Rust spotting on asbestos-cement cladding

Causes

Corrosion of fasteners where incorrect fastener used or galvanised coating has been damaged during fixing 

Listed under: Exterior, health and safety, asbestos health and safety, cladding, walls, asbestos, durability, rust, fixings and hardware, fixings, wall cladding, asbestos-cement cladding

Cause

Corrosion of fasteners where incorrect fastener used or galvanised coating has been damaged during fixing 

Repair

  • if you are not sure whether a fibre-cement cladding contains asbestos, you can get a small piece (about the size of two $2 coins, or approximately 2 x 3 cm) tested at one of the labs listed on our asbestos page
  • very lightly sand the head of the nail to remove rust, taking great care not to sand the asbestos-cement. Do not use power tools
  • spot prime the fasteners with a zinc-rich primer and a metal primer, then repaint
  • wear a disposable P2 mask and disposable overalls
  • breathing in asbestos fibres can lead to serious and potentially fatal illnesses. Work with materials that contain asbestos is very strictly controlled. You can find more details on the WorkSafe website.

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