Asbestos Siding Insurance

Inability to match siding following a loss.

Asbestos siding insurance.

Even though exposure to asbestos can be a major health risk most homeowners insurance policies don t cover removal of asbestos. Asbestos siding is also non friable which means it s not releasing dust into the air. Unless asbestos siding is disturbed it doesn t pose a significant health hazard and does not need to be removed. Mesothelioma and other cancers as well as asbestosis and other lung diseases are a serious danger after continued long term exposure to fibers from asbestos containing materials acms.

Unfortunately some insurance companies will not insure a home with asbestos siding so it may increase the difficulty and cost of acquiring homeowner s insurance. Homeowners insurance policies have an exclusion for pollution which generally prevents you from being reimbursed for cleaning up pollutants including asbestos in your home. Have an asbestos abatement contractor do it for you. Also we recommend that if you do have to remove or disturb the siding for any reason never do the work yourself.

Both the epa and the vinyl siding institute recommend not disturbing asbestos if at all possible. View entire discussion 13 comments more posts from the homeimprovement community. If it is asbestos you should have a talk with your real estate agent and possibly lawyer. Intact asbestos siding on your home poses no health risk as long as it is undisturbed.

Some insurance providers cancelling policies due to asbestos. If you can prove that your siding is something beside asbestos be sure all documentation makes it to your insurance and that is documented on your policy. If you are absolutely unwilling to have asbestos siding you are legally allowed to remove it yourself from your own home in the state of minnesota. In certain parts of the country major insurance providers are refusing to insure homes where asbestos is present not wishing to assume the risk associated with the mineral which can cause cancer when its fibers are inhaled.

But whether or not your insurance will cover the bill you should not remove asbestos yourself. For the most part asbestos isn t covered by homeowner s insurance. Since asbestos siding was a common building material form the 1930 s until the 1970 s we have many homes that were constructed or the exterior was upgraded during that era. It also doesn t burn which is great for insurance companies.