Bridgeport, CT · Member since 2017 · 116 posts · 19 votes
Hi BO members,
I recently saw a multifamily house in a good neighborhood but it has asbestos on the siding. It will cost money for removal. I was just wondering if it is worth to go through this trouble of making the offer. Because I am not sure if there will be any other problem come after the asbestos. Please advise. Thank you!
very common and harmless until it gets broken up. no need to remove it if it is in good shape, you can buy replacement shingles that match to repair broken ones. honestly that stuff will last forever if it is maintained and is the most fire proof siding there is. As far as renters not wanting it, I doubt they would have a clue what type of siding is on the house because most people don't know and don't care. Again, if it's in good shape it shouldn't sway you one way or the other. If it's in bad shape then it may be good leverage for negotiations
I own several rentals that have asbestos siding and know of several other landlords that do as well. I'm unaware of the laws in the market where you're looking but in mine as long as you do not remove it, tamper with it, etc then you're fine.
I own several rentals that have asbestos siding and know of several other landlords that do as well. I'm unaware of the laws in the market where you're looking but in mine as long as you do not remove it, tamper with it, etc then you're fine.
As Will said, in most areas, as long as the siding is stable (not chipping, crumbling, or the like) then usually the siding will not have to be replaced.
Thank you very much for your recommendation. But you have to disclose this info at rental or resale. I would think that would be a turn off to potential renters or buyers, right? I would like my investment properties without this problem. If I end up buying this house, I would want to remove it. Wouldn’t that be better?
very common and harmless until it gets broken up. no need to remove it if it is in good shape, you can buy replacement shingles that match to repair broken ones. honestly that stuff will last forever if it is maintained and is the most fire proof siding there is. As far as renters not wanting it, I doubt they would have a clue what type of siding is on the house because most people don't know and don't care. Again, if it's in good shape it shouldn't sway you one way or the other. If it's in bad shape then it may be good leverage for negotiations
@Peace Lily I understand and you should certainly disclose.
I am certainly no asbestos expert, however, I wouldn't just remove it without finding out what your local/state laws are regarding this. Many properties out there have asbestos inside or on the exterior of their siding. I've been told that the hazard lies within someone trying to remove or tamper with items containing the asbestos.
Although I have not done this, some investors in my market put vinyl siding on top of the asbestos siding. That way it is not removed or disturbed and should not cause issues further down the road.
@Peace Lily Others can weigh in but I don't see adding siding (on top of already good-condition siding) helping the value much if any.
Are you doing a BRRR? If you're just buying it via traditional methods to be a rental, why bother dumping money into something that is already in good condition. You haven't said it's in bad condition...just that it's asbestos.
Asbestos siding is a non issue . It is actually a very durable ,long lasting product . I would leave it alone , unless it needs painting , then paint it .
If it were a problem I would specialize in asbestos siding removal and vinyl siding installation . I would be rich beyond my wildest dreams .
Just my experience here. As others have said, the siding is generally harmless when left intact. But where I am, many times the asbestos siding (AS) has also been painted with lead based paint (LBP). This was not uncommon in the 50s and early 60s at least on the east coast. So you may also want to test for LBP on siding paint and trim paint in addition to your asbestos sample test. You can get the test kits from Home Depot or Lowes. If you are really concerned about it or if you just want to know the 'real' facts about asbestos and LBP, take the training classes in your state. That's what I did, although my NC RRP #20550 license is expired, I did take the asbestos and LBP RRP classes... and learned a lot.
This may be helpful. A lot of AS can crack and break over time, especially if your cable guy doesn't know Jack. Eventually these pieces will break off. Not good. Here's a visual So maybe you do want to remove the stuff. If so, read on... This link covers which includes:
- Removing or encapsulating asbestos-containing material (ACM). - Constructing, altering, repairing, maintaining, or renovating asbestos-containing structures or substrates.
As I said, taking the classes was an eye opener for me. A little detail few people know... but on a house sided with LBP you would be in federal violation if you power wash the house. It's evident we didn't ;)
Another little detail. For Class II work (removal of asbestos-containing siding) in (check with your state to ensure compliance):
"If this material is in good condition and can be removed substantially intact - no small fragments or dust generated - then it is not considered regulated asbestos-containing material and does not require the use of accredited personnel or an asbestos removal permit. Minor breakage that may occur during careful removal of the siding does not result in the material becoming regulated; however, if the siding is not removed substantially intact, and it becomes regulated then all accreditation and permitting/notification requirements apply."
So what does "intact" look like? See below. Generally, each siding piece was immediately placed on 6mil plastic, but I placed these for picture purposes
Just follow all of the regulations and protocols for handling and disposal. Follow to a "T". Make sure you correctly fill out your manifest and make sure your disposal site employee signs and dates the transport log.
BTW, on the above project, someone in the neighborhood called the police on us. I talked to them, then the city inspections showed up. I showed them the EPA regs and the NC documents, they 'toured' the site and were comfortable with the operation. About 60-70% of the fasteners (nails) were already loose, and we didn't use any power tools. We met all guidelines and standards. The process did take a long time, though, and in hind sight I should have used rubber gloves rather than leather that got saturated and uncomfortable. The image below shows our "product" (foreground bags, triple wrapped in 6Mil and double taped) compared to the industry common "rope off the property, put plastic down, get in your space suit, and blast away with sledge hammers... and collect $20K" debris dump. From visual inspection, the other bags were 3Mil or less (bags in background)
I highly recommend that if you touch, or caused to be touched (as in a power washer), any asbestos or LBP siding, that you take a certification course even if you don't have plans to use the certification as part of your business. My 2 cents.
It is in good shape but it does worries me... potential risk, lawsuits etc. even put vinyl siding over it, you still have to disclose it every time. Removing it could increase the value of the house too.
Again, my experience. When vinyl contractors "go over" an asbestos sided house, you end up with a pile of debris after they nail in the J channel. You don't see it, because it is in the bottom 12" or more behind the new siding, unless they take the pieces off and dump them in your garbage. I'm not knocking the vinyl siding guys, but nailing through the asbestos causes it to break. That leads, ultimately, to a regulation issue (see my prior post) because the siding isn't left intact. Again, my experience in NC with regulatory bodies. Below is the finished product on MY PROJECT (not outsourced to a sledge hammer) where we did a substantially intact removal:
Below is what it was before siding contractors were involved. Note that there were asbestos siding pieces left on because they were 'hard' to remove, meaning removal would not be 'substantially intact' per NC regulations. Installers didn't touch them. The back side had quite a few more shingles, like behind the meters and HVAC disconnects (not shown, but you can see around the electric meter on the left) and, IMO, this is the correct way to go IF you are meaning to meet the letter and intent of the rules. We will probably own this property for another 20 years, so it's about doing it right. Bottom line: You only need to take enough siding off so that the installers can put in the J channel and hang the new siding.
Simple! If the numbers work and for future peace of mind replace it with vinyl siding. Should you decide to sale the property later on and for top dollar inspection won’t be an issue at least on this matter.
What regulation requires you to disclose it to renters? Or buyers for that matter, unless you specifically have it tested and confirm it's asbestos.
It's like lead paint. It may be, probably is, but unless you have it tested, you don't know what it is.
I don't see any reason to replace or remove it unless it's damaged. It's a quality exterior product and unless a tenant decides to eat it, I wouldn't consider it a hazard at all.
@Peace Lily Who told you that the value of a property increases if you replace perfectly good-condition asbestos siding with vinyl siding? Why are you repetitively saying this? To help yourself validate replacing it? If you spend the type of money it'll likely take to remediate the property, will you then have negative cash-flow? Have you fully analyzed this property with conservative numbers?
And several of us keep telling you that it is not required to replace when it's in good condition. Asbestos doesn't automatically affect people just by being there. It has to be crumbling apart and in the air. I think you have been reading too many horror stories or listening to some guru over-hyping stuff.
I'd say if you're so worried, just look at other properties and pass this one up.
I see that your profile says you're looking to get into real estate, so take our advice and don't lose money on your first deal. We want you to succeed. Not lose money over unfounded fears. You can keep asking the same question over and over, but we'll keep giving you the same answer.
Thanks for everyone’s recommendations! I didn’t meant not to take your recommendations. If I came across that, I am very sorry. I am inexperienced on this. I just didn’t feel comfortable about knowing asbestos on the property because I also read some articles on line. There are two different views. That is why I am trying to find solutions. I know what I will do now. I truly appreciated ALL taking time to share your knowledge and experience to help others!!! Thank you all again!