Table of Content
It can sometimes cause pieces to break off and bulge underneath. Encapsulation may be both the safest and least expensive option, since it contains the asbestos without disturbing it — and also costs about half the price of removal. The process involves spraying the siding with a high-grade sealant to prevent asbestos fibers from becoming airborne. Clever real estate expert Steve Nicastro advises that most homes built before the 1990s should be checked for a variety of environmental hazards like asbestos, lead paint, and mold. While there’s a strong likelihood that original cement siding on an older home contains asbestos, the only way to know for sure is to have a sample professionally tested.
The most common management procedure for undamaged asbestos siding is to encase or cover the asbestos tiles with new siding. Since many homes were covered in asbestos tile siding in the 1970s, most home inspectors will be familiar with the most affordable and safe management methods. Selling a home may seem like a challenge for the homeowner who has discovered termite damage, vermiculite, or asbestos components. A home that contains harmful building materials or that has been treated for termites can be sold, however, if certain steps are taken.
Can You Get a Mortgage if there is Asbestos?
In recent years, there has been an increased awareness of the dangers of asbestos exposure, and many insurance companies have begun to exclude coverage for asbestos siding from their policies. In the photo above, a 1920s house was resided with asbestos-cement siding, likely sometime in the 1950s. You can see the earlier “novelty” wood siding at the area where there is missing and damaged asbestos siding.
If you’ve discovered termite damage, asbestos tiles, asbestos siding, or vermiculite in your home, then as a seller, you have the legal responsibility to disclose these issues to a potential buyer. With appropriate management, however, asbestos, vermiculite, and treated termite damage can become minor issues that won’t stand in the way of a successful home sale. A safer strategy may be to cover it over with new siding, which effectively seals in the asbestos material. This is usually the preferred method of dealing with asbestos building materials. Most siding companies are well-experienced at techniques for covering over existing asbestos-cement siding with new vinyl, aluminum, or fiber-cement siding.
What is asbestos?
The most notable health risk that is specific to asbestos exposure is mesothelioma. This is a type of cancer that’s found in the lungs, larynx, and ovaries. That’s to say that it’s almost impossible to tell if a material contains asbestos just by looking at it. Siding that contains asbestos can look just like any other cement siding. In some states, there will be specific questions on seller disclosure forms which relate to termites.
If you need 1,000 square feet of siding replaced, the price will be roughly 8,000 dollars. As previously stated, asbestos siding can be removed from a home. The removal of asbestos siding, however, is a difficult task. It necessitates a surprising amount of expertise and knowledge. Write an inspection contingency into your offer and order an inspection to detect asbestos siding and determine whether it needs to be repaired. No federal law prevents homeowners from removing asbestos siding from a privately owned and occupied residence.
Do I Have to Remove Asbestos for a Buyer?
Today, it is often used in exterior applications that are not subject to high heat and combustion such as decks and railings. Been a realtor for well over a decade and that was the only advice I have ever heard. Also noting that so many other homes you would never even notice it was there as that has already been performed. Homes built after 2000 should not contain asbestos and therefore an asbestos hazard should not be present. The easy way to view and manage your insurance policy on the go.
Because of the safety precautions necessary for repairing the damage or removing the siding, it will be expensive. HomeLight Simple Sale tool, you don’t need to worry about repairs or open houses. Simply answer a few questions about your home, its condition, and your selling timeline, and get a cash offer within 48 hours. If you choose to accept it, you could close in as few as 10 days. This path is most recommended if the home has extensive or costly asbestos removals that you’re unwilling or unable to take on. As long as the siding is not damaged or disturbed, asbestos fibers will not hurt you.
If you’re looking specifically at asbestos siding removal costs, you can find a more specific number. The rule of thumb is to budget for around $8 per square foot of siding you’re looking to replace. Understand that some insurance companies won’t cover a home with asbestos siding; this means that finding insurance is going to be tough.
To remove asbestos shingles, you might pay upwards of $100 per square foot. Removing asbestos can be an expensive task, depending on where it’s located and how much you have to replace. When you find asbestos and want to remove it, you’ll want to know what to expect when budgeting. Kati Spaniak, an experienced agent who sells homes 57% quicker than other agents in her area. The cost for mail-in or off-site testing is between $50-$180, depending on analysis, and on-site testing ranges from $250-$750.
While the district courts overturned that ruling in 1991, industry continued to opt for alternatives to asbestos siding, such as aluminum and vinyl. While asbestos-cement siding may eventually become cracked with age or impact, it is non-friable, meaning it isn’t easily crumbled or broken up by hand. An exception is asbestos-containing stucco, which can more easily disintegrate into dust.
If you’re determined to do your own asbestos siding removal, you’ll need to adhere to state and local guidelines, including submitting any required notices, fees, and waste disposal records. In certain circumstances, like if you’re removing asbestos siding from a rental property you own, you may be able to write off a portion of the cost from your tax bill. In that case, you might want to enlist the help of a local agent with knowledge of what to look for when dealing with homes built before 1990. Just don't go breaking it up or trying to remove it and you'll both be fine. Ended up going with American Family for the best coverage per price.
In this book, author and investor David Greene shares the exact systems he used to scale his real estate business from buying two houses per year to buying two houses per month using BRRRR. The rule is that any area in a direct line of sight from the observer’s eye must have a reasonably uniform appearance once repairs are completed. For example, if a section of tile is damaged and a match to the original tile cannot be found, the entire tiled area in the viewer’s line of sight must be replaced. In most cases insurance companies will replace your entire roof if you can no longer match the existing shingles such as t-locks.
While pricier than encapsulating or covering asbestos siding with new material, full removal and replacement is the only option that offers a permanent solution. Finally, depending on the durability of the new siding material, you may need to replace it again after 15–20 years. If the original asbestos siding underneath is damaged, the cost of removal could be even greater down the road. As many as half of homes in the U.S. contain asbestos, including hundreds of thousands that were built with asbestos-cement siding.
