PropertyHelp Ltd - Found Asbestos Soffits Under Your Eaves? A Free Checklist for Auckland and Waikato Homeowners
Free Asbestos Soffit Checklist for Homeowners
1. Treat Older Soffits as Suspected Asbestos Until Testing Proves Otherwise
☐ Check the approximate age of your home.
☐ Take extra care if your house was built or renovated before 2000.
☐ Do not assume that the panels are safe because they look tidy or have been painted.
☐ Arrange professional asbestos testing before roofing, electrical, painting, or renovation work begins.
☐ Ask for a copy of the laboratory result and keep it with your property records.
You cannot reliably identify asbestos just by looking at the panels. Older asbestos cement sheeting can look almost identical to modern fibre-cement board.
2. Do Not Disturb the Soffits
Until you know what the material is, leave it alone.
☐ Do not drill holes into the soffits.
☐ Do not cut the panels with a saw, grinder, or multi-tool.
☐ Do not sand the surface before painting.
☐ Do not scrape the panels aggressively.
☐ Do not water blast the soffits.
☐ Do not snap off a small corner to take your own sample.
☐ Do not pull down a loose sheet and stack it behind the shed.
☐ Do not allow a builder, roofer, painter, electrician, or security installer to disturb the panels without warning.
Asbestos cement sheeting is generally less risky while it remains intact and undisturbed. Once it is drilled, cut, sanded, smashed, or water blasted, fibres can be released into the air.
3. Look at the Condition From Ground Level
Stand back and take photographs from a safe position. There is no need to climb a ladder and start poking the panels with a screwdriver.
☐ Are any sheets cracked or broken?
☐ Are panels sagging or pulling away from the roofline?
☐ Are there loose fragments on the lawn, deck, or driveway?
☐ Are cracks visible around nails or fixings?
☐ Is the paint peeling badly?
☐ Is there water damage from overflowing gutters or a leaking roof?
☐ Have birds, insects, or rodents damaged the eaves?
☐ Has a storm, falling branch, or building work affected the roof edge?
☐ Will somebody need to drill through the soffits for lights, cameras, vents, or cables?
A panel that is sitting quietly under the eaves may be manageable. A panel hanging by one nail above the back door deserves prompt attention.
4. Decide Whether the Soffits Can Stay in Place or Need to Be Removed
Not every asbestos soffit has to be removed immediately.
If the panels are in sound condition and nobody is likely to disturb them, a reputable asbestos contractor may advise you to leave them in place and monitor them.
Removal should be considered when:
☐ panels are broken, badly weathered, or deteriorating
☐ roofing or gutter replacement is planned
☐ the exterior of the house is being renovated
☐ painters need to sand, scrape, or repair the eaves
☐ new lights, security cameras, vents, or wiring will be installed
☐ the soffits are sagging or unstable
☐ fragments have fallen into the garden
☐ the property is being prepared for sale
☐ the homeowner wants to replace the soffits with a modern product
There is nothing wrong with managing stable asbestos carefully. The real headache comes when a tradesperson discovers it halfway through a job and everybody is left standing around the driveway wondering what to do next.
5. Work Out the Approximate Area Before Requesting a Quote
You do not need perfect measurements. A rough estimate and a few useful photographs will help an asbestos removal contractor understand the job.
☐ Measure the approximate length of the soffits around the house.
☐ Measure the width from the outside wall to the fascia board.
☐ Multiply the total length by the width to estimate the area in square metres.
Example
The soffits run for approximately 52 metres around the house.
The panels are approximately 600 mm wide.
52 metres × 0.6 metres = 31.2 m²
☐ Take photographs of each side of the house.
☐ Mention whether the house is single-storey or two-storey.
☐ Note any decks, conservatories, pergolas, garages, steep banks, or narrow accessways.
☐ Tell the contractor whether the ground is flat or sloping.
☐ Mention overhead power lines.
☐ Explain whether the panels are intact or damaged.
A single-storey bungalow with a clear path around the house is one type of job. A two-storey home sitting on the edge of a steep Auckland section is another kettle of fish.
6. Use a Licensed Asbestos Removalist for Larger Soffit Jobs
A whole-house asbestos soffit removal job will often exceed 10 m².
☐ Ask whether the contractor holds the correct asbestos removal licence.
☐ Ask whether the contractor has experience removing asbestos soffits and eaves.
☐ Confirm that the quote includes safe packaging, transport, and disposal.
☐ Ask how the garden, driveway, deck, and neighbouring property will be protected.
☐ Ask whether scaffolding or other access equipment will be required.
☐ Ask whether the work area will be isolated and signposted.
☐ Ask what paperwork will be provided when the removal is complete.
☐ Ask whether visible fragments on the ground are included in the clean-up.
☐ Ask for evidence of public liability insurance.
A proper asbestos contractor should be able to explain the process in plain language. If the plan sounds like “we will rip the sheets down and chuck them in the trailer,” that is your cue to keep looking.
7. Check What Is Actually Included in the Quote
Two quotes can look similar at the bottom of the page while covering very different amounts of work.
Ask whether the quote includes:
☐ site inspection and measurements
☐ asbestos testing or confirmation of existing test results
☐ work planning and required documentation
☐ an asbestos removal control plan where required
☐ site isolation and warning signs
☐ protective clothing and respiratory protection
☐ access equipment, scaffolding, or edge protection
☐ removal of the soffit panels
☐ collection of visible fragments
☐ packaging and labelling of asbestos waste
☐ transport to an authorised disposal facility
☐ disposal fees
☐ clean-up of the work area
☐ completion records or photographs
☐ GST
Also check what is not included. Replacement soffits, painting, electrical work, roof repairs, and scaffolding may be priced separately.
8. Prepare Your Property Before Removal Day
Your removalist should explain the site-specific requirements, but a bit of preparation makes the day run more smoothly.
☐ Keep children and pets away from the work area.
☐ Move outdoor furniture, toys, pot plants, and barbecue equipment away from the house.
☐ Remove washing from clotheslines.
☐ Move vehicles away from the work zone.
☐ Close nearby doors and windows.
☐ Let the contractor know about locked gates, alarm systems, and access issues.
☐ Tell your neighbours that asbestos removal work is planned.
☐ Make sure roofers, electricians, painters, and builders know that asbestos soffits are present.
☐ Keep the work area clear while removal is underway.
A little planning saves a lot of unnecessary to-ing and fro-ing once the crew arrives.
9. Do Not Put Asbestos Soffits Into an Ordinary Skip Bin
Asbestos waste is not general household rubbish.
☐ Do not put broken sheets into a wheelie bin.
☐ Do not mix asbestos panels with timber, roofing iron, or renovation waste.
☐ Do not leave loose pieces in an uncovered trailer.
☐ Do not bury fragments in the garden.
☐ Do not burn asbestos-containing materials.
☐ Do not stack panels behind the garage for another day.
☐ Confirm that the contractor will dispose of the waste at an authorised facility.
The job is not finished when the sheets come off the house. Safe disposal is part of the removal process.
10. Keep Your Paperwork
Once the work is complete, keep a basic record of what was done.
☐ Save the laboratory asbestos testing report.
☐ Keep the written quote.
☐ Save the contractor’s invoice.
☐ Keep any completion records or clearance documents provided.
☐ Save before-and-after photographs.
☐ Record any other asbestos materials identified during the job.
☐ Keep the paperwork for future renovations or a property sale.
A tidy folder today may save a great deal of head-scratching later.
What Should You Do if an Asbestos Soffit Is Accidentally Broken?
If somebody accidentally drills, cuts, or breaks a suspected asbestos soffit:
- Stop work immediately.
- Keep people and pets away from the area.
- Tell everyone nearby what has happened.
- Close nearby doors and windows.
- Do not sweep the area 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 tracking dust indoors.
- Contact a reputable asbestos contractor for advice.
The first instinct may be to grab a broom and tidy up. Resist that urge. A calm response is usually the safest response.
Questions to Ask an Asbestos Soffit Removal Company
Before you accept a quote, ask:
☐ Have you removed asbestos soffits from similar homes?
☐ Is your licence suitable for this job?
☐ Does your quote include disposal fees?
☐ Will scaffolding or access equipment be needed?
☐ How will you protect the garden, paths, and neighbouring property?
☐ How will you deal with broken fragments?
☐ Will I receive records when the job is complete?
☐ Are replacement soffits included or priced separately?
☐ Can you coordinate the removal with my roofer, builder, painter, or electrician?
☐ Does the price include GST?
A reputable contractor should answer these questions without ducking and weaving.
Need Help With Asbestos Soffit Removal in Auckland or Waikato?
PropertyHelp Ltd provides practical asbestos services for homeowners, landlords, builders, roofers, and property managers.
We can help with:
- asbestos soffit inspections
- asbestos testing and sampling arrangements
- asbestos soffit removal
- asbestos eaves removal
- asbestos cladding removal
- asbestos roof removal
- asbestos fence removal
- asbestos surveys
- safe asbestos disposal
- advice before renovation, reroofing, or demolition work
For a quote, send through the property address, photographs of each side of the house, the approximate soffit width, and a short description of the condition.
PropertyHelp Ltd Asbestos Removal Services — Auckland and Waikato Contact John Mobile: 021 222 5246
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