Property Help Ltd Found an Asbestos Fence on Your Property? A Free Homeowner Checklist for Auckland and Waikato
Free Homeowner Asbestos Fence Checklist
Step 1: Treat the Fence as Asbestos Until Testing Says Otherwise
☐ Do not rely on guesswork or a quick Google image search.
Asbestos cement fencing can look similar to other fibre-cement products. You usually cannot confirm asbestos by looking at a photograph alone.
☐ Check the likely age of the fence and property.
A fence installed around an older home, particularly a property built or renovated before 2000, should be treated with caution.
☐ Arrange professional asbestos testing.
Ask a reputable asbestos contractor or asbestos surveyor to inspect the fence and arrange laboratory testing of a sample. Do not snap a corner off the fence yourself and carry it around in a plastic shopping bag.
Step 2: Leave the Fence Alone While You Decide What to Do
☐ Do not cut, drill, sand, grind, or saw the fence panels.
☐ Do not water blast the fence.
☐ Do not scrub moss off the panels with a wire brush.
☐ Do not burn broken fence panels or put them into a general waste skip.
☐ Do not let children climb on the fence or play near damaged panels.
☐ Keep pets away from any broken material or fragments on the ground.
The golden rule is simple: do not turn a manageable problem into airborne dust.
Step 3: Check the Condition of the Fence Without Disturbing It
Stand back and take a careful look. You can take photographs, provided you do not touch or disturb the fence.
☐ Are any panels cracked, snapped, or crumbling?
☐ Are loose fragments lying in the garden, driveway, or neighbouring property?
☐ Has the fence been damaged by a storm, vehicle, tree branch, or landscaping work?
☐ Is the fence leaning or likely to collapse?
☐ Is the fence close to a vegetable garden, play area, dog run, or frequently used path?
☐ Will upcoming building work, earthworks, or a new retaining wall disturb it?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, arrange professional advice promptly.
Step 4: Decide Whether the Fence Can Stay or Needs to Go
Not every asbestos fence needs to be removed immediately.
A contractor may recommend leaving an asbestos cement fence in place temporarily if it is stable, undamaged, and unlikely to be disturbed.
Removal becomes the more sensible option when:
☐ panels are broken or badly weathered
☐ the fence is unstable or falling over
☐ fragments are scattered on the ground
☐ renovations, landscaping, or subdivision work will disturb the fence
☐ the fence borders a shared driveway or neighbouring property
☐ the homeowner wants to replace it with a new timber, metal, or composite fence
☐ the condition of the fence is making the property harder to sell
There is no prize for keeping a crumbling asbestos fence standing until the next storm finishes the job.
Step 5: Measure the Fence Before Requesting Quotes
Before calling an asbestos removal company, gather a few basic details.
☐ Measure the approximate length and height of the fence.
☐ Count the number of panels.
☐ Take clear photographs from a safe distance.
☐ Note whether the contractor can access the fence from a driveway or road.
☐ Identify obstacles such as trees, sheds, retaining walls, gardens, or neighbouring buildings.
☐ Tell the contractor whether panels are intact, cracked, or already broken.
☐ Mention whether the work involves a shared boundary.
A few decent photographs and rough measurements will help the contractor provide a more accurate asbestos fence removal quote.
Step 6: Use a Proper Asbestos Removalist
For larger asbestos fence removal jobs, use a licensed asbestos removalist.
In New Zealand, removal of more than 10 m² of non-friable asbestos-containing material must be completed by a licensed asbestos removalist. Most residential asbestos fences quickly exceed that area once the length and height are calculated.
☐ Check that the company has appropriate asbestos removal experience.
☐ Ask whether the contractor is licensed for the work.
☐ Ask for a written quote.
☐ Confirm that safe disposal is included.
☐ Ask how the work area will be isolated from your home, neighbours, children, and pets.
☐ Ask whether the quote includes removal of broken fragments from the ground.
☐ Ask whether any additional clearance inspection or completion documentation will be provided.
☐ Ask for evidence of public liability insurance.
Price matters, but the cheapest quote is not always the cheapest outcome. A sloppy removal job can leave fragments in the soil and a mess for the next contractor to unravel.
Step 7: Tell Your Neighbours Before Removal Day
Asbestos fencing often sits directly on a shared boundary.
☐ Let your neighbour know that asbestos fence removal work is planned.
☐ Confirm which side of the fence the contractor will access.
☐ Keep vehicles, outdoor furniture, washing, toys, and pets away from the work zone.
☐ Close nearby windows and doors while removal work is underway.
☐ Make sure children do not wander into the exclusion area.
A calm conversation over the fence is usually better than a surprised neighbour peering through the curtains when workers arrive wearing protective equipment.
Step 8: Make Sure the Waste Goes to the Right Place
Asbestos waste is not ordinary household rubbish.
☐ Confirm that the asbestos removalist will package and label the waste correctly.
☐ Confirm that the waste will be transported to an authorised disposal facility.
☐ Do not place asbestos panels into a household wheelie bin.
☐ Do not bury asbestos fence fragments in the garden.
☐ Do not leave panels stacked behind the garage for “later”.
☐ Do not put asbestos fencing into a general rubbish skip unless the waste company has specifically approved the asbestos disposal process.
A tidy garden does not mean much if asbestos fragments have simply been shifted out of sight.
Step 9: Keep Records After the Job
Once the asbestos fence has been removed, keep the paperwork.
☐ Save the asbestos testing report.
☐ Save the contractor’s quote and invoice.
☐ Keep any completion report or clearance documentation provided.
☐ Take photographs of the completed area.
☐ Keep records of any soil clean-up or removal of broken fragments.
These records may help when selling the property, arranging further building work, or answering questions from a neighbour, buyer, or insurer.
What Should You Do if the Fence Is Accidentally Broken?
If someone damages a suspected asbestos fence:
- Stop work immediately.
- Keep people and pets away from the area.
- Do not sweep the debris 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 spreading dust into the house.
- Contact a reputable asbestos contractor for advice.
A broken fence panel is not the time for enthusiastic DIY. Slow things down, keep the area quiet, and get the right advice.
Questions to Ask an Asbestos Fence Removal Company
Before approving the work, ask:
☐ Are you experienced in asbestos cement fence removal?
☐ Is your licence suitable for this job?
☐ Does the quote include safe packaging, transport, and disposal?
☐ Will you remove visible fragments from the soil surface?
☐ How will you protect my neighbour’s property?
☐ What happens if you uncover buried fence pieces?
☐ Will you provide photographs or a completion record?
☐ Are there additional charges for difficult access, overgrown gardens, or damaged panels?
A professional contractor should be able to answer these questions clearly and without dancing around the details.
Need Help With Asbestos Fence Removal in Auckland or Waikato?
PropertyHelp Ltd provides practical asbestos services for homeowners, landlords, builders, and property managers.
We can help with:
- asbestos fence inspections
- asbestos testing and sampling arrangements
- asbestos cement fence removal
- removal of broken asbestos fence fragments
- asbestos cladding and soffit removal
- asbestos roofing removal
- safe asbestos disposal
- advice before renovation or demolition work
For a quote, send through photographs of the fence, the approximate length, your suburb, and a short description of its condition.
PropertyHelp Ltd Asbestos Removal Services — Auckland and Waikato Contact John Kerr Mobile: 021 222 5246
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