From: elanamig@gmail.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Asbestos shingles on exterior walls
Date: 21 Mar 2006 17:32:05 -0800
   posting-account=PhZTIA0AAADZinmu6vT9rIivk60hOAwp

Thank you, Trad and Banty, for a very interesting discussion.  The real
"problem" with this house is that it answers every one of our
requirements.  Great area, great schools, great property, great
location, the house itself is nice, etc, and if it wouldn't be for the
asbestos shingles, I'd grab it.  I was actually incredibly excited
after I saw it.  But then I came home and looked it up on the public
record, and boom, in capital letters, it says "Exterior walls:
ASBESTOS".  Sooo disappointing.

My three major concerns with asbestos are: #1.  Health #2.  Potential
selling value.  #3. Ease (expense) of repairs/renovations.

Now, having thought this over for several days (and given the fact that
the owner claims absolutely no asbestos inside the house (to be
confirmed by an inspector, should we make an offfer)) I am tempted to
make an offer and actually tear down the asbestos shingles before we
move in.  I have spoken to several contractors in the area and they are
eager to do the job.  HOWEVER, it seems that tearing down the asbestos
could be more dangerous than leaving it in place.  My questions now
are:

#1.  How dangerous is taking down the asbestos shingles?
#2.  How dangerous is the removal of asbestos shingles for the inside
of the house?  I mean, if I'd like to leave them as is for now and
remove them later, will the furniture and everything inside become
contaminated?
#3.  Is there any reliable way to clean/vacuum the area (both inside
the house and outside) to guarantee that all asbestos dust is gone?
#4.  I have heard that covering the asbestos with vinyl siding is also
dangerous, because vinyl siding requires the use of nails, which causes
the dreaded physical damage to the asbestos shingles and releases those
fibers into the air.  Could you, please, comment on this?
#5.  And finally, the big question:  Is a great house worth the effort,
or should I just pass and continue looking?
#6.  The even bigger question: Whould you buy a house with asbestos
shingles for your family?

For those familiar with public records, I have another question. I have
looked up the records for several houses in the area (besides the one
in question).  None of the houses say "Exterior walls: ASBESTOS".
HOWEVER, if I look at the original (scanned) construction record (aka
"property card"), it says that the siding was done using "comp.
shingles (asb)", which, I assume, means asbestos compound shingles.
Now, the question:  WHY does it say "ASBESTOS" for exterior walls of
"my" house and does not say that for the other houses, although the
original documents for all of them show asbestos compound shingles.

It's a really tough decision now. I love everything about the house,
but asbestos shingles are scaring me.  If taking down the siding is not
health hazardous, I'd go for it.  What do you think?  If you had to
make a recommendation, what would it be?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read through these long posts.
 Information on the web is abundant and very contradicting, and advice
of real people in this matter is priceless.  Thank you very very much!

Elana

P.S.  Do you know which licenses I should ask for when speaking to a
contractor and asking whether they're properly certified to do asbestos
removal?  THANKS!!!