Asbestos Removal

Asbestos is hazardous. This site publishes general information for Australian homeowners and does not replace advice from a licensed asbestos assessor or removalist. Never disturb, cut, drill, sand, or remove suspected asbestos-containing materials yourself — engage a licensed asbestos professional.

Guides

Evergreen guides

Direct-answer notes from the historic asbestosremoval.com.au archive, now on stable /guides/ paths. Dated permalinks 301 here. Never DIY.

These guides answer the questions people typed into this domain between 2018 and 2022: what asbestos looks like, where it hides in Australian houses, whether a photograph is enough, whether a homeowner should remove it, and when a laboratory sample is the next honest step. The dated archive URLs still resolve — they 301 here so inbound links do not die.

Every note is educational. None of them is a removal method, a price list, or a medical diagnosis. Safe Work Australia, the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency, and your state asbestos site remain the public sources for duties and licences. If a sentence here ever disagrees with those pages, follow the regulator.

Read the identification notes before you plan a bathroom, fence or roof job. Read the law note before you treat a small-quantity exception as permission. Then engage a licensed asbestos professional and verify the licence on the register for the state where the work will happen.

home

Asbestos when buying or selling a home

Pre-1990 Australian houses may contain ACM. Due diligence is not a photograph. This site does not invent vendor legal duties. Hire a licensed professional.

identification

Friable versus non-friable asbestos

Bonded cement sheet is usually non-friable until it is crushed or weathered. Friable ACM needs Class A. You cannot decide the class by eye.

law

What is an asbestos clearance certificate

A licensed asbestos assessor issues clearance after specified removal work. This site does not issue certificates. Educational only — hire a licensed professional.

safety

Is asbestos safe if undisturbed?

Intact bonded materials generally present a lower risk than damaged ones. That call belongs to a licensed professional — not a DIY inspection.

Historic path /2022/02/23/is-asbestos-safe-if-undisturbed/ now redirects here.

home

Where is asbestos found in homes?

Roofs, eaves, cladding, fences, bathrooms, vinyl, flues and some insulation — especially in pre-1990 Australian houses.

Historic path /2022/02/23/where-is-asbestos-found-in-homes/ now redirects here.

identification

Can you visually identify asbestos?

No. Visual cues raise suspicion only. Confirmation is a laboratory result arranged by a competent person.

Historic path /2019/08/16/can-you-visually-identify-asbestos/ now redirects here.

testing

Should you get asbestos testing done?

Yes, before you disturb suspect materials in a pre-1990 building. Visual ID is not a test.

Historic path /2019/03/07/should-you-get-asbestos-testing-done/ now redirects here.

law

Can you legally remove asbestos yourself?

This site’s answer is no: engage a licensed asbestos professional. Some states describe narrow exceptions — we will not turn them into a how-to.

Historic path /2019/02/04/can-you-legally-remove-asbestos-yourself/ now redirects here.

home

Was asbestos used in bathrooms?

Yes. Pre-1990 Australian wet areas commonly used cement sheet, vinyl and splashbacks. Do not strip a bathroom yourself.

Historic path /2019/01/23/was-asbestos-used-in-bathrooms/ now redirects here.

identification

What does asbestos look like?

There is no single look. Cement sheet, vinyl and insulation can all hide asbestos. Only a laboratory confirms it.

Historic path /2018/12/17/what-does-asbestos-look-like/ now redirects here.