Asbestos removal costs in Brisbane are influenced by a number important and changeable factors. In 2019, the average Brisbane asbestos removal cost ranges from $50-$150 per square meter depending on a myriad of factors including volume, type, and condition.
Asbestos removal from your Brisbane property is an important step in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of those inhabiting your residential or commercial property.
Asbestos is the name given to the group of naturally occurring minerals that were widely used in the construction industry between 1940 and 1990. Heralded for its low-cost and high temperature resistance, asbestos was once the darling of the construction industry and used in everything from insulation, to roofing and everything in between.
In some cases, DIY asbestos removal may seem like a cheap and appealing proposition for removing small amounts of asbestos from your property. However, it is important to note that there are a number of long-lasting health and financial costs that can be associated with DIY asbestos removal. In almost every case, you are better off contracting a Brisbane Asbestos Removal expert who can assist in assessing, removing, and disposing of asbestos materials from your property. Continue reading to find out how much asbestos removal in Brisbane typically costs for a range of different building sizes and locations.
Generally speaking, the cost of asbestos removal in Brisbane is $30-$150 per square meter. However, there are a wide range of factors such as your location and the total amount of asbestos that requires removal that will greatly influence the overall cost of removing asbestos from your Brisbane property. Furthermore, there are a number of different types of asbestos which can only be determined through a lab inspection and audit report.
If you believe that your commercial, residential or industrial property may be affected by asbestos, this article will aim to provide you with information about how much asbestos removal can cost you, based on your location and the type of asbestos that needs to be removed from your property. Keep in mind, no two properties or jobs are the same, so it is impossible to provide an accurate cost of Brisbane asbestos removal without inspecting your property first.
Some approximate cost of asbestos removal in Brisbane might look like this:
- $50-$150 removal per square meter Brisbane
- $100-$1,000 for the removal of asbestos flooring for a room
- $1,500+ for the removal of eaves
- $1,000-$3,500 for the removal of internal cladding from a room
- $150-$200 per tonne of asbestos contaminated soil
- $2500+ for the removal of external cladding
Factors that will impact the cost of Asbestos Removal in Brisbane
When it comes to asbestos removal costs, there is no one-size-fits-all asbestos removal price list. There are a number of factors that will ultimately impact the asbestos removal Brisbane cost. Here are some of the factors that will impact the cost of your removal project:
- Whether the asbestos in friable or non-friable state
- Whether or not the asbestos been damaged prior to the removal work being carried out?
- Whether the asbestos supports any load bearing walls on the property
- The state of the asbestos being removed
- The number of obstacles that must be negotiated in order to remove the asbestos
- The quantity of the asbestos product being removed. Generally speaking, the larger the job, the less it is going to cost per square meter.
- The proximity of the job to the nearest drop off point in Brisbane
Be wary of contractors who are willing to give you a cost of asbestos removal without inspecting your property beforehand. There are a number of factors that will heavily influence the total cost of your project. An experienced asbestos removal company will inspect, advise, and provide an accurate quote so that there are no unexpected surprises when it comes time to pay the bill.
Do I Need Asbestos Removed from My Building?
First things first, how do you know if you need asbestos removal from your Brisbane property? As we mentioned above, asbestos was widely used in the Australian construction industry between 1940 and 1990. It is a completely odourless substance and contains a number of properties such as heat, fire and chemical resistance that made it a very popular choice for construction companies in Australia in the second half of the 20th century. Above all, asbestos was very cheap.
It wasn’t until the early 1960s — by which time asbestos had been widely used in the Brisbane construction industry for almost two decades — that the first asbestos related death occurred. Over the next four decades, the crippling long-term effects of asbestos exposure became increasingly obvious. In a move that brought some of the biggest construction companies in the nation to their knees, the Australian government completely outlawed the sale and installation of asbestos related products right across the country.
Some of the most common places where asbestos is found around the home include:
- Cement
- Drywall
- Roofing
- Gaskets
- Insulation materials
- Adhesives
- Textiles
- Textured Paint
- Soundproofing materials
- Gaskets
- Corrugated sheeting
- Fire proofing materials
- Wall sheeting
- Carpet Underlay
- Fencing
- Internal and external sheeting
If your property or home was constructed in Brisbane, Australia between 1940 and 1990, there is a strong chance that your property contains asbestos materials in some capacity. In fact, the most recent data suggests the roughly 50% of homes that were constructed in Brisbane prior to 1954 contain asbestos materials.
For homes that were renovated or constructed prior to the 1990s, it is worth having an asbestos inspection carried out before any new construction works take place. The cost of asbestos removal and the specific pricing for your Brisbane property will depend on the type and volume of asbestos materials that are found in your property. In order to give a more accurate picture of asbestos removal Brisbane costs, a full inspection is required.
Understanding the Cost of Asbestos Removal Brisbane
The best way to think about asbestos removal is as an investment in the long-term health and safety of the inhabitants of your property. Working with a professional asbestos removal company means that you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the job has been carried out by a professional. There are times to cut corners and there are times to get the job done right, removing asbestos from your property is invariably the latter.
When asbestos is broken, drilled, cracked or altered from a settled non-friable state, it will produce microscopic fibres that will become airborne in your home or commercial property.
What Your Need to Ask Your Brisbane Asbestos Removalist
When it comes to safely removing and disposing of asbestos from your property, there are a number of very important questions that you should be asking. Irrespective of whether it is a commercial, industrial or residential asbestos removal project, the types of questions that should be asked remains consistent. Some of the most important factors to consider include:
- Has the Asbestos been tested? If so, what kind of asbestos material was discovered?
- Are they licensed to carry out asbestos removal in Brisbane?
- Are they insured for the project?
- How do they dispose of the asbestos once it has been removed from your property?
- How much experience do they have working on similar projects?
- How much does the total asbestos removal cost?
- When is it safe to inhabit the property once the asbestos removal has been completed?
Asbestos removalists in Brisbane must hold valid state licences that are awarded by the Queensland state government. Due to the tenuous and volatile nature of asbestos materials, hiring an unlicensed contractor is against the law.
Before you decide which asbestos removal company you are going to hire for your removal project in Brisbane, it’s important to find out as much information as possible. Remember, disposing of more than 10 square meters of non-friable asbestos and ANY friable asbestos in Brisbane is illegal. Fines for the incorrect removal and disposal of asbestos exceed $7,500 and can even result in imprisonment.
Once asbestos has been removed from your property, it must be correctly sealed without releasing any harmful materials into the atmosphere. Your Brisbane asbestos removal specialist will then dispose of the asbestos at a state allocated disposal point. It’s important to remember that your asbestos contractor is responsible for paying the local disposal point a fee for disposing of this material – the cost of this will be included in the total cost of the project.
What to Consider
Before going ahead with your Brisbane asbestos removal project, it’s important to weigh up the price vs. quality proposition. It’s possible that you will find a lower cost by using services like Airtasker, Gumtree or the like. However, just because you find a cheap quote for the cost of asbestos removal in Brisbane doesn’t mean that you should take it.
Don’t forget, it’s essential that your asbestos removalist complies with the local and state legislature and is licensed to carry out removal and disposal of asbestos in Brisbane. Removing more than 10-square meters of non-friable asbestos or any amount of friable asbestos in Brisbane is not only dangerous, it is also illegal. Consult an Asbestos Removal Brisbane specialist who can provide you with an inspection and quote for the job.
