Yes, it's possible to remove asbestos by yourself. I don't know of any state or locality that requires that a licensed remediation company deal with your cement-asbestos siding. However, the laws do govern the disposal of asbestos siding. For that reason alone, you may want to hire a company.

Removing asbestos siding is a little easier than removing asbestos inside (on pipes, in crawlspaces, etc.) because you have room to work and can spray water freely and in copious amounts. So, the keys to DIY asbestos siding removal:

• Water.
• Containment.
• Water.

I'd say at least look over the directions before deciding whether to DIY or hire someone. It's tough, grueling, and nerve-wracking work.

Image Public Domain: State of Maine

I catch a lot of heat from mold remediation professionals chiefly for one article that I wrote awhile ago called Mold Remediation, Worthwhile or Just a Big Scam? In the vein of one of those David-Letterman-like kinda-sorta apologies, I have to admit that the use of the word "scam" in conjunction with "mold remediation" may not be entirely fair, and may put some professionals on edge. Yet - it's the way I felt when I got legitimately scammed, and it's the way readers have related that they felt, too.

That said, no I do not believe that mold remediation is a scam on the order of the legendary Irish Travelers, not even close. It's simply a legit industry that has a number of unsavory characters operating within it.

Let's look at the case for mold remediation.

The Case for Taking Care of Mold Remediation from a Professional Company

1. Mold infesting the house (in attic, crawlspace, etc.) is too pervasive for most homeowners to handle.
2. Professional companies have all the right tools and safety equipment needed to deal with mold.
3. Even if a homeowner could effectively deal with mold, the pros can eradicate the problem much faster.
4. Professional mold remediation companies are used to providing certifications stating that the mold has been taken care of (i.e., for home sales, making the home sale process go smoother).

Ah, China. Giver of all things healthy and good for us. Now, the latest piece of [word redacted!] to come from China is bad drywall. Not only will Chinese drywall corrode your pipes and wires and coils, but it may give you lung cancer.

Nasty Chinese drywall can manifest in any number of ways. Not just corroded pipes, but appliances and electronics failing for no apparent reason (they have copper wiring, which is affected by a substance that contains radium). Radium is really bad news for your health, too, as you might imagine. Radium increases your risk for lung cancer. Find out if you have Chinese drywall in your house and what to do about it.

Image of Shut Off Valve Corrosion Caused by Chinese Drywall - Public Domain: FL Dep't Health

You could probably write a history of the United States and Canada based on the prevailing trend of kitchen countertop styles. How did Formica affect world events? What does the choice of ultra-swanky granite countertops say about the financial bubbles of the early 2000's?

Even concrete countertops have had their heyday. But when will soapstone counters have their resurgence? Even though soapstone has an appealing soft-and-warm feel, it is surprisingly harder than you might think (and no, doesn't dissolve on contact with water!). But the most surprising thing about soapstone countertops is that they are nearly impervious to staining, something that granite cannot claim. Part of this is the fact that new soapstone must be wiped down with mineral oil, and then this process repeated monthly for about a year. The light-gray soapstone turns dark gray, so possibly it may stain but the stains simply don't show.

Soapstone counters aren't for people who are looking to pare their remodeling budget close to the bone (but again, it does beat the cost of some granite). Nor is it for people who want a very sleek, sterile, contemporary look. It will develop what soapstone owners like to affectionately term "patina."

Image Copyright/Courtesy Vermont Soapstone