Home Page link

Replacing window compound - asbestos risk?

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
Replacing window compound - asbestos risk? basscadet75 07-10-2006
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by on July 10, 2006, 9:23 pm
I'm in the planning stages of a whole-house window project, which
includes some replacements but in both the interests of saving money as
well as keeping at least a few of our historic windows, I'd also hoped
to just reapply the window compound around a bunch of our old ones.
These windows have fine sashes and wood, but the old compound is dry
and in some cases has nearly completely flaked off.

When I was a kid, I had a little summer job re-compounding the windows
in a church rectory, so I know this is easy enough to do, and I'm
actually pretty good at it.

Now I'm reading that some window compounds might contain asbestos, and
I'm suddenly freaked out about scraping off what's left of the old
compound, or even opening any of my old windows that are still actively
flaking. I know people get old windows replaced all the time, and they
also replace window compound all the time, and I never see or hear of
any asbestos abatement procedures as part of the process. The
installer who's putting in the new windows we are getting looked at our
windows and never mentioned any risk to himself or anyone else. Should
I assume there's an asbestos risk, or am I freaked out over nothing?
How much asbestos was there in old window compound?


Special 468x60
Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on July 10, 2006, 10:06 pm

> Now I'm reading that some window compounds might contain asbestos, and
> I'm suddenly freaked out about scraping off what's left of the old
> compound, or even opening any of my old windows that are still actively
> flaking. I know people get old windows replaced all the time, and they
> also replace window compound all the time, and I never see or hear of
> any asbestos abatement procedures as part of the process. The
> installer who's putting in the new windows we are getting looked at our
> windows and never mentioned any risk to himself or anyone else. Should
> I assume there's an asbestos risk, or am I freaked out over nothing?
> How much asbestos was there in old window compound?

If it ever had any, it was very tiny amounts. Touching it will not harm you
and it is encapsulated in the compound, not a fine dust. I'd not let it
bother me at all.

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:STgyaRQWkX0J:www.oldhousechronicle.org/technical/glazing.html+glazing+compound%2Basbestos&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=7
Old window glazing has lead and possibly even some asbestos in it so keep it
out of your home and off of the ground. Dispose of it properly!



Posted by Bob on July 11, 2006, 12:04 am

> I'm in the planning stages of a whole-house window project, which
> includes some replacements but in both the interests of saving money as
> well as keeping at least a few of our historic windows, I'd also hoped
> to just reapply the window compound around a bunch of our old ones.
> These windows have fine sashes and wood, but the old compound is dry
> and in some cases has nearly completely flaked off.
>
> When I was a kid, I had a little summer job re-compounding the windows
> in a church rectory, so I know this is easy enough to do, and I'm
> actually pretty good at it.
>
> Now I'm reading that some window compounds might contain asbestos, and
> I'm suddenly freaked out about scraping off what's left of the old
> compound, or even opening any of my old windows that are still actively
> flaking. I know people get old windows replaced all the time, and they
> also replace window compound all the time, and I never see or hear of
> any asbestos abatement procedures as part of the process. The
> installer who's putting in the new windows we are getting looked at our
> windows and never mentioned any risk to himself or anyone else. Should
> I assume there's an asbestos risk, or am I freaked out over nothing?
> How much asbestos was there in old window compound?
>

Worst case - take a sample and get it tested. Here in Seattle it costs
around $30.

Bob



Posted by HeyBub on July 11, 2006, 8:43 pm
basscadet75@yahoo.com wrote:
> I'm in the planning stages of a whole-house window project, which
> includes some replacements but in both the interests of saving money
> as well as keeping at least a few of our historic windows, I'd also
> hoped to just reapply the window compound around a bunch of our old
> ones. These windows have fine sashes and wood, but the old compound
> is dry and in some cases has nearly completely flaked off.
>
> When I was a kid, I had a little summer job re-compounding the windows
> in a church rectory, so I know this is easy enough to do, and I'm
> actually pretty good at it.
>
> Now I'm reading that some window compounds might contain asbestos, and
> I'm suddenly freaked out about scraping off what's left of the old
> compound, or even opening any of my old windows that are still
> actively flaking. I know people get old windows replaced all the
> time, and they also replace window compound all the time, and I never
> see or hear of any asbestos abatement procedures as part of the
> process. The installer who's putting in the new windows we are
> getting looked at our windows and never mentioned any risk to himself
> or anyone else. Should I assume there's an asbestos risk, or am I
> freaked out over nothing? How much asbestos was there in old window
> compound?

Forget about it.

If you get it tested, and the stuff does turn out to contain asbestos,
you're talking big-bucks to remediate.

There has never been a case, so far as I know, of an asbestos hazard with
ANY commercial product. Not in its application, its use, or its removal.
Ever. All asbestos health problems have been associated with asbestos mining
and that limited to those exposed to it for many years. Asbestos-phobia
ranks along side crop circles.



Posted by Colbyt on July 11, 2006, 9:12 pm

> basscadet75@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> There has never been a case, so far as I know, of an asbestos hazard with
> ANY commercial product. Not in its application, its use, or its removal.
> Ever. All asbestos health problems have been associated with asbestos
> mining and that limited to those exposed to it for many years.
> Asbestos-phobia ranks along side crop circles.


Maybe you would like to look up Mansville's case or Keene Corporation. With
more time I could add a dozen more.

For the OP, forget it and go on. There is a much over rated phobia. Mold is
the current rage.

Colbyt



Similar ThreadsPosted
Window glazing compound vs Silicone URGENT April 16, 2006, 10:45 pm
replacing bow window July 27, 2008, 5:36 pm
Replacing my window cranks... March 30, 2007, 10:34 am
Replacing fixed window August 17, 2005, 10:21 am
Replacing window in masonry April 4, 2006, 11:35 pm
Replacing old window with sheetrock June 3, 2007, 10:52 am
Replacing window that is next to meter June 9, 2007, 5:02 pm
advice on replacing window trim??? November 28, 2006, 10:25 am
replacing glass on an Anderson window March 11, 2007, 9:27 pm
Replacing broken window in French door November 3, 2005, 1:17 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap