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Asbestos Fence Removal Auckland: A Simple Homeowner Guide to Safe Removal

: The Process of Removing an Asbestos Fence From Your Home — A Plain-English Guide for Homeowners

Old asbestos fences are still sitting around plenty of Auckland homes. They are down the side of driveways, behind garages, along back boundaries, around old rental properties, and tucked behind gardens where nobody has looked too closely for 30 years.

Most homeowners do not wake up excited to talk about asbestos fencing. Fair enough. But when that old fence starts cracking, leaning, breaking, or getting in the way of a new build, landscaping job, driveway upgrade, subdivision, or boundary replacement, it needs to be handled properly.

This is not normal fence rubbish. You cannot just smash it out, chuck it in a trailer, and head to the tip like it is old timber paling. If the fence contains asbestos and it is broken, cut, drilled, dragged, or snapped, asbestos fibres can be released.

That is the stuff you do not want in your lungs, your garden, your neighbour’s washing, or blowing down the driveway like dirty confetti.

What is an asbestos fence?

An asbestos fence is usually made from asbestos cement sheet. It was commonly used years ago because it was strong, weather-resistant and cheap.

You may hear it called:

  • Asbestos cement fencing
  • Fibrolite fencing
  • Super Six fencing
  • Corrugated asbestos fence sheets
  • Old fibre cement boundary fencing
  • Asbestos sheet fencing

It may look like old grey cement sheets, flat panels, corrugated panels, or brittle board fixed to posts or rails.

The problem is that asbestos cement can become weak with age. Once it is cracked, broken, weathered, drilled, cut, or snapped, the risk increases.

Can I tell if my fence has asbestos just by looking?

Not reliably.

Some old fibre cement fences contain asbestos. Some newer fibre cement products do not. The trouble is they can look similar.

The safest option is to get the material tested before disturbing it.

A small sample can be taken by a competent person and sent to a laboratory. Once you know whether asbestos is present, you can make the right decision.

Simple homeowner rule:

If the fence is old, brittle, grey, cement-looking and you do not know what it is — treat it as asbestos until testing proves otherwise.

Why asbestos fence removal needs care

Asbestos fencing is usually classed as non-friable asbestos if it is in solid cement-sheet form. Non-friable means the asbestos fibres are bound into the material and are less likely to release fibres while intact.

But here is the catch: fences break easily.

Old asbestos fence sheets can crack when:

  • Posts are pulled out
  • Screws or bolts are removed
  • Panels are lifted
  • The sheets are dragged along the ground
  • Someone hits them with a hammer
  • A digger bucket nudges them
  • The wind catches them
  • A homeowner tries to “just snap it into smaller bits”

That is when the quiet old fence becomes a messy asbestos problem.

WorkSafe New Zealand says that up to 10m² of non-friable asbestos can be removed without a licence, but more than 10m² must be carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist. WorkSafe also says you cannot get around the requirement by splitting a larger job into smaller 10m² sections.

For most boundary fences, 10m² is not much at all. A few panels can push you over that amount quickly.

The asbestos fence removal process

Step 1: Stop and check before touching it

Before anyone starts pulling, cutting, grinding, digging, or loading anything, stop and check what the fence is made from.

You should be careful if:

  • The home or fence is old
  • The fence is cement sheet
  • The panels are grey, brittle or corrugated
  • There are broken pieces on the ground
  • You are replacing a boundary fence
  • A builder, landscaper, digger driver or fencer is about to disturb it

This is the stage where homeowners save themselves a lot of trouble.

Do not let someone say:

“We’ll just whip it out quickly.”

That sentence has caused a lot of asbestos headaches.

Step 2: Get the fence tested

If there is any doubt, get the fence sampled and tested.

Testing helps answer:

  • Is it asbestos?
  • Is it non-friable or damaged/friable?
  • How much material is involved?
  • Does a licensed asbestos removalist need to be used?
  • What controls are needed?
  • Can fencing, landscaping or demolition continue safely?

A proper asbestos removal quote should be based on the type, size, condition and access around the fence.

A straight run of intact fence panels beside a driveway is one thing. A broken, overgrown, half-buried fence behind a garage is another beast altogether.

Step 3: Choose the right asbestos removalist

For most asbestos cement fences, the work will usually be Class B asbestos removal because it involves non-friable asbestos-containing material. A Class B licence allows removal of any amount of non-friable asbestos, while Class A covers friable asbestos and any type or amount of asbestos.

Before hiring someone, ask:

  • Are you a licensed asbestos removalist?
  • Are you Class A or Class B?
  • Who is the nominated supervisor?
  • Will you provide an asbestos removal plan?
  • Will WorkSafe be notified if required?
  • How will you stop the panels breaking?
  • How will the waste be wrapped and labelled?
  • Where will the asbestos waste be disposed of?
  • Will the area be checked before handover?

You can check asbestos licence holders on the WorkSafe public register.

Step 4: Plan the job properly

A good asbestos fence removal is planned before the first screw comes out.

The asbestos removalist should look at:

  • Fence length and height
  • Condition of panels
  • Access to both sides of the fence
  • Neighbouring properties
  • Driveways, footpaths and gardens
  • Overhanging trees and vines
  • Underground services
  • Children, pets and public access
  • Wind direction and weather
  • Waste loading area
  • Emergency arrangements

For licensed asbestos removal work, the removalist normally prepares an Asbestos Removal Control Plan, often called an ARCP.

This plan explains:

  • What asbestos is being removed
  • How it will be removed
  • Who is supervising
  • What PPE and respiratory protection will be used
  • How the work area will be isolated
  • How dust and breakage will be controlled
  • How waste will be wrapped and disposed of
  • How the area will be cleaned and checked

WorkSafe’s Approved Code of Practice sets out expectations for complying with New Zealand asbestos health and safety law, including the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016.

Step 5: WorkSafe notification if required

If the job is licensed asbestos removal work, WorkSafe notification is usually required before the work starts.

The Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 require a licensed asbestos removalist to give written notice to WorkSafe at least 5 days before licensed asbestos removal work starts, unless a specific exception applies.

For homeowners, this means a proper asbestos fence removal may not start the same afternoon you ring up.

That is not the contractor being slow. That is the job being done properly.

Step 6: Set up the work area

Before removal starts, the team should set up the area so people do not wander into the job.

This may include:

  • Warning signs
  • Barrier tape or temporary fencing
  • Controlled access points
  • Ground protection
  • Waste wrapping area
  • Decontamination area
  • PPE and respiratory equipment
  • Spill or clean-up equipment if needed
  • Protection for gardens, paths and neighbouring areas

If the fence is on a boundary, the neighbour may need to be told what is happening. Not in a dramatic way. Just a plain heads-up.

Good communication stops complaints.

Step 7: Remove the fence sheets carefully

This is where the job needs patience.

The aim is to remove the asbestos fence panels whole and unbroken where possible.

The team should avoid:

  • Smashing the sheets
  • Snapping panels into smaller pieces
  • Dry cutting
  • Grinding
  • Drilling without controls
  • Throwing sheets into a trailer
  • Dragging panels along concrete
  • Using a digger bucket to rip them out

A safer process usually involves:

  • Light misting or wet control if needed
  • Removing fixings carefully
  • Supporting panels so they do not crack
  • Lifting panels out by hand where practicable
  • Lowering and stacking them gently
  • Wrapping sheets as they are removed
  • Cleaning small fragments immediately
  • Keeping asbestos waste separate from normal rubbish

The basic idea is:

Slow hands. No smashing. No dust clouds. No cowboy nonsense.

Step 8: Wrap, label and transport asbestos waste correctly

Asbestos fence panels cannot be thrown loose into the back of a ute.

Asbestos waste should be:

  • Double wrapped or bagged in suitable asbestos-rated material
  • Sealed
  • Labelled as asbestos waste
  • Kept secure during transport
  • Taken to a facility that accepts asbestos waste
  • Disposed of lawfully

Homeowners should ask for disposal evidence if they want confidence the material has gone to the right place.

Dodgy asbestos dumping is not just ugly. It can create future contamination issues, council problems, neighbour disputes and health risks.

Step 9: Clean the area

After the fence is removed, the ground and surrounding area need to be checked.

This matters because old asbestos fences often leave:

  • Broken chips
  • Buried fragments
  • Dust around post holes
  • Pieces caught in grass
  • Bits under shrubs
  • Broken material along the boundary line

Cleaning may include:

  • Picking up visible fragments
  • Wet wiping hard surfaces
  • Using suitable asbestos-rated vacuum equipment if required
  • Removing contaminated ground sheets
  • Checking garden edges and fence lines
  • Ensuring no loose asbestos pieces remain

A normal household vacuum is not suitable for asbestos dust.

And no, a leaf blower is not a clean-up tool. That is just spreading the problem with extra confidence.

Step 10: Clearance and handover

Once the fence has been removed and the area cleaned, the removalist or competent person should check the area before handing it back.

Depending on the job, this may include a visual clearance inspection and documentation.

For homeowners, this gives peace of mind that:

  • The asbestos fence has been removed
  • Waste has been taken away properly
  • The area has been cleaned
  • It is safe for fencing, landscaping or other work to continue

If you are replacing the fence, the new fence contractor should not start until the asbestos removal area is clear.

What homeowners should never do with an asbestos fence

Please do not:

  • Water-blast it
  • Sand it
  • Grind it
  • Drill it without controls
  • Smash it with a hammer
  • Break sheets to fit them in a trailer
  • Put it in the household rubbish
  • Hide it under soil or garden mulch
  • Let a landscaper rip it out with a digger
  • Let a mate “take it away cheap”
  • Mix asbestos pieces with normal demolition waste

The cheap way can turn very expensive once contamination, disposal, complaints or clean-up costs arrive.

Can a homeowner remove an asbestos fence themselves?

In New Zealand, unlicensed removal is limited. WorkSafe says unlicensed asbestos removal can only involve up to 10m² of non-friable asbestos over the whole project, and the 10m² limit cannot be dodged by splitting the job into smaller parts.

For a homeowner, the better question is not only “Can I?” but “Should I?”

Think about:

  • Do you know how to remove it without breaking it?
  • Do you have the right PPE and respirator?
  • Do you know where to dispose of it?
  • Can you keep neighbours, kids and pets away?
  • Can you safely clean up fragments?
  • Are you comfortable carrying asbestos waste?
  • What happens if you break sheets and contaminate the soil?

For most asbestos fence jobs, especially anything more than a few small panels, the sensible move is to use a licensed asbestos removalist.

Common reasons homeowners remove asbestos fences

You may need asbestos fence removal when:

  • Replacing an old boundary fence
  • Renovating or landscaping
  • Building a driveway or retaining wall
  • Selling or preparing a property
  • Removing an old garage or shed
  • Dealing with storm-damaged fencing
  • Subdividing a property
  • Cleaning up a rental property
  • Removing cracked or broken fence panels

If the fence is in poor condition, do not leave broken pieces lying around the property.

How much does asbestos fence removal cost?

Costs depend on:

  • Length and height of the fence
  • Condition of the sheets
  • Access
  • Whether vegetation needs clearing
  • Whether the fence is on a boundary
  • Amount of broken material
  • Waste volume
  • Disposal fees
  • Whether notification and clearance are required
  • Travel and site setup time

A small, easy-access job may be straightforward. A long boundary fence buried in vines with broken fragments through the garden will cost more.

The cheapest quote is not always the best quote. With asbestos, you want the person who can explain the process clearly, not the person who says, “Yeah bro, we’ll just chuck it.”

Simple homeowner checklist before asbestos fence removal

QuestionWhy it matters
Has the fence been tested? Confirms whether asbestos is present
Is the material more than 10m²? More than 10m² needs licensed removal
Is the contractor licensed? Helps ensure legal and safe removal
Has WorkSafe been notified if required? Licensed removal usually needs notice
Is there an asbestos removal plan? Shows the job is controlled
Are neighbours considered? Boundary fences affect others
How will panels be removed? Sheets should not be smashed or dry-cut
How will waste be wrapped? Asbestos waste must be sealed and labelled
Where will waste be disposed of? It must go to an approved facility
Will the area be checked after removal? Confirms the area is clean before handover

Good external links for homeowners

Here are useful places to check:

Final word for homeowners

Asbestos fence removal is not complicated when it is done properly.

The safe process is:

Test it. Plan it. Use the right licensed removalist. Set up the area. Remove the sheets carefully. Wrap the waste. Dispose of it properly. Clean the site. Check the area. Then build the new fence.

That is the clean way. The grown-up way. The way that keeps asbestos out of your garden, your neighbour’s driveway and your lungs.

For Auckland homeowners dealing with old asbestos fencing, asbestos cement boundary panels, Super Six fencing or broken fibrolite fence sheets, contact a licensed asbestos removalist such as PropertyHelp Ltd for advice before the job turns into a bigger mess than it needed to be.


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