Understanding asbestos roofing
Non-friable, or bonded, asbestos describes asbestos fibre firmly bound in the matrix of a cement product. In Canterbury housing it most often appears as corrugated asbestos-cement roof sheeting (widely known by the trade name Super Six), flat wall and ceiling sheets, and moulded products like downpipes and spouting. Some pressed metal (decramastic) tiles also carry asbestos in their textured coating.
While these materials remain undisturbed and in fair condition, they are unlikely to release measurable levels of airborne fibre. The problem is age and disturbance: fifty-year-old cement sheet is brittle, cracks under foot traffic, sheds weathered surface, and cannot be repaired or worked on safely. When the roof reaches that point, safe removal and replacement is the responsible fix, and it must follow correct handling procedures under WorkSafe New Zealand's asbestos regulations.
One project, properly managed
Most asbestos removal companies don't build roofs, and most roofers can't manage asbestos. That gap is exactly what our service closes. Quality Roofing manages the whole project:
- Assessment and sample testing to confirm what you are dealing with
- Licensed, trained asbestos professionals for removal and lawful disposal
- Independent air monitoring during removal
- An independent clearance certificate confirming the site is safe
- Immediate installation of your new long-run steel roof by our own team
- One contract, one schedule, one set of scaffolding, with no gap between trades
The alternative (hiring a removalist and a roofer separately) means two site setups, two scaffold hires, and a period where your home sits stripped between contractors. Managing it as one project is faster, safer and almost always cheaper.
What not to do
If you suspect your roof is asbestos cement: don't waterblast it (this is illegal on asbestos roofs and spreads fibre), don't screw solar panels or aerials into it, don't walk it, and don't let anyone "just patch" it. Get it assessed. We will tell you honestly whether it needs action now or can safely wait, and what replacement will cost.