Cement Asbestos Shingles The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Asbestos cement siding: Good

       Highly fire resistant.
       Resistant to damage by termites and rot.
       Easy to clean (though beware of the pressure washer, as this can crack the product).
       It's easy to paint because it does not absorb ink as fast as the more pro-porous like wood panels.

Asbestos cement siding: Bad and Ugly

       Very fragile (not hit by a lawn mower!).
       Dangerous ground when sawing, sanding, breaking, etc.
       It is difficult to find a replacement.
       Can not be repaired. For example, wood can be sanded and repainted, or cedar shake siding can be sandblasted and re-stained. I can not do it with cement asbestos siding.
       It was just ugly and cheap looking, and you will be hard pressed to find anyone who has a soft spot in his heart for asbestos-cement siding.