The cost of asbestos removal in Sydney is influenced by a myriad of different factors. As of 2019, the average asbestos removal cost in Sydney ranges from $50-$150 per square meter depending on the weight, condition, and type of asbestos being removed.
Removing asbestos from your Sydney property is an important step towards guaranteeing the wellness and safety of those living or working on 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. Praised as a durable and low-cost building material that delivered real ‘bang-for-your-buck’, asbestos was formally the material of choice for the construction industry in Sydney and Australia and was utilised in anything from roofing, to insulation, and just about anything that you can think of around the home. It’s use was so widespread during this period that some experts estimate that asbestos materials are present in as much as 50% of Sydney properties.
For some, removing asbestos yourself may seem like a cost-effective option for removing small amounts of asbestos from your property. Sometimes, however, it’s worth spending a little bit extra to get peace of mind that the job has been done correctly by a professional. When it comes to removing asbestos from your Sydney property, this is one instance where it’s worth paying a little extra to ensure you’re not exposing your tenants or loved ones to asbestos poisoning. There are a number of on-going health and financial costs that can be attributed to DIY asbestos removal. In every case, you are better off leaving it to an expert who can assess, remove, and dispose of asbestos materials from your property.
So, the big question. How much does asbestos removal Sydney cost? It’s impossible to give an accurate price for an asbestos removal job without inspecting the site first. In general, however, the cost of asbestos removal in Sydney ranges from $30-$150 per square meter. Of course, there are a wide variety of elements, such as your location and the amount of asbestos to be removed, that will greatly affect the total cost of removing asbestos from your property in Sydney. In addition, there are six different types of asbestos that can only be confirmed through lab testing and reports.
If your residential, industrial, or commercial property is affected by asbestos, this article will 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 Sydney asbestos removal without inspecting your property first.
Some approximate cost of asbestos removal in Sydney might look like this:
- $50-$150 removal per square meter in Sydney
- $100-$1,000 to remove asbestos flooring for a room (will vary largely on the size of the room)
- $1,500+ for the removal of eaves
- $1,000-$3,500 to remove internal cladding from a room (depends on size, location)
- $150-$200 per tonne of asbestos contaminated soil
- $2500+ for the removal of external cladding
* Please note that the cost of Sydney asbestos removal will vary widely on a range of factors. The above asbestos removal price list is only for indication purposes only. Contact an asbestos removal specialist to get an accurate quote for your project.
Factors that Can Affect the Cost of Asbestos Removal in Sydney
When it comes to the cost of asbestos removal in Sydney, there is no one-size-fits-all asbestos removal price list. There is a myriad of factors that will influence the asbestos removal cost in Sydney. Here are just a few of the factors that will have an impact on the cost of removing asbestos from your property:
- Whether the asbestos in friable or non-friable state
- The condition of the asbestos being removed (is it damaged?)
- Does the asbestos support any load bearing walls?
- How difficult it is to access the asbestos to remove
- The amount of asbestos that is being removed
- The proximity of your property to the assigned disposal point in Sydney
Stay away from contractors who are willing to give you a concrete cost for asbestos removal in Sydney without inspecting your property ahead of time. An experienced asbestos professional will use the above factors to guide the cost of your job. Getting an accurate quote before the project starts ensures that there are no unexpected surprises when it comes time to pay for the job. The cost of asbestos removal and the specific pricing for your Sydney 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 Sydney costs, a full inspection is required.
Do I need Asbestos Removed from my Sydney Property?
So, you’re probably wondering; “how do I know if you need asbestos removal from my Sydney property?” As we discussed above, asbestos materials were widely used in the Australian construction industry for half a century, between 1940 and 1990. Asbestos is a completely odourless material and features a number of properties such as fire, heat and chemical resistance that made it a popular building material for construction companies in Australia in the second half of the 20th century. Most importantly, asbestos was extremely cheap to use and was malleable across a wide range of applications.
It wasn’t until the early 1960s — at which point asbestos had been extensively used in Sydney’s construction industry for almost two decades — that asbestos claimed its first life in Australia. Over the proceeding four decades between 1960-1990, the debilitating effects of asbestos exposure became known to everyone who worked with the material. Despite its status as a known carcinogenic, it wasn’t until December 31st, 2003 that the Australian government completely outlawed the installation and sale of all asbestos related products in Australia.
Asbestos is most commonly found in these places around the home:
- Carpet Underlay
- Drywall
- Roofing
- Cement
- Insulation material
- Gaskets
- Internal and external sheeting
- Adhesives
- Fencing
- Soundproofing material
- Textiles
- Corrugated sheeting
- Textured Paints
- Gaskets
- Fire proofing material
- Wall sheeting
The truth is, if your property was constructed in Sydney between the 1940s and 1990s, there is a high possibility that it contains asbestos materials in some capacity. The most recently available data indicates that around half of all homes that were built in Sydney prior to 1954 contain asbestos materials. As a result, if your home was constructed or renovated prior to the 1990s, it’s worth having an asbestos inspection completed before any new construction or renovation work is carried out.
Calculating the Cost of Asbestos Removal Sydney
Asbestos removal is a long-term investment in the safety of your Sydney property. Working with an experienced asbestos removal company means that you can rest easy knowing that your job has been completed in accordance with the highest health and safety considerations. There are times to save money with DIY projects and there are times to get the job done by a professional, removing asbestos from your property is always the latter.
If asbestos is drilled, cracked, broken or altered from a non-friable state, it will produce micro fibres that will become airborne in your home or commercial property. Don’t risk it, have the job done by a professional.
Questions to Ask Your Sydney Asbestos Removal Specialist
Removing and disposing of asbestos from your property can be dangerous work. There are a number of key questions that you should be asking your asbestos removalist before starting work. It doesn’t matter if it is a residential or commercial asbestos removal project, the questions that should be asking remains consistent. Some important factors to consider include:
- Has the Asbestos been tested? If so, what kind of asbestos material is it?
- Do they hold a licence in Sydney for Asbestos Removal?
- Do they have liability and health insurance for the project?
- How and where will asbestos be disposed?
- Have they completed any similar projects in the past?
- How much will the asbestos removal cost?
- Is it safe to enter the property immediately after the job is completed?
Sydney asbestos removal specialist must hold valid licences from the NSW state government. Due to the fragile and unpredictable nature of asbestos materials, hiring an unlicensed contractor is against the law. Property owners that hire unlicensed asbestos professionals may also be liable for damages.
Before you work with an asbestos removal company for your project, it is 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 Sydney 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 sealed and transported in accordance with the NSW Government rules and regulations. Your Sydney asbestos removal professional will then dispose of the asbestos at one of several state allocated disposal point. The cost of asbestos disposal in Sydney will be included in the total cost of the project.
What You Need to Remember
Before booking your Sydney asbestos removal project, it is essential to weigh up the price vs. quality proposition of the job being carried out. It is entirely possible that you can find a cheap alternative using services like Airtasker or Gumtree. However, just because you find a cheap price for asbestos removal in Sydney doesn’t mean that you should take it. All asbestos removal projects in Sydney must be carried out in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the NSW state government. Removing and disposing of more than 10-square meters of non-friable asbestos or any amount of friable asbestos in Sydney is illegal. Play it safe, contact an Asbestos Removal Sydney specialist who can provide you with a thorough inspection and quote for the job.
