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: Asbestos Garage Cladding Removal NZ: Should You Tackle It Yourself or Get the Pros In

Asbestos Garage Cladding: It's Not Just Old Cement

If your garage was built before the 1990s, there’s a good chance its walls are covered in asbestos cement cladding. Looks harmless? Maybe. But once you start drilling, cutting, or ripping, you’re releasing microscopic fibres that lodge deep in the lungs and stay for life.

And no, this isn't fear-mongering. It’s WorkSafe NZ’s reality.

So, what’s cheaper? Doing it yourself? Or hiring a certified asbestos removalist? Let’s pull back the cladding and see what’s really going on.

💵 What Does Asbestos Garage Cladding Removal Cost in NZ?

The cost depends on the size of the garage, the condition of the sheets, and how accessible the cladding is.

💰 Estimated Price Range (NZD):

Type of JobDIY CostCertified Pro Cost
Small area (<10m², legal DIY limit) ~$500–$800 $1,200–$2,500
Full garage (single bay) ❌ Not allowed $2,500–$5,000+
Testing per sample $150–$250 Usually included in pro quote
Disposal (DIY landfill fee) $100–$300 Included in service

Note: Anything over 10m² or friable (damaged) material legally requires a licensed removalist in NZ.

🧰 DIY Asbestos Cladding Removal: What You're Really In For

✅ Pros of DIY:

  • Slightly cheaper for tiny areas (if under 10m² and non-friable)

  • Feels satisfying if you're hands-on and have the right gear

  • Flexibility to do it on your own time

❌ Cons of DIY:

  • You’re dealing with a Category 1 carcinogen

  • Most homeowners don’t seal, mist, or bag it properly

  • No clearance certificate = problems later when selling or insuring the property

  • You’re legally liable if fibres spread to the neighbour’s place or contaminate soil

  • Landfill may reject it if it’s not packaged and labelled correctly

  • Can’t touch it at all if it’s damaged, soft, or crumbling

🏗️ Professional Asbestos Removal: Why People Pay for Peace of Mind

Certified removalists are trained, licensed, and fully equipped to handle the dirty work without putting anyone at risk. Here’s what they bring to the table:

  • WorkSafe NZ-certified licence (Class B or A)

  • Full site setup: barriers, signs, misting, PPE

  • Safe removal without breaking sheets

  • Proper double-bagging and transport to approved landfills

  • Final clearance certificate (gold when selling your property)

They don’t just remove cladding. They remove your legal and health risk in one go.

💀 What Could Go Wrong With DIY?

  • You break a sheet by accident = fibres released

  • You don’t wear the right respirator = fibres inhaled

  • You vacuum the dust = you’ve just contaminated your vacuum

  • You bag it wrong = landfill turns you away

  • You disturb it near the neighbour’s fence = hello, legal headache

  • You don’t know what you don’t know = the real danger

Asbestos doesn’t give second chances. Mesothelioma takes decades to show—but once it does, it’s terminal.

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🧠 Final Verdict: Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should

Look, if you’ve got a couple of loose sheets tucked behind a shed and you know what you’re doing — sure, DIY might make sense. But for a full garage? For brittle, weathered panels? For the unknown?

Call the pros. Get it tested. Get it removed properly. Get on with your life.

Because that old garage cladding isn’t worth a lifetime of regret.

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