Early 20th-Century Building Materials: Siding and Roofing
Asbestos-Cement Roofi ng and Siding In the early 1900s, manufacturers reinforced Portland cement with asbestos fibers to create a fire-resistant and durable building material. The product, first made in 1905, served as a coating for boilers, steam pipes, and equipment that generated heat. Asbestos-cement coatings also were used
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