Asbestos ceiling removal
Asbestos Ceiling Removal in Geelong
Flat sheet ceilings in older bathrooms, laundries and sleepouts may contain asbestos if the house was built or renovated before 1990. Our team seals the room, takes the sheets down whole, and disposes of them with EPA Waste Tracker paperwork, with an independent clearance where Victoria requires one before you use the room again.
- Licensed removal and testing
- EPA tracked disposal, paperwork included
- Fixed price before we start
What asbestos ceilings look like
Most are plain flat sheets, painted over, with cover strips or a slight gap along the joins. Some have a pressed or textured pattern. They're most common in wet areas and in rooms added on in the 1950s to the 1980s.
Inside the house, wet-area walls and vinyl flooring are on the same list of common asbestos spots, so ceilings in those rooms are worth checking at the same time (Asbestos in Victoria).
Signs it's time to remove it
- Sagging, cracked or water-damaged sheets
- A bathroom, laundry or kitchen renovation is planned
- New lights, fans or insulation need holes cut
- The ceiling has been patched badly in the past
- You'd rather know it's gone before selling or renting
How we remove a ceiling
- 1
Measure and inspect
We measure the ceiling, check its condition and what's above it.
- 2
Itemised quote
Sealing the room, removal, disposal and clearance are each priced.
- 3
Notify WorkSafe Victoria
24 hours ahead for 10 square metres or less of bonded sheets, 5 days ahead for all other removal, including any friable asbestos.
- 4
Seal and protect
The room is sealed in plastic and floors covered.
- 5
Sheets down whole
Fixings come out and sheets are lowered intact and kept damp.
- 6
Clean, dispose, clear
A thorough clean, then disposal with EPA Waste Tracker and an independent clearance where required.
Get a fast quote
Send us a few details and we'll be in touch within 30 minutes.
How it works. Easy as.
- 1
Fill out the quick form
Your name, a phone number and a rough idea of what you've got. That's enough to get started.
- 2
We'll be in touch within 30 minutes
Someone from our team gets back to you to talk through the job and answer your first questions.
- 3
We come out at a time that suits and measure up
We look at the material, measure it, and check how we'll get in and out.
- 4
Itemised fixed quote soon after the visit
Each part of the job is listed with its price, so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
- 5
Say yes, with flexible payment options if cash flow's tight
Once you're happy, we lock in a date. Ask us about spreading the cost if that helps.
- 6
We notify WorkSafe Victoria, then it's removal day
We notify WorkSafe Victoria at least 24 hours ahead for 10 square metres or less of non-friable (bonded) asbestos, and at least 5 days ahead for all other removal, including any friable asbestos (WorkSafe Victoria). On the day we remove it safely and leave the place cleaner than we found it.
- 7
Done and dusted
Everything is wrapped, transported with EPA Waste Tracker paperwork (EPA Victoria) and disposed of at a licensed facility, with an independent clearance where required (WorkSafe Victoria).
Victorian rules for ceilings
- Removing friable asbestos needs a Class A licence. Class B covers non-friable (bonded) asbestos only (WorkSafe Victoria).
- Victorian workplace rules allow only limited unlicensed removal of non-friable asbestos: no more than 10 square metres in total and no more than 1 hour of work in any 7 days (WorkSafe Victoria). Homeowners should get advice for their own situation and use a licensed removalist (Asbestos in Victoria).
- Licensed removalists must notify WorkSafe Victoria at least 24 hours before removing 10 square metres or less of non-friable asbestos, and at least 5 days before all other removal (WorkSafe Victoria).
- An independent visual inspection and clearance certificate is required after friable removal, and after non-friable removal over 10 square metres, before the area is used again (WorkSafe Victoria).
- Licensed removalists must have EPA permission to transport asbestos, use EPA Waste Tracker and give the customer the Waste Tracker record. Asbestos must never go in household rubbish, recycling or green waste bins (EPA Victoria, Waste Tracker).
- Hiring someone to work on your home makes it a workplace, so contractors must identify asbestos before they start (Asbestos in Victoria).
What affects the cost
- Ceiling area in square metres
- Ceiling height and room access
- Fittings, cornices and insulation to deal with
- How much sealing off is needed
- Clearance requirements
Internal wall or ceiling sheeting: usually $40 to $100 per m², including GST.
Prices are a guide only and depend on size, access and condition. You'll get a fixed price before any work starts.
Common questions
In homes built or renovated before 1990 (Asbestos in Victoria), flat sheet ceilings in bathrooms, laundries, kitchens, sleepouts and enclosed verandahs are the usual ones to check. A NATA-accredited lab test of a sample is the only way to know. See asbestos testing.
A stain on its own isn't a reason to panic, but water damage can weaken sheeting over time. Don't poke at it or try to patch it. Get it looked at, and fix the leak once you know what the ceiling is made of.
Cutting holes in a suspected asbestos ceiling disturbs it. Hiring someone to work on your home makes it a workplace, so contractors must identify asbestos before they start (Asbestos in Victoria). Test or remove first.
Yes, for the removal and any required clearance. The room is sealed off while we work and stays closed until it's cleaned and, where required, independently cleared.
An independent visual inspection and clearance certificate is required after friable removal, and after non-friable removal over 10 square metres, before the area is used again (WorkSafe Victoria).
Our guide price for internal wall or ceiling sheeting is usually $40 to $100 per m², including GST. See ceiling removal cost.
Prices are a guide only and depend on size, access and condition. You'll get a fixed price before any work starts.
Ready to get it off your property?
Tell us what you've found and where it is. We'll be in touch within 30 minutes, come out to measure up, and give you an itemised fixed price before anything starts.