How Do I Know If My Auckland Home Has Asbestos?

What does asbestos look like in a house?

There is no single, distinctive asbestos look. That is part of the problem. Asbestos fibres were mixed into other building products, so an asbestos-containing sheet can look almost identical to a modern fibre-cement sheet.

You might see a grey cement board and think it looks harmless. It might be—or it might contain asbestos. Laboratory testing is the reliable way to confirm whether a suspect material contains asbestos.

Where is asbestos commonly found in Auckland homes?

If you own an older Auckland property, these are some of the places worth paying particular attention to.

• Soffits and eaves: older fibre-cement sheets beneath the roof edge
• Exterior cladding on houses, garages and later additions
• Old vinyl flooring, vinyl tiles and some backing materials
• Detached garages and sheds built with fibre-cement wall or roofing products
• Old fibre-cement boundary fencing
• Corrugated fibre-cement roofing and some older roof products
• Wall sheets, ceiling linings, flooring and backing materials in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries

Does the age of my Auckland house matter?

Yes. The older the house, the more reason there is to consider whether asbestos-containing building materials may have been used. But do not assume a house is safe just because it does not look especially old.

Houses get altered, bathrooms get renovated, garages get added and old materials sometimes get reused. The age of the original house is useful information, but it is not proof that a particular sheet, floor covering or piece of cladding is asbestos-free.

Can I identify asbestos myself?

Not reliably. You can identify suspect materials, but that is different from confirming asbestos. Photos from the internet may give you clues, but they are not laboratory results. Neither is a mate saying, ‘That is just fibro.’ Fibro is exactly the sort of material that may need further investigation.

If you are unsure, do not drill it, sand it, snap off a corner or start pulling sheets down to see what is behind them. Have the suspect material assessed and, where appropriate, sampled under controlled conditions.

Is asbestos dangerous if I do not touch it?

Finding asbestos does not automatically mean your house is unsafe to live in or that everything has to be ripped out immediately. The condition of the material matters. Bonded asbestos-containing material that remains in good condition and is not disturbed presents a different risk from damaged, deteriorating or friable asbestos.

The problem often arrives when somebody starts renovating. Drilling, cutting, grinding, sanding, breaking and demolishing asbestos-containing materials can release fibres. The useful question is not simply, ‘Have I got asbestos?’ It is also, ‘What is going to happen to this material next?’

I am renovating my Auckland home. What should I do?

If you suspect asbestos, deal with that question before demolition begins. It is much easier to investigate one suspicious bathroom wall on Tuesday than discover asbestos after half the bathroom has been ripped apart on Friday.

A sensible sequence is:

• Identify the areas your renovation will disturb
• Look for potentially asbestos-containing materials
• Arrange professional sampling where required
• Have representative samples analysed by a suitable laboratory
• Decide whether the material can remain safely in place or needs removal
• If removal is required, have the correct controls in place before building work continues

What happens if the test comes back positive?

Do not panic. A positive asbestos result does not mean the house needs to be demolished or wrapped in plastic. The next step depends on the type of asbestos-containing material, its condition, location, quantity, whether it is friable and whether your planned work will disturb it.

Sometimes the appropriate decision is to leave sound material undisturbed. In other cases, particularly where renovation or demolition will disturb it, controlled removal may be the sensible option.

PropertyHelp Ltd—Class B asbestos removal in Auckland

PropertyHelp Ltd is a Class B asbestos removalist servicing Auckland and surrounding areas. We work with homeowners dealing with the asbestos issues that crop up in everyday Auckland properties, including soffits and eaves, fibre-cement cladding, fencing, garages, sheds, roofing and other suitable bonded Class B asbestos-containing materials.

We can also help homeowners arrange asbestos sampling and testing so you know what you are dealing with before making decisions about removal. We are not interested in frightening homeowners into unnecessary work. If something can safely remain where it is, that is worth knowing too.

Buying, renovating or demolishing an older Auckland home?

Find out what is there before you start swinging the hammer. Asbestos is much easier to deal with while it is still an intact sheet on the wall than after somebody has cut through it with a grinder.

If you have found suspicious cladding, soffits, fencing, flooring, roofing or another material at your Auckland property, contact PropertyHelp Ltd for asbestos advice, sampling or a Class B asbestos removal quote. A small check before the job starts can prevent a very big headache halfway through it.