THIS IS IN NEW YORK STATE - SUGGEST CONTACTING YOUR STATE AGENCY
Some contractors believe that asbestos poses no problem as long as it is not moved. Once moved - or in this case, removed - fibers become airborne and that's what causes the health risk. State agencies, however, have strict guidelines for contractors, so don't take this project lightly. If it were my home, I'd probably choose to have it covered first with rigid foam insulation to provide a level surface and then have the siding installed over that. Removing and disposing of the asbestos definitely will cost more. There are some concerns with covering it, however. One is the difficulty in nailing through asbestos siding. It's a hard, brittle material, and normal siding nails can bend. The contractor you choose should be experienced in installing vinyl over asbestos. There are those who believe that pounding on asbestos shingles and driving nails into them also can disturb those pesky fibers. Whatever decision you make, be sure your contractor is certified by the proper state agency.
One step I'd take is checking with the state agencies involved in asbestos issues. In cases of exposure, certification of contractors and certification of testing laboratories, contact the New York State Department of Health, Division of Occupational Health, in Albany (518-402-7501). In cases of abatement and removal of asbestos, contact the New York State Department of Labor (518-457-1255). You also can find quite a bit of information on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Web site (
www.dec.state.ny.us).
How do you know if your contractor is properly certified and licensed to handle asbestos?
Each worker who is certified by the state carries photo identification with an expiration date. If you want to be sure, ask the workers to produce their picture ID before starting the job.
