Hiya,
My husband and I bought our first home in August. After the fact we found out that we have asbestos siding. It is in TERRIBLE condition, something we assumed would be fairly easy to fix...until we figured out what it was.

We really want to replace this but everyone says it's gonna be a nightmare!! They warn us about huge fines,permit costs,diposal fees and everything in between!

Our home is about 1500 sq. ft, two story and we live in Michigan...Bay County. I believe it's masonite (cement asbestos?)

Any help with laws and ballpark amounts to dispose would be really appreciated!! We would really like to do it ourselves with help from relatives, but we were told by friends that that wasn't possible. This is frusterating to say the least!!

TIA for any help!

First determine WHAT you have........

Masonite siding is brown and when damaged tends to rot and deteriorate to a soft "cardboard".........

Asbestos Cement siding is grey/white.....hard tiles prone to cracking.......

What is the "TERRIBLE condition" ?

Ok, well that shows my ignorance on this subject...It's Asbestos cement siding...it's white and cracks VERY easily!!

There's missing pieces everywhere, along the bottom of the house there is cracked and broke peices and along one WHOLE side on the bottom(it's missing probably 1 foot up from the bottom) there just isnt' any there (you can imagine what that looks like), it's stained TERRIBLY...that will not come off!! It just looks like dirt but after scrubbing it with brushes last summer I'm convinced it will not come clean. The previous owners just didn't take care of it.

We assumed we could just put siding over top of it...but several people told us this wasn't possible. With summer comming up we are exploring options...it's such an eyesore right now!

Asbestos shingles are concidered on-friable, that is they don't release abestos particals, unless crushed, sanded or other wise disterbuted.

In many areas they can be removed by keeping then damp and "gently" removing then and then disposed of in plastic bags without othewise using an "asbestos remditation specialist" or "moon suits".

But the rules vary by state.

I tried looking at MI and could not find an answer on the web sites.

Try contacting the state department of evironmental protection.

Also not in some state home owners can do that, but if a contractor is used then they need to go the "full route".

http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3312-96663--,00.html

The "Residential PDF" indicates the homeowner is allowed to remove their own siding but must arrange with the landfill for disposal.......(here in Florida our landfill accepts the bagged asbestos at a premium fee of about $90 per ton)

Thanks so much for all the great advice, It's been soooooo helpful. This is by far the best home improvement site i've ever seen!! It makes a lot of the tasks a lot less daunting.