Confirm the material and the roof being removed
A corrugated sheet’s appearance does not confirm whether it contains asbestos. Share an existing material report, the approximate roof area if known and whether the building is a house, garage, shed or commercial premises. Arrange professional assessment before work that could disturb suspected material.
List roof sheets, ridge capping, gutters, eaves, ceiling and insulation separately so the removal contractor can check what the work affects. State what stays, including the supporting frame. A report for an internal renovation may not cover these roof components; check its locations and exclusions before relying on it.
Plan roof access without climbing up for a quote
Send existing photographs or take them from a safe position on the ground. Do not climb onto a suspected asbestos roof or disturb sheets to collect a sample. SafeWork NSW warns that asbestos cement roofs can be brittle, so the contractor must plan for falls as well as exposure to fibres.
Describe the building’s height, adjoining structures, overhead services and the available ground space for access equipment and loading. Tell us about solar panels or other equipment, including who will arrange the appropriate specialist disconnection and reinstatement.
- Existing reports and photos from a safe position.
- Building use, occupied areas and adjoining properties.
- Street and driveway access, overhead services and loading space.
- Roof equipment and the trades already involved.
Agree the handover to your roofer
Ask the removal contractor and roofer to agree a sequence before booking either start date. Establish who protects the exposed building and what happens if rain, clearance or a delay prevents the roofer starting as planned. Do not assume that the removal price includes temporary weather protection.
Have replacement roofing, structural repairs, electrical work and new insulation listed where they are included, with a responsible contractor for each. Agree who checks the retained structure. Your roofer needs both the required clearance records and an agreed handover before starting work.
| Decision | Agree before booking |
|---|---|
| Removal boundary | Roof sheets and any other affected components, with retained areas identified. |
| Weather and delays | Who provides any temporary protection and coordinates a changed schedule. |
| Separate trades | Roof replacement, solar/electrical work and any repairs, with a named responsible party. |
| Release of the area | Required clearance, records and the handover to the roofer. |
Discuss people and neighbouring areas
Tell us whether anyone needs to live or work in the building during the project. Identify rooms directly beneath the roof, shared driveways and neighbouring spaces in use. Include tenant access and operating hours where relevant.
The removal contractor determines exclusion areas and controls for the job. Confirm which entrances and areas can be used, whether occupants need to leave and who will tell affected neighbours or tenants. Resolve those arrangements before organising deliveries or other trades.
Bring the removal and replacement briefs together
We coordinate asbestos removal for roof replacement and demolition projects. Send the site address, existing reports and your roofer’s brief, plus any target dates. Tell us if you have not chosen a roofer yet so that the removal and replacement responsibilities can be discussed early.
At our Smithfield factory project in Sydney, asbestos roof removal preceded work on the remaining structure. The project story records progress as at 12 October 2026.
Common questions
Does asbestos roof removal include a new roof?
Only if replacement is expressly included in the written scope. Agree the removal boundary, roofing contractor, any repairs and temporary weather protection before booking the work.
Do I need to measure the roof before enquiring?
No. Send the address, existing reports and safe ground-level photographs if available. Do not climb onto a roof or disturb material to prepare an enquiry. The team can discuss the assessment and measurements needed.
Can a business operate while its asbestos roof is removed?
That needs project-specific assessment. Explain occupied areas, shared access and operating hours so the removal contractor can determine restrictions and staging before the programme is agreed.