Q DEAR BARRY: We are buying an old house and were told by our home inspector that the tile siding probably contains asbestos. Neither the sellers nor their agent have provided any documentation to verify this, and the property is being sold "as is." What kind of liability will we have if we decide to resell the house in the future? Would we merely have to disclose the presence of asbestos, or would we have to replace the siding? -- Alan
ADEAR ALAN: The tile siding is most likely a material called transite, commonly used on building exteriors from the 1940s through the mid-1950s. Transite is a cement product that is reinforced with asbestos fibers. As a finish material for exterior walls, its most common forms are tile shingles and lap siding.
Because the asbestos fibers in transite are embedded in a solid medium, they are not readily released into the air. Therefore, transite is not regarded as a significant health hazard. The only way to release asbestos fibers from transite siding is to severely damage the material, as would occur if the material was cut or abraded with a power saw or sander.
The only requirement for sellers of homes with asbestos siding is to disclose the presence of the material. There is no requirement for removal or any other type of remediation. However, if the exterior of the building is remodeled or renovated, removal of the material might be required. This would require the services of a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. Such services, by the way, can be expensive.
Another consideration with asbestos siding is future marketability of the property. When you resell the house, some buyers may be unwilling to buy a building with asbestos siding or may expect a price reduction reflecting the cost of removal.
DEAR BARRY: Our home was built in the early 1970s and many of the aluminum wire connections have become loose. An article I read warned of fire hazards with aluminum wiring and mentioned a way of upgrading the connections with copper ends. I'm pretty handy and would like to make these repairs but need some direction. Can you please advise me on the correct procedures for making aluminum wires safer? -- Mike
DEAR MIKE: What you read about the hazards and possible upgrades of aluminum wiring is correct. The connections tend to become loose over time, and this can cause overheating of the wires and fires within the walls.
There is a way to retrofit the wire ends with copper for improved safety. However, my primary advice on upgrading aluminum wiring is to hire a licensed electrician, rather than attempting the work yourself.
It is essential that the attachments to the aluminum wires be done with hardware specifically rated for connecting copper to aluminum. Consult a few local electricians to find someone who is familiar with this process.
Barry Stone is a professional home inspector. If you have questions or comments, contact him through his Web site, www.housedetective.com, or send mail to 1776 Jami Lee Court, Suite 218, San Luis Obispo, Calif. 93401.
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