Asbestos cement siding was seen as an alternative to wooden shingles. The inclusion of asbestos in the manufacturing process made the siding more durable and resistant to extreme heat. Visually, they were similar to their wooden counterparts.
In the case of cement siding, asbestos exposure happened in two instances: as the asbestos fibers were added to the dry mix during the manufacturing process, and when the construction workers would disturb the material by accidentally damaging it. You could have been exposed if: