Where does fibro turn up around a roof?
ASSEA, the national asbestos agency, lists gables, eaves and soffits (the lining under the eaves), gutters, downpipes, roof sheeting and ridge capping among the outside places asbestos can be found, along with fences, carports, garages and sheds. WA Health names eaves lining specifically.
Eaves are the ones that catch people out on roofing jobs. They sit right behind the gutters and fascia, so replacing gutters, fixing fascia, running cables for solar or lights, or fitting vents can all mean drilling or cutting into them.
Bonded or friable: why condition matters
Fibro is bonded asbestos, also called non-friable, meaning the fibres are locked into cement. Safe Work Australia says bonded asbestos can still release fibres if it's damaged. Friable asbestos is the loose kind that crumbles under hand pressure, and it's a much higher risk.
So condition matters. Painted, unbroken sheets in a sheltered spot are lower risk. Cracked, weathered or storm-damaged sheets, and any crumbly debris, need a licensed removalist. ASSEA warns that fires, floods, storms and cyclones can all damage asbestos materials and raise the risk of exposure.
No drills, saws, sanders or pressure cleaners
WA law bans cleaning asbestos with high-pressure water or compressed air, cutting, grinding, sanding or drilling it with high-speed power tools, and dry-sweeping its dust. ASSEA says high-pressure water on asbestos, and power tools used on it in an uncontrolled way, are illegal in every state. If a tradie picks up a drill near the eaves of an older house, ask them to stop until the sheet has been tested.
Who can remove small amounts? State by state
| Small amounts of bonded fibro | Larger amounts, or friable asbestos | |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Unlicensed removal only in limited cases, such as 10 m2 or less taking no more than 1 hour in a 7 day period. The Victorian Asbestos Hub recommends a licensed removalist for any amount | A licensed removalist: Class B for bonded, Class A for friable |
| New South Wales | A homeowner, or a tradie for them, can remove less than 10 m2, though the NSW Government strongly recommends a licensed removalist | More than 10 m2, or any friable asbestos, needs a licensed removalist |
| Queensland | A homeowner can remove 10 m2 or less without a certificate, counting the whole job rather than each day's work | Over 10 m2 needs a certificate or a certified contractor, and friable needs a Class A removalist |
| Western Australia | A homeowner, or a tradie for them, can remove less than 10 m2, but the council may need to approve it | More than 10 m2, or any friable asbestos, needs a licensed removalist |
| South Australia | SafeWork SA says home renovators don't need a licence by law, but recommends a licensed removalist | A Class B licence for over 10 m2 of bonded asbestos, Class A for friable |
| Tasmania | Workplace rules allow 10 m2 or less, done by a trained, competent person | Class B or A for over 10 m2, and Class A for friable |
| ACT | No unlicensed removal of any amount, outside minor routine maintenance | A licensed removalist, with clearance only from a licensed assessor |
| Northern Territory | Workplace rules allow 10 m2 or less, done by a trained, competent person | Class B or A for over 10 m2, and Class A for friable |
How to read that table
Those are legal minimums, not advice. Several of the same governments recommend a licensed removalist for any amount, and we agree. ASSEA says 10 m2 is only about four sheets of asbestos cement wall sheeting.
The Tasmanian and NT figures come from work health and safety rules, which apply to businesses doing the work. The SA position was read from archived copies of SafeWork SA pages, because the live site blocked automated access.
Before any job near fibro eaves or walls
Tell every tradie the house's age
Mention it when you book, so they can plan. In Victoria, a business doing refurbishment at a home has to identify asbestos likely to be disturbed, or bring in a competent person who can.
Test before anyone drills
If the eaves or gables are flat cement sheet on a pre-1990 house, have a sample tested before work starts. A licensed assessor or removalist can take it.
Plan the job around it
A careful tradie will route cables, brackets and fixings away from the sheet, or have a licensed removalist take out that section first.
Ask where the waste goes
Asbestos can't go in household, recycling or green waste bins. In NSW you stay responsible for lawful disposal even if you pay someone, so ask for the disposal receipt, and in Victoria ask for a Waste Tracker record.
Get a clearance where it applies
WorkSafe WA says a competent person should issue a clearance certificate after removal. In the ACT, only a licensed asbestos assessor can issue one.
What if a storm breaks it?
If wind or hail has broken fibro eaves or a shed roof, keep people and pets away from the pieces, and don't hose or sweep them up. For a storm emergency, call the SES on 132 500.
Then ring your insurer and ask a licensed removalist to clean up the broken material. ASSEA warns that some policies exclude asbestos, or won't cover the full cost if it's accidentally damaged, so ask before you assume.
What you can do, and what needs a licensed removalist
You can
- Find out when the house was built and what's been renovated
- Tell tradies about possible fibro before they quote
- Keep people and pets away from broken pieces
- Check the removalist's licence with your state regulator
- Ask for disposal paperwork afterwards
Leave to a roofer
- Sampling and testing
- Cutting, drilling or removing any sheet
- Cleaning up broken or storm-damaged pieces
- Gutter debris under an asbestos cement roof
- Transport and lawful disposal
What we'd do about fibro
We'd treat any flat cement sheet on a pre-1990 house as asbestos until a test says otherwise. If it's intact and painted, we'd leave it alone and make sure every tradie knows it's there. If a job means cutting or removing it, we'd pay a licensed removalist to take that section out first, whatever the small-amount rule in our state says.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.