How To Safely Cut Asbestos Siding

Wet the siding and start your cutting.

How to safely cut asbestos siding.

The newer siding will not cut this way with out breaking. Have a helper move a running hose to follow the rasp while cutting. Asbestos dust which is what would be created by sawing it is the dangerous part. Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find.

Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but brittle. Cut a 45 degree bevel onto the edge joint of asbestos cement siding with a large carpenter s rasp. If necessary carefully lift siding pieces with pry tool to expose nail heads. 4 1 2 diamond blade in a grinder.

Use a hand saw with a water stream and wear a good quality dust mask. Cut asbestos cement corrugated roofing material with a pair of heavy dolphin nosed tin snips. Asbestos siding as it is on a house is perfectly safe. Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s.

Remove pieces of siding by pulling nails or cutting nail heads so as to minimize breakage. If siding should begin to crack or crumble immediately wet the cracked or broken areas with the pint size spray bottle or garden pump sprayer. Have a helper move a running hose to follow the rasp while cutting. If you absolutely have to cut it do not use power tools.

Breakage releases asbestos fibers. The old style siding could be cut with a knife as the above poster stated make your score and lay on bench with the score on the edge of the bench and pop the shingle to snap it. Cut a 45 degree bevel onto the edge joint of asbestos cement siding with a large carpenter s rasp.