Is it asbestos? A plain-English guide
How asbestos cement roofs are spotted, where they hide, what to do - and never do - before you touch them.
What asbestos cement roofs look like
Most of the roofs we remove are asbestos cement - corrugated grey sheets fixed with dome-head bolts, common on farm buildings, garages, stores and industrial units built before the late 1990s. Fresh sheets were grey-blue; decades of weathering leaves a chalky grey-white surface, often with moss and lichen. From ground level they look like any other cement sheet, which is exactly why guessing is not enough.
Other tell-tale contexts: buildings constructed or re-roofed before 1999, profiled sheets about 6 feet wide with a slight translucency at the edges, and older guttering, downpipes or flue pipes in grey cement. The only reliable confirmation is laboratory analysis of a small sample by a UKAS-accredited lab - a service we can arrange as part of your quote.
Where asbestos hides
- Roof sheets and rooflights on farm steadings, garages and industrial sheds
- Guttering, downpipes, flues and soil pipes in grey cement
- Wall cladding and internal divider walls in older agricultural and commercial buildings
- Water tanks, cisterns and external boiler flues
- Insulating board (AIB), sprayed coatings and pipe lagging in higher-risk contexts - these legally require HSE-licensed contractors
Do's and don'ts if you suspect asbestos
Do
- Leave the roof alone while it is intact and sealed
- Send us photos and dimensions for a free assessment
- Get sampling and lab analysis if there is any doubt
- Use trained crews with PPE and registered waste carriers
Don't
- Drill, cut, saw, screw or break the sheets
- Pressure-wash, sand or sweep asbestos cement
- Walk on the roof - sheets are brittle and break without warning
- Bag asbestos waste in household or farm waste
When to survey - and what happens next
If you are planning demolition or major refurbishment, an HSE-compliant refurbishment/demolition survey by a qualified surveyor is the safe route. For an intact asbestos cement roof being replaced whole, we assess from photos and dimensions, arrange lab analysis where needed, and quote removal and replacement together - budget quotation within 48 hours.
Official guidance on identifying and managing asbestos is published by the Health and Safety Executive at hse.gov.uk/asbestos.
Not sure what your roof is?
Text or email a few photos with approximate dimensions. We'll tell you what it likely is and what removal and replacement would involve - no obligation, no jargon.
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Identification questions we hear most
How can I tell if my roof is asbestos cement?
You cannot confirm asbestos by eye. Asbestos cement roofs are usually grey, corrugated and fixed with dome-head bolts; they weather to a grey-white surface and are typically found on farm buildings, garages and industrial sheds built before the late 1990s. The only reliable confirmation is a sample analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory - we can arrange sampling and analysis for you.
Is asbestos cement dangerous?
Asbestos cement is a lower-risk material while it remains sealed and intact. The danger comes when sheets are broken, drilled, cut or badly weathered, releasing fibres. Never drill, cut, pressure-wash or dismantle an asbestos roof yourself - intact sheets release few fibres, but damaged ones can release many.
Do I need a survey before removing my roof?
For an asbestos cement roof being removed whole as part of a re-roof, formal surveying is often not needed - but if there is any doubt about what the sheets contain, a refurbishment survey by a qualified surveyor is the safe route. We advise on this when you send your dimensions and photos.
What should I do if a sheet is broken?
Do not sweep, vacuum or break it further. Keep people and livestock away, and call us. Broken asbestos cement should be wetted, carefully sealed in approved packaging and disposed of as hazardous waste by a registered carrier - which is exactly how we handle it.
Can I legally remove an asbestos roof myself?
Self-removal of asbestos cement is legal but strongly discouraged: you become responsible for safe handling, transport and hazardous waste disposal, and breaking sheets releases fibres. Using a professional crew with trained staff, correct PPE, registered waste carriers and full documentation is safer and usually quicker.
What is the difference between licensed and non-licensed asbestos work?
Asbestos cement is classed as non-licensed work when handled correctly. Higher-risk materials - sprayed coatings, lagging, insulating board (AIB) - legally require an HSE-licensed contractor. We carry out non-licensed asbestos work directly, and if a survey shows licensed material is present we bring in specialists from our HSE-licensed panel.
Tell us about your building
We will reply the same working day. Send approximate dimensions and receive a budget quotation within 48 hours - no site visit required for an initial estimate.