Asbestos Before Demolition: A Guide for Gold Coast Home Owners

Plenty of homes on the Gold Coast went up during the building booms of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, when fibro was a popular and cheap material. WorkSafe Queensland notes it was used in many Queensland buildings before 1990. If your house is from that time and it is coming down, asbestos should be near the top of your list.

Why it has to come out first

Machine demolition breaks materials up. Breaking up asbestos products can release fibres into the air, which are harmful to breathe. That is why asbestos is removed as a separate stage before the rest of the house comes down, and not mixed into the rubble.

Brick homes are not automatically clear

Brick walls can give owners false comfort. Eaves, bathroom and laundry linings, vinyl floor backing, garage roofs and fences may all be asbestos products. Even a home that has been renovated may have older materials sitting behind newer ones.

Getting it checked

You cannot tell by looking. A sample can be tested by a laboratory, or a competent person can inspect the house and report on what is there. For a demolition, it is worth getting a report that covers the whole house and the outbuildings, not just the obvious fibro.

Which licence applies

In Queensland, more than 10 square metres of non-friable (bonded) asbestos needs a Class B licence, and friable asbestos needs a Class A licence. Ask your contractor which applies to your job and check the business against WorkSafe Queensland's list of licence holders.

On the day

Expect the work area to be kept clear of other people. The material is removed as whole as possible, wrapped and labelled, then taken to a facility that accepts it. Your neighbours may notice the protective gear, so a brief heads-up can save some worried phone calls.

After removal

Ask for records showing how the material was disposed of, plus any clearance document that applies to your job. Keep them with your project paperwork, because your certifier or builder may want to see them.

What this means for your budget

Asbestos removal is usually a separate line in your quote. Treat any quote that ignores it on an older house with caution. For more on pricing, read what affects demolition costs.

Unsure about your home? Tell us about it, and we will refer you to a local contractor with the right licence.