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.
Pressure washing old asbestos siding.
So i think i ll just put on a fresh coat of paint.
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The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough.
Cleaning this siding takes some care since asbestos could be released into the air and cause health problems for those present.
I d like to remove it and put on new siding but that job is prohibitively expensive right now.
When you say asbestos shingles i presume you mean asbestos siding shingles.
Asbestos siding achieved its height in popularity between the 1920s and 1970s.
Only use a pressure washer at a distance of 6 feet or more.
From there water can damage insulation electrical wiring and can spur mold growth.
A high powered pressure washer can also dent aluminum and vinyl siding.
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.
Bob vila interviews a contractor in the process of using a pressure washer to remove paint from exterior wood siding.
This is one of the few ways that you can damage it.
You can power wash any loose paint or simply scrape and remove any.
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.
Do not use a high pressure hose to clean fiber cement siding.
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.
Should i prep the surface by powerwashing or will that release harmful asbestos particles.
These are easily prepared and easy to repaint.
Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc.
If there is fraying on the edges of the tiles the answer is no.
Asbestos cement roof damaged by washing.
Power washing of asbestos wall tiles can be done but its condition must be considered first.
I have an old house with asbestos cement siding.
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.
