Asbestos fence removal
Asbestos Fence Removal in Geelong
If your fence is made of grey cement sheets and went up before 1990, it may well contain asbestos. Our team takes down asbestos fences across Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast, then wraps every sheet and disposes of it with EPA Waste Tracker paperwork. You get an itemised fixed price before anything starts.
- Licensed removal and testing
- EPA tracked disposal, paperwork included
- Fixed price before we start
What an asbestos fence is
Before 1990, a lot of Geelong backyards were fenced with cement sheets that had asbestos fibres mixed in for strength. They're either flat panels or the deep-ribbed kind, slotted between timber or steel posts. Most are bonded (non-friable), meaning the fibres are locked into the cement while the sheets are whole.
Fences are on the Victorian Government's list of common places asbestos turns up around older homes (Asbestos in Victoria). After decades of sun, wind and rain off the bay, many are now cracked, brittle or leaning.
Signs it's time to remove it
- Sheets that are cracked, chipped along the top, or have pieces missing
- Panels leaning or loose after a storm
- Edges that look soft, crumbly or furry
- You're replacing the fence anyway, or selling and want it sorted
- Building, landscaping or a pool is planned along that boundary
How we remove your fence, step by step
- 1
Measure up
We walk the line, check access on both sides and note the condition of each section.
- 2
Itemised quote
Removal, posts, disposal and any clearance are listed separately with one fixed total.
- 3
Notify WorkSafe Victoria
24 hours ahead for 10 square metres or less of bonded sheeting, 5 days ahead for all other removal, including any friable asbestos.
- 4
Set up and keep it damp
Signs and barriers go up, and sheets are wetted down to keep dust down.
- 5
Sheets out whole
Panels are lifted out without cutting or breaking wherever possible, and posts come out as quoted.
- 6
Wrap, track and dispose
Everything is wrapped, loaded and taken to a licensed facility, with your EPA Waste Tracker record to follow.
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 asbestos fences
- 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
- How many metres of fence there are
- Height and sheet type, flat or ribbed
- Condition, because whole sheets come out faster than broken ones
- Access along side paths and through your neighbour's yard
- Whether posts and footings come out too
- Other work done on the same visit, like a shed or eaves
Asbestos fence removal: usually $45 to $110 per metre, typically $1,500 to $4,000 for a boundary fence, including GST.
Prices are a guide only and depend on size, access and condition. You'll get a fixed price before any work starts.
More detail on the asbestos fence removal cost page.
Common questions
Grey cement sheet fences, flat or ribbed, that went up before 1990 are the usual suspects. Fences are one of the common places asbestos is found in older Victorian homes (Asbestos in Victoria). Looks alone can't confirm it, so a sample analysed by a NATA-accredited lab is the only sure answer. See asbestos testing.
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). A boundary fence is usually well past that.
The removal itself is the same job either way. We measure the full run, quote it, and you and your neighbour decide how to split the fixed price between you. We just need access to both sides on the day.
No, we take the asbestos fence out and leave a clean line for your fencer. The new fence is quoted separately by whoever builds it.
Painting itself isn't the problem, the preparation is. Sanding, scraping, wire brushing and pressure washing can all disturb the surface, so avoid them. If the sheets are cracked, leaning or storm damaged, removal is usually the better call.
Our guide price is usually $45 to $110 per metre, typically $1,500 to $4,000 for a boundary fence, including GST. More on the fence removal cost page.
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.