If your house was built before the 1970s, chances are you could have asbestos siding on it. The dangers of asbestos are now well known. Many people develop lung cancer, mesothelioma, or asbestosis. When you disturb asbestors fibers, you can inhale them into the lungs. They remain there, increasing your risk of disease down the road.
Maybe you’re planning to replace your siding. Or maybe you have noticed damage and think you may have this dangerous siding. In that case, you have options. However, only trained professionals in asbestos removal–like the ones at Allied Restoration in Gambrills, Maryland–can tell if siding contains asbestos or not.
Suppose you suspect your siding may contain asbestos fibers. In that case, you must weigh the potential dangers of DIYing the asbestos siding removal.
Asbestos Siding Mitigation – To DIY or Not?
If the siding is damaged, leave it alone and call in the professionals. Allied Restoration is certified in asbestos removal. We are licensed, insured, and bonded in the state of Maryland. We can provide site inspection, remediation, and project management to have the hazardous siding removed completely and install the new siding.
However, suppose the asbestos is not damaged. In that case, you are allowed as the homeowner to remove asbestos siding if you are in a single-family housing unit. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) strongly recommends that you use a certified asbestos removal company. This is due to the dangers presented if the asbestos siding breaks during the removal process.
If you handle this process on your own as the homeowner, you must abide by all regulations set forth by the MDE. Only certain landfills will take asbestos debris. So, make sure you know how and where to dispose of the asbestos siding properly before starting.
DIY Asbestos Mitigation
If you plan to go the DIY route, prepare yourself before you begin. Cover yourself from head to toe to limit the chances of exposure to asbestos fibers in your home. Wear a respirator with a filter to minimize the possibility of inhaling asbestos fibers. Also, wear tight-fitting safety glasses to keep asbestos fibers from your eyes.
According to the MDE, the best way to remove asbestos or transite siding is to mist the material entirely with water. This process will limit asbestos fibers from becoming airborne.
The key to proper siding mediation is to avoid breakage. To remove the siding, you’ll want to cut off the nail or screw heads holding the siding in place. This way, you can slide the panels from the structure in one piece. Then, carefully lower it to the ground to keep it intact.
Now, wrap up the siding in plastic sheeting and seal it with duct tape. This procedure will keep the asbestos fibers contained during transport and dumping.
Asbestos Mitigation – Hiring the Pros
With a laborious and potentially dangerous process, you’re better off leaving the removal of this particular siding to the professionals. At Allied Restoration in Gambrills, Maryland, we can handle the entire process for you.
Why DIY the removal of this unhealthy siding when you can have it done by someone certified with the latest equipment and knowledge? Limit your exposure and the need to buy materials for safe disposal by hiring the licensed, insured, and bonded professionals at Allied Restoration.
Contact us today at 410-BUILDER (410-284-5337) to get a free estimate on your asbestos siding mitigation!
Allied Restoration is an IICRC (Institute Of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification), Certified Firm. Our Senior Project Manager, Wilma Fogler, was the first person in the State of Maryland to achieve the IICRC Master Water Restorer Certification. Allied is Licensed, Bonded, Insured, and a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. 