Asbestos cement siding—sold under brand names like Eternit and Transite—covers tens of thousands of Long Island homes built between the 1940s and the 1970s. If you have this siding and you’re renovating, selling, or simply replacing aging exterior, this guide covers how to identify it, what your options are, and what licensed removal costs in the New York market.
What Does Asbestos Siding Look Like?
Asbestos cement siding typically appears as rectangular shingles or flat panels with a slightly rough, granular surface texture. It was manufactured to mimic wood shake shingles and was sold as a durable, low-maintenance exterior cladding. Common visual characteristics:
- Shingle shape: Rectangular, approximately 12″ × 24″ per piece, with a slightly tapered thickness
- Surface texture: Rough, granular, similar to sandpaper—this is the cement/asbestos composite surface
- Color: Originally available in gray, green, tan, and other colors, but most have been painted multiple times over decades
- Edges: Often show cracking or spalling along the exposed lower edge after decades of exposure
- Installation pattern: Installed in overlapping horizontal rows, similar to wood clapboard siding
The most common brand on Long Island is Eternit, though Johns-Manville, Certain-Teed, and other manufacturers also produced asbestos cement siding. The product is dense and heavy compared to modern vinyl or fiber cement siding.
How to Tell If Your Home Has Asbestos Siding
Several factors increase the probability:
- Home built between 1940 and 1975: This covers most of the Long Island housing stock where asbestos siding is common
- Shingle siding that is unusually heavy when a piece is removed
- Dense, hard material that doesn’t cut like wood and produces fine dust when drilled or broken
- Visible cracking or spalling along exposed siding edges, particularly on south-facing facades
Visual identification is not enough. Only a lab analysis of a physical sample confirms asbestos content. A certified inspector collects a small chip from a discrete location (typically a low corner or under a window trim piece) and submits it for PLM analysis.
Is Asbestos Siding Dangerous If Left Alone?
Intact, well-adhered asbestos cement siding in good condition releases very few airborne fibers. The asbestos fibers are bound within the cement matrix. In this state, the material is considered “non-friable”—it does not readily release fibers with normal handling or weathering.
Risk increases when siding is:
- Cracked, spalling, or deteriorating along exposed edges
- Being drilled, cut, sanded, or otherwise machined (during installation of cable, window replacements, etc.)
- Impacted or broken during renovation work
- Subject to power washing at high pressure (not recommended)
EPA’s general guidance: if the material is in good condition and will not be disturbed, leave it in place. Many Long Island homes with intact asbestos siding will never require removal.
Asbestos Siding Removal vs. Encapsulation
Encapsulation
Painting over intact asbestos siding with appropriate encapsulant paint seals the surface and reduces fiber release from weathering or minor impacts. This is the least expensive option and appropriate for:
- Siding in good condition with no significant cracking
- Situations where the homeowner wants to maintain the exterior appearance
- Properties where renovation is not planned and no permit work requires disturbance
Encapsulation cost: $1,500–$5,000 for a typical Long Island home. This does not remove the asbestos—any future work that disturbs the siding will require a licensed abatement contractor.
Removal
Full removal by a licensed contractor eliminates the asbestos concern permanently. Required when:
- Siding is significantly deteriorated, spalling, or damaged
- Renovation requires removing or cutting siding (window replacements, additions)
- New siding is being installed and the contractor requires removal of the substrate
- Buyer conditions during a home sale
Cost of Asbestos Siding Removal on Long Island
| Home Type | Typical Cost (LI) |
|---|---|
| Ranch or cape cod (1,000–1,500 sq ft exterior) | $8,000–$14,000 |
| Colonial (1,500–2,500 sq ft exterior) | $12,000–$22,000 |
| Two-family or larger | $18,000–$35,000+ |
| Partial removal (one or two facades) | $3,000–$8,000 |
These costs include containment setup, wet-method removal, double-bagging, transportation, and disposal at an approved NY facility. New siding installation is a separate cost performed after abatement is complete and the area has cleared inspection.
New York Regulations for Asbestos Siding Projects
Asbestos siding removal is a regulated asbestos abatement project in New York. Requirements include:
- NYS DOL-licensed and certified contractor required
- NYC DEP notification 10 business days prior for NYC projects
- Proper containment during removal (scaffolding with poly sheeting)
- Wet methods during removal to suppress fiber release
- Disposal at a licensed hazardous waste facility with documentation
Upper Restoration provides free inspections and estimates for asbestos siding removal across Nassau and Suffolk County. NYS-licensed and NYC DEP-certified.
Call: | Free Siding Inspection
Frequently Asked Questions
Can new siding be installed over asbestos cement siding?
In some cases, yes. Vinyl siding can be installed over intact asbestos siding without removal if the asbestos siding is in good condition and provides an appropriate substrate. This encapsulates the existing siding. However, any fastener penetrations should be made with care and not create friable conditions. Check local permit requirements—some municipalities require removal before re-siding.
How do I know if my Long Island home has asbestos siding?
If your home was built between 1940 and 1975 and has rectangular shingle-style siding that is very dense and heavy, it is likely asbestos cement siding. Visual identification is not definitive—only PLM lab analysis of a physical sample confirms asbestos content. A certified inspector can collect a sample from a discrete location for under $300.
Does asbestos siding affect home sale on Long Island?
It can. Buyers of pre-1975 homes are increasingly aware of asbestos siding. If intact, it may not be a transaction issue. If deteriorated or if the buyer’s inspector flags it, it may become a negotiation point. Many sellers proactively abate before listing to remove it as a variable in the transaction.
Need professional asbestos abatement on Long Island? Upper Restoration provides licensed asbestos abatement and removal services across NYC and Long Island. Contact us for a free assessment.
Regulatory context: New York State requires all asbestos removal projects involving 10+ linear feet or 25+ square feet of material to file a NYSDOL asbestos project notification. The EPA’s NESHAP regulations (40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M) classify asbestos cement siding as a regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) when friable — meaning it must be wet-removed, double-bagged, and disposed of at a licensed facility.
Related Restoration Services
- Asbestos Abatement in the Town of Southampton, NY
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