How To Safely Cut Asbestos Siding

Cut a 45 degree bevel onto the edge joint of asbestos cement siding with a large carpenter s rasp.

How to safely cut asbestos siding.

Covering old asbestos shingles with new siding may seem like an option too but it s not easy to do safely. Cut asbestos cement corrugated roofing material with a pair of heavy dolphin nosed tin snips. Have a helper move a running hose to follow the rasp while cutting. If necessary carefully lift siding pieces with pry tool to expose nail heads.

Use slow deliberate strokes with the saw under water trickling from a hose pipe. The newer siding will not cut this way with out breaking. Let the siding dry then prime and paint with the best exterior latex you can find. Use a hand saw with a water stream and wear a good quality dust mask.

Cut a 45 degree bevel onto the edge joint of asbestos cement siding with a large carpenter s rasp. Breakage releases asbestos fibers. 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. Asbestos shingles are relatively strong but brittle.

Remove pieces of siding by pulling nails or cutting nail heads so as to minimize breakage. If you absolutely have to cut it do not use power tools. Wet the siding and start your cutting. 4 1 2 diamond blade in a grinder.

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. Lead paint wasn t outlawed until 1978 so it s sure to be present on siding going back to the 1950s. Use slow deliberate strokes to keep dust down.