Think your roof or eaves contain asbestos? Don’t cut, drill, walk on or pull off a piece to check.
Asbestos cement roofing and eaves were used on thousands of Queensland homes, sheds and farm buildings. Left intact, they generally pose a low risk. The danger comes when the material is broken, drilled, cut, cleaned or badly weathered, which is why roof work needs a proper assessment before any trades arrive on site.
Removing an asbestos roof is very different from removing sheeting at ground level. Height, access, weather, the condition of the sheets and the risk of breakage all affect how the job must be done.
Safety on the roof itself is a serious concern. Asbestos cement roofing is brittle and can give way under a person’s weight, and falls through fragile roofs are a known cause of serious injury and death in Australia. Roof work must have appropriate fall protection, such as edge protection, safety mesh or crawl boards.
Because most roofs are well over 10 square metres, asbestos roof removal in Queensland almost always requires a licensed removalist. Bonded asbestos over 10 square metres needs at least a Class B licence, while roofing that has become friable (for example through fire damage or severe deterioration) needs a Class A licence.
Never pressure-clean or water-blast an asbestos roof. It’s tempting to clean an old roof before painting or selling. On asbestos cement, that’s a serious mistake. Queensland laws prohibit certain tools and methods on asbestos because they release fibres — high-pressure water cleaning, compressed air, grinders, saws and sanders are all restricted. Water-blasting sprays contaminated slurry into gutters, gardens, pools and neighbouring yards, and sanding, scraping and wire-brushing are also unsafe. If you want to paint or seal an asbestos roof, get professional advice first.
Far North Queensland’s wet seasons and cyclones are hard on older buildings. Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the record flooding that followed in December 2023 damaged homes across Cairns and the northern beaches, and heat, humidity and heavy rain steadily weather older fibro roofs and cladding.
If an asbestos roof has been damaged, keep people and pets away from broken pieces, don’t hose down or sweep up debris, and avoid walking on the roof. Contact your insurer and arrange a licensed professional to assess and make the area safe. For emergency help covering a damaged roof, call the Queensland SES on 132 500 and tell them asbestos may be involved.
Queensland Health advises that if asbestos materials have been damaged on your property, or you’re not sure, a licensed asbestos removalist should do the clean-up. Queensland also allows licensed removalists to start urgent storm and flood-related removal without the usual five-day notice period.
If solar installers, roof plumbers, painters, builders or electricians need access to an older roof, tell them asbestos may be present before they start. Many solar installers won’t mount panels on asbestos roofing, and drilling or fixing through it can be unsafe and non-compliant. Removing an asbestos roof before a solar installation or re-roof is often the simplest way to keep your project moving. For any repairs or rebuilding after asbestos removal, use QBCC-licensed builders — asbestos removalists are licensed separately, by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.
Check whether your quote covers roof sheeting only, or also includes eaves, fascias, gutters and downpipes, clean-up of the ceiling space, waste packaging and disposal, temporary weather protection until the new roof goes on, coordination with your roofer, and a clearance inspection once removal is complete.
Before starting licensed asbestos removal work, the removalist must notify Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, generally at least five days in advance, and let the owner, occupier and nearby residents know before work begins. Storm-damaged jobs can start sooner under Queensland’s emergency exemption. On the day, the work area is marked off with barriers and signage, and sheets are usually wetted down and removed whole wherever possible to minimise breakage.
After licensed removal, the area must pass a clearance inspection before it’s used again, and asbestos waste must be double-wrapped in heavy-duty plastic at least 0.2 millimetres thick, sealed with tape and clearly labelled as asbestos.
Call us or request a quote online and we’ll connect you with a licensed local removalist.