Asbestos Siding: Identification, Risks & Removal Cost
Asbestos-cement siding was installed on millions of American homes from roughly the 1920s through the 1970s. It was fireproof, durable, and cheap, and much of it is still on houses today.
The good news: intact asbestos siding is generally considered low risk, because the fibers are locked into cement. The risk comes from breaking, cutting, drilling, or sanding it. TheRemodelers works with licensed contractors to help homeowners understand how to identify asbestos siding, when to leave it alone, and what covering or removing it involves. This guide is general information; for your home, rely on a certified inspector and your state’s rules.
Asbestos Siding at a Glance
Option | Typical Cost | When It Fits |
|---|
Leave in place and maintain | Low | Siding is intact, and you are not renovating |
Professional testing | A few hundred dollars for an inspection with lab analysis | Any older cement siding before work begins |
Encapsulate (seal and paint) | About $2 – $6 per sq ft | Sound siding with a worn surface |
Cover with new siding | New siding cost, plus careful prep | Sound siding, where code and structure allow |
Professional removal | About $3 – $15 per sq ft, before new siding | Damaged siding, or a full re-side that requires removal |
How to Tell If Your Siding Contains Asbestos
Clues that siding may be asbestos-cement:
The home was built or re-sided between the 1920s and about 1980.
The siding is hard, brittle shingles, often around 12 by 24 inches.
The surface has a textured, dimpled, or wood-grain pattern, sometimes with a wavy bottom edge.
Nail holes are pre-punched near the bottom edge of each shingle.
It feels like cement rather than wood, vinyl, or metal.
Only a lab test can confirm it. Have a certified asbestos inspector take the sample rather than breaking off a piece yourself, since sampling disturbs the material.
Modern fiber cement, made since the 1980s, does not contain asbestos; see our fiber cement siding guide.
Is Asbestos Siding Dangerous?
Asbestos fibers are a known health hazard when they are inhaled. In cement siding, they are bound into the material, so intact shingles that are not being disturbed release very little.
Risk rises when the siding is damaged or worked on. Avoid:
Sanding, scraping, or grinding it
Drilling or cutting it
Breaking shingles, including during removal
Pressure washing, which can erode the surface
Walking ladders or equipment against brittle shingles
Your Options
Leave It in Place
If the siding is intact and you are not renovating, leaving it alone is often the safest and cheapest choice. Inspect it once a year for cracks or broken pieces, and keep plants and equipment from damaging it.
Encapsulate It
Sealing sound siding with a suitable primer and paint, often called encapsulation, helps lock the surface down and refreshes its look. It typically costs about $2 to $6 per square foot. Prep must be gentle, with no sanding or pressure washing.
Cover It With New Siding
Where code and the wall structure allow, new siding can sometimes go over sound asbestos siding, which avoids removal. Fastening through or around the old shingles has to be planned to disturb them as little as possible, so use a contractor experienced with asbestos siding.
Keep in mind the asbestos is still in the wall, and some areas expect it to be disclosed when you sell.
Remove It
Removal is the most involved option, typically about $3 to $15 per square foot before the cost of new siding. Professionals keep the shingles wet, take them off whole rather than breaking them, wrap them, and dispose of them under waste rules.
It makes sense when the siding is damaged, when you are re-siding and covering is not practical, or when you want it gone for good.
Rules and Permits
Asbestos rules for homes vary by state and locality. Some places require a licensed abatement contractor, notification, or special disposal even for a single-family home, and some allow homeowner removal under specific conditions. Check with your state environmental or health agency, and your local building department, before any work begins.
What Replacing Asbestos Siding Costs
Full replacement is two costs: removal (about $3 to $15 per square foot) plus new siding. New vinyl runs about $4 to $8 per square foot installed and fiber cement about $6 to $13. For new siding prices by home size, see our siding replacement cost guide.
For what a full re-side involves start to finish, see what to expect from a siding replacement.
Signs It Is Time to Act
Cracked, broken, or missing shingles, loose pieces, or water getting behind the siding all point toward covering or removal. For the general warning signs that siding has reached the end of its life, see how to know if you need new siding.
Hiring the Right Professionals
Use a certified asbestos inspector for testing.
For removal, hire a licensed abatement contractor where your state requires one.
For covering or re-siding, choose a siding contractor with asbestos siding experience.
Get a written scope covering containment, wetting, handling, disposal, and cleanup.
Ask for proof of proper disposal.
Final Thoughts
Asbestos siding sounds alarming, but intact siding is generally low risk when it is left alone. The key is not to disturb it without a plan: test first, then decide whether to maintain, encapsulate, cover, or remove it with qualified professionals. For guides on every siding material, visit our siding project hub.
Planning to re-side a home with asbestos siding? Home Upgrade Pros can connect you with licensed contractors for a free, no-obligation consultation, or call (725) 745-8553.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my siding has asbestos?
Cement shingles installed between the 1920s and about 1980, often with a textured surface and pre-punched nail holes, are likely candidates. Only a lab test confirms it, and a certified inspector should take the sample.
Is asbestos siding dangerous?
Intact, undisturbed asbestos-cement siding is generally considered low risk. It becomes a hazard when it is broken, cut, drilled, sanded, or pressure-washed.
How much does asbestos siding removal cost?
Typically about $3 to $15 per square foot, depending on access, condition, and local disposal rules, plus the cost of new siding.
Can I put new siding over asbestos siding?
Sometimes, when the old siding is sound and code allows. It must be done carefully to avoid disturbing the shingles, so use a contractor experienced with asbestos siding.
Can I remove asbestos siding myself?
Rules vary by state and locality, and some places require licensed abatement contractors. Check with your state environmental or health agency before doing any removal.
Can I paint asbestos siding?
Yes, painting sound siding can help seal it. Never sand, scrape, or pressure-wash it during prep.
