Cut Hole In Asbestos Siding

The outside is covered with asbestos siding.

Cut hole in asbestos siding.

The house was built in the 1920s but i have no idea how old the siding is. I know that this stuff is supposed to be safe as long as it s not crumbling but at some point i might want to make holes in it to add a kitchen or bathroom vent or maybe even add a window. Asbestos siding as it is on a house is perfectly safe. For a hole cutter the minimum to get is a carbide tipped hole saw and best for lots of holes are the hole cutters with tungsten carbide teeth.

Note however that if either thermal system insulation tsi or asbestos containing surfacing materials are subject to disturbance by any drilling cutting abrading sanding chipping breaking or sawing then the additional engineering control of isolating the class iii work area is always required per 1926 1101 g 9 iii. Cutting asbestos shingles is a no no because it s so hazardous. Wet the surface down and use the tin snips to cut and break off small sections at a time. Cut asbestos cement corrugated roofing material with a pair of heavy dolphin nosed tin snips.

Mark the cut line with a pencil and straightedge. The adjustable hole cutters from hole pro have tungsten carbide blades and i have cut 7 holes in asbestos and fiber cement board hardie certainteed etc using this hole cutter and a 18 volt cordless drill. Use a dry masonry blade in your circular saw the abrasive kind used to cut brick block. Smooth off jagged edges with a sharp carpenter s rasp to keep asbestos particle sizes as large as possible.