Do you live in an older home that has asbestos siding? Perhaps the siding is still structurally sound, but it has seen better days as far as appearances go.
This may have you wondering, “Can you paint asbestos siding?”
The good news is that you can!
Keep reading to find out all you need to know about painting asbestos siding, including safety precautions and the best types of paint to use.
Table of Contents
- Is It Better to Paint Asbestos Tile Siding or Replace It?
- Is It Safe to Paint Over Asbestos Siding?
- How to Prep for Painting Asbestos Siding
- How to Paint Over Asbestos Siding
- Safety Precautions You Should Take When Painting Asbestos Siding
- What Are the Two Best Exterior House Paints for Asbestos Shingles
- What Paint Colors Look Best on Asbestos Siding?
- Two Brothers Painting: Your Best Choice for Painting Asbestos Siding
Is It Better to Paint Asbestos Tile Siding or Replace It?
If your home has old asbestos tile siding, you may be wondering if it’s best to paint over it or remove it completely.
If budget is a factor, you should know that asbestos abatement or removal can be expensive. Not to mention the fact that you’ll need to have new siding installed once the asbestos tile is removed.
Whether you paint or replace your asbestos siding is mostly a matter of personal preference unless the asbestos is breaking down and causing potential health issues. But since replacing home siding is usually an expensive remodeling job, painting your asbestos siding is a more affordable option.
Benefits of Painting Asbestos Siding
If you decide on painting your asbestos tile siding rather than having it replaced, there are a few benefits:
- It’s easy to cover asbestos siding because paint adheres to it well.
- Paint can hold on to asbestos siding for a long time without cracking or chipping.
- Painting asbestos siding keeps it from deteriorating and becoming a health hazard.
- We already mentioned the affordability of painting asbestos siding versus removing and replacing it, but it really can’t be overstated. This is the best money-saving option!
Is It Safe to Paint Over Asbestos Siding?
In general, it is safer to paint over asbestos siding than to have it removed. This is because asbestos abatement and removal can disrupt the asbestos fibers, which causes them to become airborne — at which point they are a danger to anyone who could inhale them.
But before you put down your drop cloths and get out your buckets of paint, you should know that you have to be very careful when preparing the surface of your asbestos siding to be painted.
That’s because …
- Pressure washing
- Sanding
- Ripping; or
- Removing
… cracked and peeling areas of this type of siding can increase the risk of asbestos exposure.
Since asbestos tile siding tends to chip and crack — especially when it isn’t coated in protective layers of paint — you need to be careful if you want to paint it.
The good news is that it’s possible to prep and paint your asbestos siding safely if you know what you’re doing.
How to Prep for Painting Asbestos Siding
Before you can paint your asbestos siding, you have to get the surface ready. Here’s the best way to do that.
First: Test the Asbestos Siding for Lead-Based Paint
Since asbestos and lead paint were banned for in-home use around the same time, it stands to reason that if you have one, you may have the other.
You’ll start by analyzing a paint sample for lead content using a test kit. You can purchase these online rather inexpensively.
If there are many layers of paint on the siding, you should carefully scrape down through all of them to get your sample. This is because any possible lead-based paint will probably have been used long ago and will be underneath, closest to the surface of the asbestos siding.
If lead-based paint is present, it needs to be removed by hand with scrapers while keeping the surface wet. The use of water is important to keep lead paint and asbestos particles from flying into the air.
You’ll also need to wear protective gear such as disposable coveralls and HEPA-rated respirators. And as you scrape, the paint chips must be collected and disposed of as toxic waste.
If this sounds like more than you want to deal with — and who could blame you? — there’s always the option of hiring professionals like Two Brothers Painting to do the work for you.
Next: Safely Clean the Asbestos Siding
After you’ve tested the paint, the next step is to clean the siding. Whether you have lead-based paint or not, you must never clean asbestos siding with heat or dry, abrasive methods.
That’s because these ways of cleaning can loosen the asbestos fibers in the siding and release them into the air, which we have already established is a health concern.
So what are some ways you can safely clean asbestos tile siding? Let’s look at two different possibilities below.
Cleaning Asbestos Siding With a Pressure Washer
If you did not find any evidence of lead-based paint when you tested your siding, you may clean it with a pressure washer.
However, you don’t just want to go blasting your house on the strongest setting. If you pressure wash asbestos on the high setting, this may cause:
- Chips
- Cracks
- Moisture intrusion; and
- The release of asbestos particles into the air
Instead, you want to pressure wash asbestos siding on the low setting only. Using a gentler setting on the pressure washer makes it less likely for those pesky particles to become airborne.
This process always requires that you wear personal protective equipment such as coveralls and a respirator mask for your safety.
Cleaning Asbestos Siding Without a Pressure Washer
So what if you did find lead-based paint when you tested your siding — or you’re too worried about disturbing the asbestos particles in the siding with a pressure washer?
Another option to safely clean asbestos siding is to scrape down the surface and wipe away all the dirt and grime by hand.
But remember what we mentioned before — you always want to incorporate moisture when dealing with asbestos siding to lessen the likelihood of those particles flying around.
You can start by scrubbing the siding with a hard-bristled brush soaked in a solution of dish detergent and warm water or a mild, abrasive cleaner. Do this in sections, rinsing as you go.
Even though this is a gentler method and less likely to release asbestos fibers into the air, you’ll still want to be safe and wear PPE during the process.
After you have finished the cleaning, give the whole thing one more rinse and allow it to dry for two or three days before painting.
How to Paint Over Asbestos Siding
Now that you have prepped and cleaned the surface, the best way to paint asbestos shingles is no different than how you would paint any other home exterior surface.
In fact, asbestos siding can be easier to apply paint to than some other surfaces, since paint adheres to it very well. And once you’ve done all the work, you’ll have results that last for a long time — painted asbestos siding is quite durable and can last for decades without cracking or chipping.
It’s up to you whether you want to roll or spray the paint on your siding. Just keep in mind that rolling can be a little trickier because of all the texture and grooves in asbestos siding.
You’ll probably use the same amount of paint either way, so go with the method you feel most comfortable with.
Safety Precautions You Should Take When Painting Asbestos Siding
When painting asbestos tile siding, you should use similar precautions as when you removed your old paint and cleaned the siding. Let’s review those again:
- Never sand or scrape the asbestos siding.
- Use a dust mask.
- Wear disposable coveralls.
- If you don’t have access to disposable coveralls, wear clothes you can throw away after painting. You don’t want to risk taking asbestos fibers into your home.
- Wear a respirator if you really want to make sure you don’t breathe in asbestos fibers.
Does all this talk of safety measures and protective equipment stress you out?
Stop worrying and let the experts at Two Brothers Painting take care of your exterior painting needs. We know how to prep and paint asbestos siding safely and beautifully!
What Are the Two Best Exterior House Paints for Asbestos Shingles?
Regardless of which type of paint you use on your asbestos siding, make sure you start with a good primer. It should be:
- Thick
- Water-based; and
- 100% acrylic latex
This will work to create a smoother finish by sealing cracks and preventing peeling.
The two best choices for painting asbestos tile siding are encapsulant and latex paints.
#1: Encapsulant Paint
Encapsulant paints were designed to contain and control hazards from lead-based paint, and they also work to create a protective barrier on asbestos siding.
This barrier works to prevent:
- Cracking
- Chipping; and
- The release of asbestos particles
Once you have applied at least two coats of encapsulant paint and allowed it to dry thoroughly, put on a satin latex finish to protect your home from moisture while enhancing the shine of the paint job.
#2: Latex Paint
If you don’t go with encapsulant paint, you should choose 100% acrylic exterior latex paint. Latex is great because it resists the alkali in asbestos cement siding that can disintegrate other types of paint.
It also allows air and moisture to pass through. This means any dampness on the siding can escape, which prevents paint blisters and cracks from forming.
What Paint Colors Look Best on Asbestos Siding?
Any paint color will look great on asbestos siding. In fact, the paint may look better on asbestos than on other types of siding because it adheres so well!
Find the color that you think matches your home and its style the best or just one that makes you happy. You’ll want to make sure that it goes with the trim of your home if you aren’t planning to repaint that.
You should also look around your neighborhood and take note of the other homes — you probably want your home’s paint to fit in with the area’s color palette.
You may also want to consider the architectural style and age of your home when selecting which color to paint it.
If you aren’t sure which new color will look good on your asbestos siding, the pros at Two Brothers Painting will be happy to give you recommendations!
Two Brothers Painting: Your Best Choice for Painting Asbestos Siding
If you are thinking of painting your asbestos siding but don’t want to deal with the hassles of the safety precautions and the labor of completing the job, then look no further than Two Brothers Painting.
We will take care of your exterior house painting job quickly and efficiently — without disrupting your daily living or your neighbors.
Contact us today and find out why so many Oregon homeowners are thrilled with our work.