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Class B Asbestos Garage Cladding Removal in Auckland – What Homeowners Need to Know Before Renovating or Demolishing”

Class B Asbestos Garage Cladding Removal – The Reality for Auckland Homeowners

If your garage was built before the 1990s, there’s a strong chance the exterior cladding isn’t just fibre cement — it’s asbestos cement.
Detached garages, sleepouts, sheds, and workshops were commonly built with asbestos cladding because it was cheap, strong, and fire-resistant.

The problem starts when you decide to renovate, re-clad, convert, or knock the garage down.
That’s when Class B asbestos cladding removal becomes unavoidable — and it’s not a DIY job.

What Is Class B Asbestos Garage Cladding?

Under WorkSafe NZ Asbestos Regulations 2016, asbestos removal is split into two classes:

  • Class A – friable asbestos (crumbly, dusty, high-risk)

  • Class B – non-friable asbestos (bonded into solid materials)

Garage cladding falls under Class B, because the asbestos fibres are locked into cement sheets.
But once you drill, cut, crack, or pry those sheets off, fibres are released — and that’s where the danger begins.

Common garage cladding materials that contain asbestos include:

  • Flat grey fibre-cement sheets

  • Hardiflex / Fibrolite panels

  • Old weatherboard-style cement cladding

  • Garage linings that match the house exterior

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Why Garage Asbestos Is Often Overlooked (and Dangerous)

Many homeowners focus on the house and forget about the garage.
But garages are often worse when it comes to asbestos because:

  • They’re older than the house

  • They’ve been repaired or modified over the years

  • Sheets are cracked or weathered

  • DIY work has already damaged the cladding

  • Dust has settled into soil around the slab

Garages also sit close to driveways, gardens, and play areas — meaning fibres can easily spread to places people use every day.

How Professionals Remove Asbestos Cladding from a Garage

1️⃣ Testing and Identification

First step — always.
A licensed asbestos assessor takes samples and sends them to an accredited lab. You cannot identify asbestos cladding by sight.

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2️⃣ Asbestos Removal Control Plan (ARCP)

Once asbestos is confirmed, the removalist prepares a Class B Asbestos Removal Control Plan, which outlines:

  • How the cladding will be removed

  • How dust will be controlled

  • PPE requirements

  • Waste handling and disposal

  • Emergency procedures

This is required under WorkSafe NZ and may be requested by council or insurers.

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3️⃣ Careful Sheet-by-Sheet Removal

Garage cladding is removed whole and intact:

  • Sheets are lightly wetted

  • Fasteners removed by hand

  • No grinders, saws, or snapping

  • Sheets are lowered carefully

  • Each sheet is double-wrapped in 200-micron plastic

This prevents fibres escaping into the air or surrounding soil.

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4️⃣ Clean-Up and Site Inspection

Once the cladding is off:

  • The garage frame is HEPA-vacuumed

  • Ground areas around the garage are checked

  • Loose debris is collected

  • Any contaminated soil is addressed

Only once the site is clean is it considered safe for re-cladding or demolition.

5️⃣ Transport and Legal Disposal

All asbestos waste is:

  • Transported in sealed vehicles

  • Logged on a waste manifest

  • Disposed of at an approved asbestos landfill

This step is tightly regulated — asbestos waste cannot go to a normal tip.

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Why Homeowners Should Never DIY Garage Asbestos Removal

Garages look simple. That’s what catches people out.

Here’s what goes wrong with DIY garage removal:

❌ Sheets crack easily
❌ Dust spreads into soil and driveways
❌ Fibres blow into neighbouring properties
❌ Tools, clothes, and cars get contaminated
❌ WorkSafe can issue fines
❌ Insurance won’t cover contamination
❌ Clean-up costs spiral fast

Licensed asbestos removalists are trained, insured, and audited. They know how to remove cladding without turning a small job into a hazardous mess.

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Signs Your Garage Cladding Likely Contains Asbestos

  • Garage built before 1990

  • Flat grey cement sheets

  • Brittle or chalky surface

  • Fibrous edges on damaged panels

  • Brand names like Hardiflex or Fibrolite

  • Cladding matches the main house exterior

If you’re unsure — assume asbestos until tested.

The Bottom Line for Auckland Homeowners

Asbestos cladding on garages is extremely common in Auckland, and removing it safely requires a WorkSafe-licensed Class B asbestos removalist.

Hiring a professional means:

✓ Safe, compliant removal
✓ No contamination of soil or driveway
✓ Proper waste disposal
✓ Documentation for council and insurance
✓ Peace of mind

Garages might feel “separate” from the house — but asbestos doesn’t care.
Do it properly, once, and move forward safely.

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