How Much Does it Cost To Remove Asbestos Siding?

Typical Costs for Asbestos Removal in 2023

Asbestos is a fire-retardant mineral fiber that many builders include in residential and commercial properties to boost the structures' fire resistance. It's common in old siding, shingles, and other building materials. Unfortunately, asbestos is a dangerous, cancer-causing material, so removing it from old building materials is often necessary despite its benefits.

The average asbestos siding removal cost in St. Louis is about $1,000. For many people, the expenses for this type of siding removal can be as low as $800 and as high as $1,200. Still, the final costs can increase or decrease substantially due to many factors. 

How Much Asbestos Siding Removal Costs Per Square Foot

Asbestos siding removal per square foot costs between $7 to $10. Repair costs for asbestos siding are usually higher than the removal cost.

On the low end, an asbestos siding repair job can be $300. However, the highest costs nationally for the same project can exceed $22,500. 

Average Labor Costs for Removing Asbestos Siding

The asbestos siding removal cost per square foot includes hourly labor from a qualified company. Most abatement professionals charge up to $250 an hour to handle asbestos siding, but the labor costs could increase if the material is crumbling or brittle.

The hazards of asbestos increase when the fibers separate and become airborne. Inhaling the dangerous particles becomes easier when the asbestos breaks down, which is why hourly labor prices tend to increase for properties with damaged or degraded siding. 

For many experienced asbestos abatement professionals, it's possible to take down about 25 square feet of siding per hour. The price includes the service, containment materials, professional labor, and asbestos siding disposal. 

Encapsulating Asbestos Siding

Though many states require property owners to remove asbestos siding and replace it with a safer option, a total removal might not be necessary. Since the health-related problems that the fiber causes primarily occur if you breathe in its particles, covering the siding could be a cost-effective alternative to the material's removal. 

If siding encapsulation is possible, you can expect to pay roughly $2 to $6 per square foot. The process will cover the siding with a unique paint that prevents the asbestos fibers from shedding and becoming airborne. Before pursuing a siding encapsulation, check your local laws to determine if the process is allowable. 

Material Siding Types

Asbestos has been a widely used construction material since 1940. However, most buildings made after 1990 don't contain the material, thanks to additional information about its hazards coming to light around that time. If your home or commercial property was built before 1989 and contains its original siding, it could have asbestos.

Here are common siding materials and the likeliness of them having an asbestos problem:

• Cement: When cement lap or shingle siding falls apart or wears down, the likeliness of the material releasing asbestos is high.
• Brick: Brick siding isn't likely to break asbestos fibers into the air since asbestos cement sticks firmly to bricks.
• Stucco: If the plaster stucco becomes brittle and breaks apart, it could release asbestos fibers. 

Factors Affecting Asbestos Siding Removal

It can be difficult to determine asbestos siding removal costs because many factors go into the final price. Before contacting an asbestos abatement company, take note of these top considerations that help determine siding removal prices:

• Siding type: Due to the nature of plaster stucco, the material is usually harder to remove than cement and brick asbestos siding. 
• Property square footage: You can expect to pay a higher price if your home is large with multiple levels.
• Temporary household relocation: Depending on the extent of an asbestos siding removal project, you and your household might have to temporarily move to another location for safety while the siding removal team completes their work.
• Asbestos testing and inspection: Testing the air around your property for asbestos after removing the siding can cost up to $800.

Asbestos Siding Disposal Methods

You can't leave old asbestos siding on your property after removal. You must either encapsulate your property or schedule a professional removal.

DIY removal isn't advisable due to the potential dangers of asbestos. Skilled professionals have the gear, equipment, and expertise to handle asbestos safely and effectively.

Trust the Professionals in St. Louis for Asbestos Siding Removal

By contacting our property restoration experts at ABC Environmental Contracting Services in St. Louis, Missouri, you can ensure your home will have the professional asbestos siding removal it needs. We specialize in asbestos testing and remediation, so we know how to keep asbestos siding removal costs reasonable without cutting corners. 

Request a free estimate from ABC Environmental Contracting Services today at (314) 668-1509.