Asbestos Cladding Removal Auckland and Waikato: A Free Homeowner Checklist by PropertyHelp Ltd
Free Asbestos Cladding Checklist for Homeowners
1. Treat Older Cladding as Suspected Asbestos Until Testing Proves Otherwise
☐ Check the approximate age of your house, garage, or shed.
☐ Take extra care if the building was constructed or renovated before 2000.
☐ Do not assume that painted cladding is safe.
☐ Do not rely on a photograph or a quick internet search to identify the material.
☐ Arrange professional asbestos testing before renovation, painting, demolition, or building work begins.
☐ Ask for a copy of the laboratory test result and keep it with your property records.
Asbestos cement sheets can look very similar to modern fibre-cement cladding. The only reliable way to confirm what you are dealing with is to have the material tested properly.
2. Do Not Disturb the Cladding
Until the test results are back and you have a plan, leave the cladding alone.
☐ Do not drill holes for lights, cables, cameras, or clotheslines.
☐ Do not cut sheets with a grinder, saw, or multi-tool.
☐ Do not sand the cladding before painting.
☐ Do not scrape the surface aggressively.
☐ Do not water blast the walls.
☐ Do not break sheets into smaller pieces.
☐ Do not remove a sheet to see what is behind it.
☐ Do not allow a builder, painter, electrician, plumber, or handyman to disturb the cladding without warning.
☐ Do not sweep broken fragments with a dry broom.
☐ Do not use a household vacuum cleaner to collect dust or debris.
An intact sheet sitting quietly on the side of a garage is generally a different proposition from a sheet that has been cut, smashed, drilled, or blasted with high-pressure water.
3. Inspect the Condition From a Safe Distance
Walk around the building and take photographs. There is no need to start tapping the sheets with a hammer or digging around the edges with a screwdriver.
☐ Are any sheets cracked or broken?
☐ Are panels pulling away from the wall?
☐ Are there chips or fragments on the ground?
☐ Are cracks visible around nails, screws, or joins?
☐ Has a vehicle, lawnmower, tree branch, or storm damaged the cladding?
☐ Is paint flaking or peeling badly?
☐ Are plants, vines, or shrubs growing hard against the wall?
☐ Is the cladding close to a children’s play area or frequently used path?
☐ Will a deck, extension, new door, window, heat pump, or electrical fitting disturb the sheets?
☐ Are builders or painters due to start work soon?
A small crack is not a reason to charge outside in a dust mask and start pulling sheets off the wall. It is a reason to stop, get advice, and make a proper plan.
4. Decide Whether the Cladding Can Stay or Needs to Be Removed
Not every asbestos-clad building needs to be stripped immediately.
If the panels are intact, sealed, and unlikely to be disturbed, a reputable asbestos contractor may advise you to leave them in place and monitor their condition.
Removal becomes more sensible when:
☐ sheets are cracked, broken, or badly weathered
☐ panels are loose or unstable
☐ fragments are lying on the ground
☐ major painting preparation is needed
☐ renovations will involve cutting through exterior walls
☐ windows or doors are being replaced
☐ a garage, shed, or sleepout is being demolished
☐ a deck, extension, or new building is planned
☐ the homeowner wants to reclad the property
☐ the property is being prepared for sale
There is no prize for leaving tired, damaged cladding on the wall until the next storm makes the decision for you.
5. Work Out the Approximate Area Before Requesting a Quote
A rough measurement will help an asbestos removal contractor understand the size of the job.
☐ Measure the approximate length of each wall.
☐ Measure the approximate height of the cladding.
☐ Multiply the length by the height to estimate the square metres.
☐ Deduct large doors and windows if you want a more accurate estimate.
Simple Example
A garage has two side walls measuring 6 metres long and 2.4 metres high.
It also has a rear wall measuring 3 metres wide and 2.4 metres high.
Side walls: 6 metres × 2.4 metres × 2 walls = 28.8 m²
Rear wall: 3 metres × 2.4 metres = 7.2 m²
Estimated total: 36 m² of cladding
You do not need builder-level measurements. A rough estimate, the property address, and a few clear photographs will give the contractor a useful starting point.
Also tell the contractor:
☐ whether the cladding is on a house, garage, shed, or sleepout
☐ whether the building is single-storey or two-storey
☐ whether the ground is flat or sloping
☐ whether access is clear or restricted
☐ whether the sheets are intact, cracked, or broken
☐ whether vines, trees, decks, fences, or garden beds are in the way
☐ whether the removal needs to be coordinated with builders or demolition contractors
6. Use a Licensed Asbestos Removalist for Larger Jobs
A garage or house recladding project can quickly exceed 10 m².
☐ Ask whether the contractor holds the correct asbestos removal licence.
☐ Ask whether the company has experience removing asbestos cement cladding.
☐ Confirm that the quote includes packaging, transport, and disposal.
☐ Ask how the garden, driveway, pathways, and neighbouring properties will be protected.
☐ Ask whether scaffolding or access equipment will be required.
☐ Ask whether visible fragments on the ground are included in the clean-up.
☐ Ask what paperwork you will receive after the job.
☐ Ask for evidence of public liability insurance.
☐ Ask what happens if additional asbestos materials are found behind the cladding.
A proper removalist should be able to explain the process without hiding behind jargon. If the plan sounds like a couple of mates, a crowbar, and a trailer, keep looking.
7. Check What Is Included in the Quote
The cheapest quote is not always the best value. Check whether the quote includes:
☐ site inspection and measurements
☐ asbestos testing or review of existing laboratory results
☐ work planning and required documentation
☐ an asbestos removal control plan where required
☐ site isolation and warning signs
☐ protective clothing and respiratory protection
☐ safe removal of the cladding sheets
☐ collection of visible fragments
☐ ground protection such as polythene sheeting where needed
☐ packaging and labelling of asbestos waste
☐ transport to an authorised disposal facility
☐ disposal charges
☐ clean-up of the work area
☐ completion photographs or records
☐ GST
Also ask what is excluded. Replacement cladding, painting, scaffolding, building repairs, insulation, demolition, and electrical work may need separate pricing.
8. Prepare Your Property Before Removal Day
Your asbestos removalist should explain the site-specific arrangements. A little preparation helps the work run smoothly.
☐ Keep children and pets away from the work area.
☐ Move vehicles away from the building.
☐ Shift outdoor furniture, toys, pot plants, and barbecue equipment.
☐ Remove washing from clotheslines.
☐ Keep windows and doors closed near the removal area.
☐ Tell your neighbours that asbestos removal work is planned.
☐ Let the contractor know about locked gates, pets, alarm systems, and access issues.
☐ Tell builders, painters, electricians, and other trades that asbestos cladding is present.
☐ Keep the work zone clear while removal is underway.
☐ Do not wander into the exclusion area to check progress.
The crew will work more efficiently when they are not trying to move trampolines, garden furniture, and the family dog out of the way.
9. Do Not Put Asbestos Cladding Into an Ordinary Skip Bin
Asbestos waste is not general building rubbish.
☐ Do not place sheets in a household wheelie bin.
☐ Do not mix asbestos panels with timber, gib board, roofing iron, or general demolition waste.
☐ Do not transport loose sheets on an uncovered trailer.
☐ Do not bury fragments in the garden.
☐ Do not burn asbestos-containing material.
☐ Do not stack old panels behind the shed for another day.
☐ Confirm that the asbestos waste will go to an authorised disposal facility.
The removal is not finished when the sheets come off the wall. Safe packaging, transport, and disposal are part of the job.
10. Keep Your Paperwork
Save a record of what was tested and removed.
☐ Keep the laboratory asbestos test report.
☐ Save the contractor’s written quote.
☐ Keep the invoice.
☐ Save completion photographs.
☐ Keep any clearance or close-out documentation provided.
☐ Record any additional asbestos materials found during the work.
☐ Keep the paperwork for future renovations, insurance questions, or a property sale.
A small folder of records can save plenty of confusion later.
What Should You Do if Asbestos Cladding Is Accidentally Broken?
If someone drills, cuts, breaks, or damages suspected asbestos cladding:
- Stop work immediately.
- Keep people and pets away from the area.
- Close nearby doors and windows.
- Do not sweep the area with a dry broom.
- Do not use a household vacuum cleaner.
- Do not pick up fragments with bare hands.
- Avoid walking through the area and tracking debris indoors.
- Do not water blast the wall or surrounding ground.
- Contact a reputable asbestos contractor for advice.
The first instinct may be to tidy everything up before anybody notices. Do the opposite. Stop, keep the area quiet, and get the right advice.
Questions to Ask an Asbestos Cladding Removal Company
Before accepting a quote, ask:
☐ Have you removed asbestos cladding from similar houses or garages?
☐ Is your licence suitable for this job?
☐ Does the quote include disposal fees?
☐ Will scaffolding or access equipment be required?
☐ How will you protect the ground and neighbouring properties?
☐ How will you deal with fragments or damaged sheets?
☐ Are visible pieces in the soil included in the clean-up?
☐ Will I receive completion records?
☐ Can you coordinate with my builder, roofer, painter, or demolition contractor?
☐ Are replacement cladding and building repairs included or priced separately?
☐ Does the price include GST?
A reputable contractor will give you straight answers rather than ducking and weaving.
Need Help With Asbestos Cladding Removal in Auckland or Waikato?
PropertyHelp Ltd provides practical asbestos services for homeowners, landlords, builders, roofers, and property managers.
We can help with:
- asbestos cladding inspections
- asbestos testing and sampling arrangements
- asbestos cement cladding removal
- Fibrolite cladding removal
- asbestos garage cladding removal
- asbestos soffit removal
- asbestos roof removal
- asbestos fence removal
- asbestos surveys
- safe asbestos disposal
- advice before renovation, recladding, or demolition work
For a quote, send through the property address, photographs of each wall, the approximate building dimensions, and a short description of the cladding condition.
PropertyHelp Ltd Asbestos Removal Services — Auckland and Waikato Contact John Kerr Mobile: 021 222 5246
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