Asbestos roof removal and replacement in Brisbane’s inner north

What an asbestos roof replacement involves

It’s two jobs done back to back. First the old asbestos cement sheets come off; then the roofer checks the battens and tie-down and puts a new metal roof on, usually Colorbond or Zincalume, with sarking, flashings and ridge capping.

Removal by a licensed asbestos removalist

Most roofs are well over 10 m², and the Queensland Government says a tradesperson or business removing more than 10 m² of bonded asbestos “can only carry out this work under the authority of a class B or class A asbestos removal licence, issued by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland”. The licence holder may be the roofing business or a separate removal business it engages. Before licensed removal starts, the removalist prepares an asbestos removal control plan and notifies Workplace Health and Safety Queensland “five days prior to work commencing”.

Wrapping, disposal and the clearance certificate

The Queensland Government says asbestos waste “must be contained by wrapping it in thick plastic” for transport, and it goes to a facility that accepts asbestos. On a house, the licensed removalist is responsible for a clearance inspection afterwards by an independent competent person, who issues a written clearance certificate only if the area is free from visible asbestos contamination.

The new roof

With the sheets gone the job is a normal re-roof: battens checked or replaced, sarking or an insulation blanket, new sheets, flashings and gutters if they’re included. The roof replacement and metal roofing pages cover those choices.

Asbestos roof replacement cost in Brisbane

These are published Brisbane and South East Queensland figures, each with its source. Roof area, pitch, height, how the sheets come down and whether the new roof is in the same quote decide the price.

Asbestos roof removal and new roof: published prices

Checked 22 October 2026. Fortified Roofing Group is a northside Brisbane contractor (Geebung); its asbestos roof post was updated 3 July 2026 and doesn’t say whether GST is included. It calls the $14,000 to $30,000 band “a general range … for many residential properties”.

Asbestos roof removal only: published prices

Checked 22 October 2026. whatsthedamage.com.au is a national cost-guide website, updated 8 October 2026; its prices “include GST” and are “Based on Brisbane metro area, October 2026”. A.M.J Metal Roofing is a Redland City contractor (Capalaba), not a Brisbane City business; its post was published 9 July 2026 and doesn’t say whether GST is included.

The asbestos roof replacement cost guide has more published figures, including disposal, clearance and the extra cost of high-set and two-storey roofs.

Is my roof asbestos? How to tell

The Queensland Government says “You can’t tell if a building material contains asbestos just by looking at it”, but that “if your home was built before 1990, it is likely to contain some asbestos materials”. Grey corrugated cement sheets, often called fibro or Super Six, on a house, garage, carport or patio from before then should be treated as asbestos: where materials haven’t been tested, it says “you should assume that it could contain asbestos”. A NATA-accredited laboratory can test a piece taken by a competent person. Asbestos products have been banned in Australia since 31 December 2003.

Queensland’s rules for asbestos roofs

• Leaving it alone is allowed. If asbestos materials are in good condition, the Queensland Government says “the safest option is to leave them alone”. Its roof fact sheet says well-maintained asbestos cement roofs “are not a risk to human health unless they are physically disturbed or being worked on”.
• No water blasting. “It is illegal to use a high pressure water blaster on asbestos cement roofs, fences and walls”, and the roof fact sheet says “Homeowners can be fined up to $10,000”. Power tools such as angle grinders and circular saws, compressed air and household vacuum cleaners are also prohibited on asbestos.
• The whole job counts. When measuring the 10 m², “you need to consider the entire job”, and the job “cannot be broken down by removing less than 10m² on different days”.
• DIY removal over 10 m² needs a certificate. Home renovators and owner-builders need a certificate under arrangements approved by Queensland Health to remove more than 10 m² of bonded asbestos.

Instead of cleaning an old asbestos roof, the Queensland Government suggests applying “a fungicide or sealant or consider replacing it”. The asbestos roofs guide explains sealing, painting and when replacement makes sense.

Checking the roofer’s and removalist’s licences

Two licences matter. The new roof is building work, and the QBCC says you need a contractor licence for work “valued over $3,300”: check the roofer on the QBCC licensee register. The removal needs a class A or B asbestos removal licence: check the business on WorkSafe Queensland’s list of licensed asbestos removalists. If the roofer subcontracts the removal, ask for the removalist’s business name.

What to have ready

• Which roof it is: the house, a garage, a carport or a patio, and roughly when it was built
• Lowset, highset or two storeys, and access for a trailer or skip
• Any broken or cracked sheets, and any asbestos test results you already have
• Whether you want removal and the new roof in one quote
• The roof area from plans, or the building’s floor area

Common questions