Pressure Washing Old Asbestos Siding

Should i prep the surface by powerwashing or will that release harmful asbestos particles.

Pressure washing old asbestos siding.

This is one of the few ways that you can damage it. If you feel that you need to use a pressure washer especially on harder to reach locations only use it at a low pressure under 1500 psi with a wide tip. These are easily prepared and easy to repaint. Asbestos siding achieved its height in popularity between the 1920s and 1970s.

When you say asbestos shingles i presume you mean asbestos siding shingles. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough. Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc. Then as long as your using a lower pressure wand with the fan spray you will be fine.

Many homes used this type of siding because it was easy to clean and more durable than other substances. Only use a pressure washer at a distance of 6 feet or more. This article warns about un supervised or un trained environmental cleanup companies or work crews handling asbestos lead mold and similar indoor contaminants including identification of amateur or improper asbestos abatement projects that failed to properly remove materials or that left abandoned asbestos materials in place. Asbestos cement roof damaged by washing.

If the tiles are in really good shape and your only looking to clean them not prep for paint. While it s possible to wash wood siding correctly there s also a good chance that water will find its way up and under the exterior surface if you use high pressure. A high powered pressure washer can also dent aluminum and vinyl siding. Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken.

From there water can damage insulation electrical wiring and can spur mold growth. Power washing of asbestos wall tiles can be done but its condition must be considered first. Do not use a high pressure hose to clean fiber cement siding. I have an old house with asbestos cement siding.

Bob vila interviews a contractor in the process of using a pressure washer to remove paint from exterior wood siding. If you do power wash use as gentle a touch as possible and quit if you find that you re knocking pieces of siding off. If there is fraying on the edges of the tiles the answer is no. So i think i ll just put on a fresh coat of paint.

The biggest concern is that you should avoid power washing asbestos siding as it can chip or damage the siding and release dangerous asbestos fibers into the air. You can power wash any loose paint or simply scrape and remove any.