Removing Asbestos Before Re-Roofing an Auckland Home

Could the old roof contain asbestos?

Asbestos was used in some corrugated cement roofing and in coatings on some pressed metal or decramastic roof tiles. It may also be present in nearby soffits, gable linings, cladding or old roof debris.

You cannot confirm asbestos just by looking at a roof. If your home was built or renovated before 2000 and the roofing material is uncertain, arrange an asbestos survey or representative sampling before anyone drills, cuts, lifts or breaks it.

Why the asbestos check comes first

A roofer may need to remove sheets or tiles, install edge protection, work around soffits and clear the roof space. If asbestos is discovered after this work begins, the job may need to stop while the material is assessed and a suitable removal plan is arranged.

Finding it early allows the asbestos removal and new-roof installation to be priced, scheduled and managed as one coordinated project.

Do not clean or prepare a suspected asbestos roof yourself

Do not pressure-wash, sand, grind, cut, drill or break suspected asbestos roofing. These actions can release and spread fibres over the roof, gutters, garden and neighbouring property. Old asbestos-cement sheets may also be brittle and unsafe to walk on.

Keep people away from damaged material and contact an asbestos professional for advice. If broken pieces have fallen to the ground, do not sweep them up or put them in normal household rubbish.

How removal and re-roofing are coordinated

The asbestos removalist and roofer should agree on the work sequence before the start date. The plan needs to cover safe access, scaffolding or edge protection, electrical or solar equipment, weather, temporary protection and when the roofer can take over the work area.

• Confirm the asbestos survey or laboratory result
• Agree exactly which roof, soffit and other materials are being removed
• Confirm who supplies scaffolding and other height controls
• Plan how sheets or tiles will be lowered without unnecessary breakage
• Agree who protects the exposed building if the new roof is not installed immediately
• Confirm asbestos-waste disposal and any clearance requirements
• Book the replacement roofer after the removal sequence is agreed

Will a licensed asbestos removalist be needed?

More than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos must be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist. A Class B licence covers suitable non-friable asbestos work. Friable asbestos, or work that creates or involves friable material, requires a Class A licensed removalist.

Most whole-house and garage re-roofing projects involving asbestos will be larger than 10 square metres. Even where a small amount could legally be unlicensed work, using a trained asbestos contractor is the safest option for a homeowner.

What happens on removal day?

The removal team establishes the work area and keeps residents and other trades outside it. Suitable non-friable roofing is removed using controlled methods intended to minimise breakage, then securely packaged, transported and disposed of as asbestos waste.

The area is cleaned and the agreed inspection or clearance process is completed before it is handed to the roofer. The exact controls depend on the roofing material, condition, access and site surroundings.

What affects the cost?

The price depends on the roof area, material, height, pitch, condition, access, scaffolding, nearby properties, waste volume and clearance arrangements. Weather protection and installation of the new roof are normally separate unless the written quotation says otherwise.

For an initial quotation, send the property address, photographs of all sides of the roof, approximate measurements, any asbestos report and the details of your roofer or planned start date.

PropertyHelp can coordinate the asbestos stage

PropertyHelp provides asbestos surveys, sampling and licensed Class B removal for suitable non-friable roofing across Auckland and Waikato. We can work directly with homeowners, roofers and builders so the removal stage is clear before the re-roof begins.

If the survey, roof condition or proposed method shows that Class A capability is required, we will explain this so the correct licensed contractor can be engaged.