Asbestos cement roof removal in Ireland.

Identifying a suspect roof

Asbestos cement roofing was the dominant material for garage, shed, lean-to and farm outbuilding roofs in Ireland from the 1950s until the late 1990s. Visual cues:

• Corrugated profile: typically 76 mm or 146 mm pitch, regular wave pattern.
• Grey colour, weathered to a paler grey-green over time, often with moss or lichen growth.
• Slightly chalky, fibrous texture when scratched: short white fibres visible at broken edges or cut ends.
• Hard, brittle: cracks rather than bends.

A modern non-asbestos fibre-cement sheet looks almost identical. Visual resemblance is not a diagnosis. See the suspect materials guide.

The compliant removal process

Asbestos cement roof removal is a bonded-material job. It is generally less complex than friable removal (AIB, lagging, sprayed coatings) but still follows a defined regulatory pathway:

1. Survey or representative sample to confirm asbestos content.
2. Plan of Work from a competent contractor: methodology, controls, waste route.
3. HSA notification and permit if the work is notifiable. The normal lead time is 10 days, although the HSA can agree in writing to a shorter period.
4. Site setup: ladder or scaffolding, exclusion zone, polythene drop sheets to catch fragments.
5. Removal: operatives in RPE wet-strip the sheets to suppress dust, lift each sheet whole rather than breaking, and stack them carefully.
6. Wrapping and waste: sheets are double-wrapped in UN-approved polythene, labelled, and removed by a Waste Collection Permit holder.
7. Site clearance: visual inspection and disposable cover removal. For non-friable bonded work, a four-stage clearance air test may not be required, but this is set by the contractor's risk assessment, not by you.

Reinstatement: the bit that doubles the cost

Removing the roof is one cost. Replacing it is another. Most homeowners doing a garage-roof asbestos removal also need a new roof, and that is a separate trade with its own materials, scaffolding and labour line. Common replacement materials:

• Box-profile steel sheeting: most common for outbuildings.
• Plastisol-coated steel: longer life, higher cost.
• Modern non-asbestos fibre cement: visually similar to the original.
• Felt + battens + tile or slate: for properties seeking a more traditional finish.

When you take quotes, make sure each one is clear about whether reinstatement is included. A "removal only" quote without reinstatement is normal, but you need a separate trade quote on top.

What to ask in a quote

• Is the work notifiable? If yes, the HSA permit number (or written confirmation it will be obtained).
• Itemised lines for: survey/sample, removal labour, waste packaging, transport, disposal.
• The disposal facility name.
• Is reinstatement included? If not, what does the surface look like when they leave?
• What happens if the sheets are more brittle than expected and crack during removal?
• Will I receive a hazardous-waste consignment note after the job?

Frequently asked questions

Is asbestos cement roofing dangerous if left alone?

Asbestos cement is non-friable when intact: the asbestos fibres are bonded into the cement matrix. Risk rises when sheets are cut, drilled, power-washed, broken or removed without suitable controls. Intact material can often be left in place and managed, but planned disturbance must be risk-assessed and carried out by competent people using controls appropriate to the work.

Do I need to remove an asbestos cement roof to install solar PV?

Most solar PV installers in Ireland will not work on an asbestos cement roof because of the disturbance risk and the liability. The standard sequence for a homeowner who wants both is: survey the roof, plan the asbestos removal, replace the roof with non-asbestos sheeting suitable for PV mounting, then install the panels. Each is a separate cost. SEAI grants do not refund the asbestos removal line. Alternatives include ground-mounted, pergola-mounted or carport-mounted PV, which avoid the roof entirely.

Can a roofer just take it off if they're careful?

Use a contractor competent to remove asbestos cement safely and a permitted waste collector for the waste. Unauthorised removal or disposal can expose both the contractor and people who arrange or permit it to enforcement and liability. Ask for the work method, insurance, waste-collector permit and receiving facility before agreeing to the job.

Will I need a survey before removal?

Before relevant work starts in premises built before the end of 2004, the employer doing the work must establish whether asbestos is present. If adequate information is unavailable, a suitable survey by a competent person is required. A confirmation sample may be enough for one visually consistent roof; larger, mixed-material or intrusive projects may need a work-scoped refurbishment/demolition survey.