Asbestos and house demolition in Queensland go hand in hand if your home was built before the 1990s, because asbestos is likely to be somewhere in it. That does not stop your demolition, but it has to be dealt with first, by the right people. Here is how it works in Queensland. Questions? Contact us or call 07 3888 9399.
Asbestos was widely used in Australian homes for decades and was banned nationally from 31 December 2003. Many Queensland homes built before the 1990s contain it, and some later homes may as well. It was used because it was cheap, fire resistant and durable.
You cannot tell by looking. Only testing or an assessment by a competent person can confirm it.
Yes. Asbestos needs to be identified and removed safely before the rest of the house is demolished, so fibres are not spread through the site or the neighbourhood. In Queensland, asbestos removal is regulated by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, and larger jobs need a licensed asbestos removalist.
Licensed asbestos removalists, working to Queensland rules. Mackay and Sons holds an asbestos removal licence and a Queensland demolition licence, so asbestos removal and demolition are handled as one job. See our asbestos removal service.
Asbestos adds time and cost. How much depends on how much is present, what type it is and how hard it is to reach. This is one of the biggest reasons demolition prices vary. See our demolition cost guide for typical ranges.
Get the house assessed early, include asbestos removal in your quote and allow time for it before demolition starts. Our demolition preparation checklist shows where this fits.
Call 07 3888 9399 or send us an enquiry. More reading is in our resources hub.
You cannot tell by looking. If the house was built before the 1990s, assume it may have asbestos until it is tested or assessed.
Asbestos in good condition and left undisturbed is a lower risk. It becomes dangerous when it is broken, cut or demolished, which is why it is removed before demolition.
Queensland has rules about how much non-friable asbestos can be removed without a licence and how it is handled and disposed of. Because the rules are strict, we recommend using a licensed removalist.
Yes, where asbestos is found it is removed first as part of the contract. See our demolition cost guide for typical prices.
