If your home was built before the year 2000, there’s a chance it could contain asbestos-containing materials (ACM). While popcorn ceilings, heating products, electrical components, and flooring materials are among the most common places to find asbestos, did you know your home’s cladding can also be where asbestos is hiding? 

Asbestos in cladding is worth being aware of if you ever plan to undertake home maintenance, repairs, or renovations. But what are the risks? And what can you replace asbestos cladding with? Find out this helpful information and more below. 

 

What Is Asbestos Cladding?  

The home cladding products we have today are relatively wide-ranging. Some people love how low-maintenance brick is, while others enjoy the character of wood. Plaster, concrete, aluminum, steel, and even stone are all desirable options. Drive down any street in New Zealand, and you’re bound to find a combination of these materials and other innovative cladding products. 

But before the year 2000, we were in a different time. Builders were using an entirely different range of cladding products, enjoyed for their fire-resistance, affordability, and customisation options. The only problem was that they contained asbestos. At the time, we didn’t know how deadly it was. 

Asbestos cladding is essentially building materials like those listed above that have been manufactured with asbestos. There were a number of popular products at the time, such as: 

• Shadowline 

• Coverline/Highline 

• Villaboard 

• Harditherm 

• Tilux 

• Versilux 

• Durock 

• Fibrolite 

• Hardiflex/Hardiplank 

• Durotherm 

 

These were brand names, but they equated to asbestos materials like: 

• Asbestos cement cladding 

• Asbestos fibre cement tiles 

• Asbestos batten cladding 

• Asbestos weatherboards 

 

It’s hard to know these materials contain asbestos just by looking at them, which is why it can be crucial to undertake asbestos testing before considering renovations, repairs, or general maintenance. 

 

What Are the Risks of Asbestos Cladding? 

People can live comfortably and happily for decades in a home featuring asbestos cladding. The reality is that ACM in good condition doesn’t pose a risk to homeowners or neighbours.  

However, the risks lie in when that cladding hasn’t been well maintained and is no longer in excellent condition. If it’s cracked, chipped, or weathered in any way, the asbestos within the cladding can become friable, which means its small fibres have been released into the atmosphere.  

According to the Ministry of Health, asbestos is a proven human carcinogen, and all asbestos types can cause cancer. The primary way people are exposed to asbestos is by breathing it in the air. As a result, if your asbestos cladding is in poor condition, it might be releasing fibres that your loved ones and yourself are inhaling. 

Inhaling large quantities of airborne asbestos can put you at risk of a range of severe and life-threatening illnesses, such as:  

• Mesothelioma – malignant tumours that form around the lungs or intestines 

• Asbestosis – lung tissue scarring 

• Pleural plaques – lung membrane thickening 

• Lung cancer 

• Larynx cancer 

• Ovarian cancer 

 

Scientists haven’t been able to prove a ‘safe’ asbestos exposure limit, so it’s crucial to operate on the assumption that any exposure to friable asbestos can be hazardous to your health.  

 

What Are the Alternatives to Asbestos Cladding?  

If your home has asbestos cladding, be it fibrolite cladding, asbestos tiles, or another ACM, you might be worried about whether you have any alternative options. If you bring in trained asbestos removalists to take care of your asbestos cladding, you have options aplenty for turning your home into a safe, asbestos-free haven. 

You can opt for something similar to fibrolite, such as real timber weatherboard or timber-look weatherboard cladding. These products tend to be made with safe, long-lasting materials like steel, vinyl, and engineered timber. 

Alternatively, you might look at fibre cement, which can be the same as what your home is already clad with, but a non-asbestos variety. Fibre cement sold today is made with cement, cellulose fibres, and sand and is believed to be energy efficient. 

If you’re tired of ongoing maintenance, metal cladding, brick, and brick veneer might also suit your needs. While generally more expensive than fibre cement, these materials can enhance the look of your home while also requiring less ongoing care.  

Any homeowner willing to go ‘all out’ with their home’s recladding might even explore their natural stone options. Schist, granite, and slate are all popular options for their aesthetics, energy efficiency, and insulation while also being non-absorbent to protect your home from moisture. 

 

Get Help from the Experts 

Asbestos cladding doesn’t have to put a stop to your grand renovation plans, but it should at least factor into them. Whether you require asbestos testing, advice on the best steps to take, or asbestos removal services, consult asbestos removal experts for help. You can then move forward with confidence, knowing you have all the information you need to keep yourself and your family safe.