I am finishing a small addition and part of my tasks are to remove and old AC and install a stained glass in its place. I also have to cut out to openings for AC wall units in the bedrooms. Easy enough right. I figuire about 300 each opening not including glass or units. I have tools already on the site so no problem. I cut open the wall from the inside slip a small header, sills and cripple studs in and move to the next one. I go to break through the exterior wall and finish the install and I had gypsum sheathing (ok)wood clap board siding, asbestos shingles then aluminum shake siding. What a mess!

The only thing I did not expect was these asbestos shingle. They are breaking up and falling down behind the other layers. I now have to readjust my labor costs. I dont recall ever seeing asbestos nailed to clap board without wood lath or a flat surface much less aluminum shake nailed to asbestos. How on earth did the previous installer nail on the aluminum shakes through the asbestos with all the hollow voids between the clap boards. One would think the asbestos would have been falling apart as the aluminum was being installed. Unbelieveable simply unbelievable this is what the future holds. I always thought they should make a limit on how many layers you can add to the exterior like roofs. It will be a messy job down the road for residers.