Strip outs and demolition in Toowoomba, asbestos handled first

Demolition and strip outs in Toowoomba usually start with one question: is there asbestos in the building? Asbestos cement sheeting was common in Australian buildings from the 1940s to the late 1980s. A house built before 1990 is likely to have some. We find it, remove it and make the site safe, so the strip out or demolition can go ahead.

Why asbestos comes first

Pulling a wall apart or knocking down a building breaks materials into small pieces. If those pieces contain asbestos, fibres can end up in the air, in the soil and in the skip. That is how a simple job turns into a clean-up problem for the whole site.

Queensland work health and safety rules say asbestos must be removed before demolition starts, so far as reasonably practicable. If it cannot be removed first, the person in charge has to show why not. That is the reason we deal with it at the start, not the end.

Where asbestos hides in older buildings

Most people expect it in the roof. In a strip out, it is just as likely to be behind the finishes.

• Wall and ceiling sheeting, especially in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.
• Eaves, gables and external wall cladding.
• Vinyl floor tiles, and the felt backing under some old sheet vinyl.
• Plaster patching compounds and textured paint.
• Sheds, carports and fences on the same block.

You cannot tell by looking. A sample has to go to a NATA-accredited lab. Our asbestos testing service covers sampling and lab testing, so you know what you have before the first sheet comes off.

How a job runs with us

Every job is different, but the order is the same.

1. Check and test. We look at the building and sample any material we are not sure about.
2. Plan the work. We prepare the Asbestos Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for the job. Licensed removal also needs a written removal control plan before work begins.
3. Tell the right people. Owners, occupiers and neighbours must be told before asbestos removal or demolition starts. Licensed removal is notified to WorkSafe Queensland at least five days ahead.
4. Remove the asbestos. The area is cordoned off, the material is kept wet where it is safe to do so, and it is removed without power tools that spread dust.
5. Dispose of it properly. The waste is wrapped, labelled and taken to a facility licensed to take it. Disposal is part of our service.
6. Clean and clear. We complete a site clean. A clearance inspection follows licensed removal, and you get the clearance certificate when the job is done.

What our licence covers

Our contractors hold a Class B licence. That covers non-friable (bonded) asbestos, such as flat or corrugated cement sheeting. Friable asbestos is different. It crumbles to powder by hand when dry, and it needs a Class A licensed removalist. Fire-damaged or crumbling asbestos is treated that way too. If your building has either, call us and we will talk through the options.

We carry $20 million public liability insurance. Clearance inspections and any air monitoring are done by an independent assessor or competent person, not by us. That separation is deliberate, and it means the check on our work is not done by us.

Strip out and demolition guides

The right approach depends on the building. These guides go into the detail:

• Complete house strip outs for taking an older home back to the frame.
• Kitchen and bathroom strip outs with asbestos for wet areas, where sheeting is common.
• Demolishing a house with asbestos in Queensland for the rules before a building comes down.
• Commercial strip outs with asbestos for shops, offices and sheds.

If you have a standalone job like an old garage roof, see our asbestos removal service.

Before you call

Have the address, the approximate age of the building and what you plan to do. A few photos help. We will tell you honestly what we can handle and what needs a Class A removalist. Call (07) 3185 2323. We are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday 8am to 5pm.

Rules change, so check the current rules at asbestos.qld.gov.au.