If your Brisbane home was built before 1990, there is a genuine possibility that your roof contains asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos cement sheeting was used extensively in Australian construction from the 1950s through to the late 1980s, and Queensland’s housing stock from that era contains a significant proportion of properties with asbestos roofs, particularly fibro cement sheeting on verandahs, garages, and secondary structures, and occasionally on main roof surfaces. Understanding what you are dealing with, what the rules are in Queensland, and how the removal and replacement process works is essential before any roofing work begins on an older Brisbane property.
Arden Projects works with licensed asbestos removalists across Brisbane and Logan to ensure safe removal before roof replacement. Call 0478 729 262 or contact our team to discuss your property.
How to Identify if Your Brisbane Roof Contains Asbestos
The only definitive way to confirm whether a material contains asbestos is laboratory testing of a sample. However, there are visual indicators that should prompt caution. Any corrugated sheeting on a Brisbane property built before 1990 that is not Colorbond or Zincalume steel should be treated as potentially containing asbestos until proven otherwise. Fibro cement sheeting in a flat or slightly corrugated profile was very commonly produced with asbestos fibre reinforcement until the late 1980s. Super six profile corrugated sheets, which have larger, rounder corrugations than standard iron profile, were also frequently asbestos cement. If you are uncertain, do not attempt to take a sample yourself. Contact a licensed asbestos assessor or a roofing professional familiar with asbestos identification in Brisbane’s pre-1990 housing stock.
Queensland Rules for Asbestos Roof Removal
In Queensland, the removal of asbestos-containing materials is regulated under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and associated codes of practice. The rules depend on the type and quantity of asbestos involved. Friable asbestos, where the material can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure, must be removed by a licensed Class A asbestos removalist. Non-friable asbestos (also called bonded asbestos), which includes intact fibro cement sheeting that has not been damaged, can be removed by a licensed Class B removalist for quantities up to 10 square metres, or a Class A removalist for larger areas. Homeowners in Queensland are not permitted to remove more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos themselves, and any removal must comply with safe work procedures including correct PPE, wetting-down techniques, and proper disposal at an approved facility.
The Typical Process: Asbestos Removal and Roof Replacement
When Arden Projects is engaged to replace a Brisbane roof that contains asbestos-containing materials, we coordinate the full process. A licensed asbestos assessor first confirms the presence and condition of asbestos in the roofing material. A licensed asbestos removalist then carries out the removal in accordance with Queensland regulations, including safe work method statements, air monitoring where required, appropriate containment and disposal, and clearance inspection. Once the asbestos roofing material has been safely removed and the clearance inspection has been passed, Arden Projects installs the new roof system, typically Colorbond or Zincalume steel. This coordinated approach means the property owner has a single point of contact for the entire project.
Cost of Asbestos Roof Removal in Brisbane
Asbestos roof removal adds to the overall cost of a roof replacement in Brisbane due to the specialist licensing, equipment, and disposal requirements. For a typical residential Brisbane property with a fibro cement or super six asbestos roof, licensed removal typically costs between $2,000 and $8,000 depending on the area of asbestos material, the type and condition of the material, access requirements, and disposal fees at an approved facility. This cost is in addition to the new roof installation. In many cases, property owners find that the total cost of removal and replacement is comparable to what they would have paid for multiple repair visits on the ageing asbestos roof over the preceding years, making replacement a sound long-term investment. See our roof replacement service for more on the replacement process.
Why You Should Never Saw, Grind, or High-Pressure Wash an Asbestos Roof
Intact, undisturbed asbestos cement sheeting presents a very low risk. The danger arises when the material is disturbed in ways that release fibres into the air. Sawing, grinding, drilling, high-pressure washing, or sanding asbestos cement creates fine airborne fibres that are invisible to the naked eye but present a serious long-term health risk. If you have an older Brisbane home and are considering any work on or near the roof, please have the material assessed before any work begins. Arden Projects routinely encounters situations where previous roofing work has unknowingly disturbed asbestos materials, creating both health and liability issues.
Replacing an Asbestos Roof: The Long-Term Benefits
Beyond the obvious safety benefit, replacing an asbestos roof with modern Colorbond steel has meaningful practical advantages. Modern metal roofing is significantly lighter than fibro cement sheeting, reducing the structural load on the building’s framing. Colorbond’s thermal performance, particularly in lighter colour options with Thermatech technology, dramatically improves the building’s energy efficiency by reflecting solar heat rather than absorbing and radiating it into the ceiling space. And a new Colorbond roof comes with a BlueScope manufacturer’s warranty and Arden Projects’ workmanship warranty, giving the property owner confidence in the roof’s performance for decades. Contact our team to discuss asbestos roof replacement for your Brisbane property.
Get a Free Roofing Quote Today
Arden Projects serves Brisbane and Logan with expert roofing solutions. Call 0478 729 262 or contact our team online to book your free site assessment.
