We often see diamond-shaped asbestos-cement siding like this in neglected neighborhoods, but seldom in such good shape. Note that this old house, which old Pa Pitt would tentatively date to the 1870s, has also preserved its fine Victorian woodwork in front. The original wood siding can still be seen under the porch roof.
The splendid Queen Anne mansion next door looks as though it needs a new roof, but is otherwise in a good state of preservation.
2 responses to “Asbestos Siding in McKeesport”
Roofs covered by tacked-down tarps… which the owner intended as a temporary expedient, but which have since themselves succumbed to the elements are a sadly common sight on these old houses. They tell quite a story by themselves.
That asbestos siding is in great shape. In some ways, it might be a good thing that it is in McKeesport. It’s in an area where houses can be had for the cost of dinner at a high-end restaurant, and a prospective buyer is more likely to be able to lay down cash than try to get a loan through a bank that will be afraid of getting cancer just from the inspection report.
And for other readers who may be asking, “Will I get cancer from my house?”: the answer from the experts is no. If the asbestos siding is stable, as this siding obviously is, you’ll have to find something else to kill you. It is when the siding needs to be replaced that you need a fair amount of money, because the workers will be breaking up the siding and releasing the fibers, and they need proper protective equipment.