ASBESTOS SIDING

Homeowners removing outdoor asbestos siding are required to have a professional abatement contractor perform the work

April 9, 2010 - If your house was built before 1950, and you discover or suspect that the brittle outdoor siding tiles are actually asbestos-cement tiles, resist the urge to remove them without the help of a professional asbestos abatement contractor.

Outdoor asbestos siding is potentially dangerous when disturbed. Asbestos, if left alone, is not dangerous. But when you start ripping, sawing, cutting or demolishing asbestos siding products, or any asbestos-containing construction products for that matter, you jeopardize the health and safety of those around you.

Disturbing old asbestos-containing materials will release microscopic asbestos fibers into the air. Asbestos exposure occurs when these toxic asbestos fibers are inhaled into the lungs. Regular asbestos exposure, especially among workers of certain construction trades, is known to lead to fatal asbestos diseases, including mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is the deadliest of asbestos-related diseases, killing an estimated 90,000 people worldwide and 3,000 people in the U.S. every year. Mesothelioma is primarily an occupational lung disease that kills workers in certain industries, especially those working in the construction, automotive and maritime industries.

Removing asbestos siding

Removing asbestos cement siding is not a simple matter. Depending on your locality, chances are good that you'll need to obtain special permits and have a certified asbestos abatement company perform the work.

Asbestos cement was first developed in 1905 by the Johns-Manville company, which became one of the premier manufacturers of cement-asbestos products, including outdoor asbestos siding.

Injured workers rely on Weitz & Luxenberg

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you are eligible for a free legal consultation with the law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg, long recognized by the legal community for obtaining record-setting verdicts and settlements for asbestos-injured workers.

Find out if you are eligible for financial compensation today. Contact our firm by using the communication form on this page. The consultation is confidential and absolutely free.