Asbestos Fence Removal NZ: A Simple Homeowner’s Guide to Safe Removal and Disposal

Asbestos Fences: What Homeowners Need to Know

Old asbestos fences are still sitting around many homes in Auckland, Waikato, and across New Zealand. They are often found on older boundary lines, driveways, garages, sheds, and rental properties.

They may look like old grey cement sheets, but many of these fences are made from asbestos cement. The common type is often called Super Six fencing because of its corrugated shape.

If the fence is in good condition and left alone, the risk may be lower. But once it is cracked, smashed, cut, drilled, water-blasted, or pulled out badly, it can release asbestos fibres.

That is when the job becomes dangerous.

What Does an Asbestos Fence Look Like?

An asbestos fence may look like:

• Grey corrugated cement sheets
• Wavy fence panels
• Old brittle boundary fencing
• Sheets fixed to timber or steel posts
• Cracked or broken cement panels
• Fence panels around older garages or sheds
• Old Super Six-style fence sheeting

You cannot confirm asbestos just by looking. The safest approach is to have the material tested or assessed before anyone starts removing it.

Why Homeowners Should Not Just Pull It Down

A lot of homeowners think:

“It’s just an old fence. I’ll knock it over and take it to the dump.”

That can create a bigger problem.

Asbestos fence removal can involve:

• Broken sheets
• Sharp edges
• Dust and fibre release
• Contaminated soil around the fence line
• Hidden buried pieces
• Wrong transport and disposal
• Neighbour exposure
• Council or landfill rejection
• Expensive clean-up if the material is smashed

The main rule is simple:

Do not break it up.

Asbestos cement fence sheets should be removed carefully, kept as intact as possible, wrapped correctly, labelled, transported safely, and disposed of at an approved facility.

Safe Procedure for Asbestos Fence Removal

Step 1: Identify the Fence Material

Before removal starts, confirm whether the fence is asbestos cement.

This may involve:

• Visual inspection
• Checking the age of the property
• Looking at the fence style
• Reviewing old building records if available
• Taking a sample safely
• Laboratory testing

Do not start cutting, drilling, sanding, grinding, or smashing the fence to “see what it is.”

Step 2: Plan the Job

A proper asbestos fence removal job should be planned before anyone touches the fence.

The removalist should consider:

• How many square metres need removing
• Condition of the fence
• Whether sheets are cracked or buried
• Access to both sides of the fence
• Neighbouring properties
• Power, services, drains, gardens, and driveways
• Waste wrapping area
• Disposal route
• Weather conditions
• Worker PPE and decontamination

For larger asbestos fence removal jobs, proper asbestos removal documentation and WorkSafe notification may also be required.

Step 3: Set Up an Exclusion Zone

The area around the asbestos fence should be controlled.

This usually means:

• Warning signs
• Barrier tape or fencing
• Keeping neighbours, children, pets, and visitors away
• No other trades working nearby
• No public access
• Clear waste wrapping area
• Safe access for workers

If the fence is on a boundary, talk to the neighbour before work starts. That avoids panic, complaints, and people wandering into the work zone.

Step 4: Use the Right PPE and Respiratory Protection

Workers removing asbestos fencing should use proper asbestos PPE.

This may include:

• Disposable coveralls
• Gloves
• Safety boots
• Eye protection
• Correct respirator
• Decontamination process

A cheap dust mask is not good enough for asbestos work.

Step 5: Wet the Fence Carefully

The fence should be lightly dampened to reduce dust.

But do not use:

• Water blasters
• High-pressure hoses
• Grinders
• Saws
• Sanders
• Leaf blowers
• Dry sweeping

High-pressure water can spread asbestos contamination into soil, drains, paths, lawns, and neighbouring properties.

Use low-pressure wetting only.

Step 6: Remove Sheets Without Breaking Them

The safest method is to remove the fence sheets whole where possible.

A proper removal process may include:

• Carefully removing fixings
• Supporting the sheet before loosening it
• Avoiding snapping or dropping sheets
• Removing one sheet at a time
• Lowering or carrying sheets carefully
• Avoiding dragging sheets across concrete or soil
• Keeping broken edges damp
• Collecting small fragments immediately

Do not smash sheets to make them fit into a bin or trailer.

That is one of the worst things you can do with asbestos cement.

Step 7: Check the Ground Around the Fence

Old asbestos fences often have broken pieces sitting in the soil.

The removalist should check:

• Base of fence line
• Garden beds
• Soil around posts
• Driveway edges
• Behind sheds
• Where old sheets have cracked or fallen
• Any buried fragments

Any asbestos debris should be collected as asbestos waste.

Step 8: Wrap, Label and Dispose Correctly

Asbestos fence sheets must be packaged correctly.

This usually involves:

• Heavy-duty polythene wrapping
• Sealing with tape
• Labelling as asbestos waste
• Transporting securely
• Disposal at an approved asbestos waste facility
• Keeping disposal receipts

You cannot put asbestos fence sheets into normal household rubbish or a general waste skip.

Step 9: Clean Up the Work Area

After removal, the area should be checked and cleaned using asbestos-safe methods.

That means:

• No dry sweeping
• No blowing dust
• No water-blasting
• Wet wiping where needed
• Collecting fragments
• Checking soil and hard surfaces
• Removing contaminated disposable PPE as asbestos waste

The area should be left safe for the homeowner, neighbours, pets, and other contractors.

Common Homeowner Mistakes

Avoid these:

• Breaking asbestos fence sheets with a hammer
• Cutting sheets with a grinder
• Water-blasting the fence
• Using a normal dust mask
• Throwing sheets into a general skip
• Letting a handyman remove it cheaply
• Not telling the neighbour
• Leaving broken pieces in the garden
• Taking asbestos to the wrong dump
• Removing the fence on a windy day

A cheap backyard job can become an expensive contamination clean-up.

How Much Does Asbestos Fence Removal Cost?

The cost depends on:

• Size of the fence
• Access
• Condition of the sheets
• Amount of broken material
• Disposal weight
• Travel
• Whether both sides of the fence are accessible
• Whether soil contamination is present

As a rough guide, small asbestos fence removal jobs may start from a few thousand dollars, while larger or more difficult jobs can cost more.

A proper quote should include:

• Site setup
• PPE and respiratory protection
• Removal labour
• Wrapping and labelling
• Disposal costs
• Waste records
• Clean-up
• Close-out photos or documentation

When Should You Call a Class B Asbestos Removalist?

Call a professional if:

• The fence is old Super Six-style cement sheeting
• The sheets are cracked or broken
• The fence is on a boundary
• You are preparing for demolition or renovation
• You need proof of proper disposal
• There are children, tenants, neighbours, or workers nearby
• You want the job done safely and legally

A Class B asbestos removalist can remove non-friable asbestos cement materials using controlled methods and proper disposal.

How PropertyHelp Ltd Can Help

PropertyHelp Ltd provides Class B asbestos removal services for homeowners in Auckland and Waikato.

We can help with:

• Asbestos fence removal
• Super Six asbestos fence removal
• Asbestos roof removal
• Asbestos soffit removal
• Asbestos cladding removal
• Asbestos testing and survey support
• Asbestos waste wrapping and disposal
• WorkSafe notification where required
• Asbestos removal planning
• Safe handover for builders, landscapers, or demolition contractors

Our approach is simple: identify it, plan it, remove it safely, dispose of it properly, and give you the paperwork.

Final Word for Homeowners

If you have an old asbestos fence, do not smash it, cut it, water-blast it, or throw it in a trailer.

Get it checked first.

Then remove it carefully, keep it intact, wrap it properly, and dispose of it at the right place.

That is how you protect your family, your neighbours, your property, and the workers who come onto the site after you.