Surface deterioration of asbestos-cement cladding

Cause

Weathering, age of material

Repair

  • if you are not sure whether a fibre-cement cladding contains asbestos, you can get a small piece (about the size of two $2 coins, or approximately 2 x 3 cm) tested at one of the labs listed on our asbestos page

  • if the problem is limited to the paint or other coating (the cladding itself is intact and asbestos fibres are not being shed), wash down the cladding and repaint with 2 coats of acrylic paint. Do not sand and do not use a water blaster

  • where the surface of the asbestos fibre-cement itself is damaged and may be shedding asbestos fibres, the cladding should be replaced. Contact a licensed asbestos removalist for advice. (Homeowners cannot remove large areas of asbestos cladding themselves.) You can find a registry of licensed removalists on the WorkSafe New Zealand website

  • breathing in asbestos fibres can lead to serious and potentially fatal illnesses. Work with materials that contain asbestos is very strictly controlled. You can find more asbestos details for homeowners on the WorkSafe website.

Cause

Inadequate cleaning, maintenance

Repair

  • employ a specialist to remove the asbestos cladding and insert a sheet of fibre-cement. (A building consent will be required before recladding with a different material can be carried out.)
  • paint the fibre-cement
  • breathing in asbestos fibres can be harmful to health and even fatal: do not do anything to the material that releases fibres into the air