risks are pretty high. They just busted a guy around here for doing it, and they plastered his name all over the papers and made him pay $$$$$$$$$$$$$. The real crime is where is he dumping the stuff? The guy by me got caught when he tried dumping it in the concrete demo bin at the dump.

easy sider · 05-16-2008, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdshunk

I was working across the street, outdoors, from a home that was getting new vinyl siding. The contractor was doing a fantastic job, near as I could tell. The one thing that troubled me is that he was ripping off old asbestos siding and shoveling it into the back of his truck. Onto the porch roof too. He did sweep everything up nice, however, with a pretty nice dust cloud. How do I know it was asbestos? It was quite old, so it had to be. In any event, is this permitted, since it was outdoors? Was I exposed, being across the street?

Asbestos fiber that is encapsulated in cement is considered hazardous waste since 1981 and is usually removed by a hazardous waste company. The danger is when breaking the siding small asbestos particles can be released. The project is tented so particles don't escape into the atmosphere. The fine for tear off without the proper abatement license is pretty high.

Yes, you probably were exposed but you shouldn't worry.

Prior to 1980, this type of cement board was used as siding, roofing. skirting, and chimney liner. I have installed all of the above products. I know men who are over 80 that worked with this material often and only one who had a lung removed most likely from smoking.

J-Peffer · 05-18-2008, 04:37 PM

I think you can remove a smaller portion at a time with out a special license, up to a certain sq foot.

easy sider · 05-19-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Peffer

I think you can remove a smaller portion at a time with out a special license, up to a certain sq foot.

In the mid 90`s the OSHA rules changed stating that one trained competent supervisor needs to be present when working with asbestos. Even if a home owner does the work himself they have to follow all of the Federal rules. If the asbestos can be crushed into any powder any where only an abatement company can handle it. Asbestos is now considered toxic waste and must be taken to a facility that handles toxic waste. Labor & Industries , Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Air Authority, and other agencies can fine and prosecute offenders. There is no minimum sq. ft. exemption.

neolitic · 05-19-2008, 04:01 PM

Pretty sure transite/asbestos cement
is now in a different category from
friable asbestos fibers.
The Feds have decided the siding isn't
as scary as they once defined it.
Still gonna depend on local regulation
though.

But I don't think he needs an abatement
license to drill a hole.

easy sider · 05-19-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neolitic

Pretty sure transite/asbestos cement
is now in a different category from
friable asbestos fibers.
The Feds have decided the siding isn't
as scary as they once defined it.
Still gonna depend on local regulation
though.

But I don't think he needs an abatement
license to drill a hole.

If I owned a house with asbestos siding I would drill a hole in it if I wanted to.

Transite water pipe are no longer made. The water dept. in San Diego bought up all the available pipe before the ban. This is probably the best pipe for water mains because of the lack of friction.

As far as the Federal Regs, they are being enforced in my State. All asbestos siding is disposed of at the Hanford Toxic Waste facility in doubled plastic bags with 65 lb or less in a bag. We still do repairs on asbestos siding occasionally but try to stay away from anything like doing tear off.

Asbestos siding is friable because of the thinness of the material. If you tear off asbestos siding with a plastic sheeting under the wall you will see asbestos siding dust and asbestos siding particles on the plastic. To what degree of friable is illegal and if this is subjective upon inspection, I have no answer.

wellbuilthome · 06-18-2008, 10:12 PM

What i do is take the stuff off from the top down with out breaking it.Then it gos in boxs and gets taped up. Then we put it in the dumpster.In NY every thing gets dumped out and repacked .The guys put it aside.Some times i dig a hole and drop it in .For years we just riped it off and dumped it.

Chris Johnson · 06-18-2008, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wellbuilthome

Some times i dig a hole and drop it in .

Nice - you know we are in the new millenium right?

415moto · 06-18-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Johnson

Nice - you know we are in the new millenium right?

HAHAHA

In california, you have to have an asbestos certified person transport and demo asbestos past a certain amount, which is small. They have to tag it and bag it like it was nuclear waste. Just chucking it around and throwing asbestos dust all over would get you in trouble, if someone complained. Enforcement, ie a inspector during work is almost non-existent, by that I mean I've never heard or seen it happen.

JonM · 06-19-2008, 07:24 AM

If it makes you feel any better, all of these asbestos-related diseases have long gestation periods, ranging from 20 to 40 years...

Gene450 · 10-26-2008, 08:09 PM

Where can you buy these--
I need to replce them on a job and am looking to find 30-40 of them they are 12x24

rbsremodeling · 10-26-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene450

Where can you buy these--
I need to replce them on a job and am looking to find 30-40 of them they are 12x24

You can't they have ASBESTOS IN THEM

Patrick · 10-26-2008, 08:31 PM

a good lumberyard will have a substitute product that you can use for repairs

rbsremodeling · 10-26-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick

a good lumberyard will have a substitute product that you can use for repairs

There is a 4X8 sheet of something the lumber hard sells can't remember the name or product right now its vodka night we cut the pieces and make replacements out of it I think I might be wrong its a hardie product

LNG24 · 10-26-2008, 10:48 PM

You should be able to find identical replacement products at your Lumber Yard or Siding Distributor. Heck, even Home Depot sells them here.

However: BE CAREFUL! the Old Ones are Asbestos! Some towns around here have local laws requiring a complete removal of them by a Licensed Asbestos Removal Company if you need to do anything to it.

If no Local Laws, then make sure you are wearing respirators when working with the old stuff.

MALCO.New.York · 10-26-2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

You can't they have ASBESTOS IN THEM

Yes! That is probably the stuff MD saw getting Demoed!

Very little. VERY little airborne fibrous content!

Probably a Johns-Manville product!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johns-Manville

http://www.healthdangers.com/toxic-s...f-asbestos.htm

MarkC · 11-08-2008, 09:20 AM

Anyone who is working around asbestos dust NEEDS proper protective equipment. In certain states they actually need EPA Haz-Mat material collection devices.

davitk · 11-08-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wellbuilthome

Some times i dig a hole and drop it in .

I pull the nails and use it to fill the low spots in my gravel drive