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Who can remove an asbestos roof, and what should you ask?

Most asbestos roofs on garages, sheds and outbuildings are asbestos cement, which HSE says can usually be removed without a licence by workers with the right training. Fragile sheets and the asbestos waste both carry real risks, so use a specialist contractor rather than doing it yourself.

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By the QuoteZila editorial team. Editorial policy.

What is an asbestos roof?

Most "asbestos roofs" on homes are made of asbestos cement: corrugated grey sheets, or sometimes flat sheets or slates, made from cement with asbestos fibres mixed in. They are common on older garages, sheds, outbuildings and lean-tos.

HSE counts asbestos cement products among the lower-risk asbestos-containing materials [S1]. The risk rises when it is broken, cut, drilled or badly weathered, because that can release fibres.

You can't tell for certain whether a sheet contains asbestos by looking at it. If the building is old and the sheets look like grey corrugated cement, treat them as if they contain asbestos until a sample has been tested.

QuoteZila starts in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach first, and anyone in the UK can post a roof job.

Does it need a licensed asbestos contractor?

Usually not, but it does need trained people.

HSE says most work on asbestos cement can be carried out without a licence, providing the workers have had appropriate information, instruction and training [S1]. Its Asbestos essentials guidance for trades includes task sheets for non-licensed work on asbestos cement, such as cleaning debris from gutters on an asbestos cement roof, repairing damaged asbestos cement, and removing asbestos cement sheets and dismantling a small asbestos cement structure [S2].

HSE also says that work involving aggressive physical disturbance of asbestos cement, such as breaking or smashing it, is among the activities more likely to create a significant concentration of fibres in the air [S1]. A contractor should remove sheets whole wherever possible, not break them up.

If an outbuilding has other asbestos materials, such as boards lining the inside walls or ceiling, or lagging on pipes, those may need a licensed contractor. Tell anyone quoting what is inside the building as well as what is on the roof.

This page gives no method for removing asbestos. Health and Safety Executive (HSE). QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.

Why are asbestos roofs dangerous to stand on?

Because the sheets are fragile. HSE says falls through fragile surfaces, particularly fibre-cement roofs and rooflights, account for 22% of all fall from height fatal injuries in the construction industry [S3]. It says contractors and employers must manage the danger by avoiding work on or near fragile surfaces, and by controlling any remaining risk with stagings, guard rails and fall arrest systems [S3].

Never walk directly on an asbestos cement roof, and don't lean a ladder against the sheets. A contractor should plan how they will reach and remove the roof without standing on it. HSE has more on fragile surfaces. HSE: work at height. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.

What happens to the waste?

Asbestos waste can't go in a household bin or a general skip.

HSE says asbestos waste should only be handled by a licensed disposal site, that your local authority can provide details of these, and that it needs to be carried in suitable containers that prevent fibres escaping in transit [S1]. GOV.UK's asbestos page lets you enter a postcode to find your local council's information about asbestos and its disposal [S4].

Ask your council whether it accepts asbestos from householders, and on what terms. If you hire a contractor, ask exactly where the waste will go and whether you will get paperwork to show it was disposed of properly.

GOV.UK lists a sheet of asbestos among the examples of small-scale fly-tipping, which is illegal dumping [S5]. If an offer to "take the roof away" seems too easy, ask how and where it will be disposed of.

What should you ask a contractor?

  • Have your workers had asbestos training for this kind of work?
  • Will the sheets come off whole, and how will you avoid breaking them?
  • How will you reach the roof without standing on the sheets?
  • Is there any other asbestos in the building, and will you check?
  • How will the sheets be wrapped, carried and disposed of, and will I get paperwork?
  • What will the new roof be, and is it part of the same quote?

The replacement roof is usually priced alongside the removal. Garage roof replacement explains what changes that price, and asbestos removal costs covers asbestos in other parts of a home. Our roofers and builders pages cover the trades that often do this work.

Jobs you might post

These are examples, not taken from real job posts.

  • "Detached single garage with a grey corrugated roof, probably asbestos. Want it removed and replaced with a new roof."
  • "Old lean-to at the back of the house has cement sheet roofing. Looking for a contractor to test it and quote for removal."
  • "Small shed with an asbestos roof. Would like the whole shed taken down and disposed of properly."

A photo of the roof from the ground and a note of the building's size help a contractor price the job. Your job goes to up to five matched local businesses [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].

Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.

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Questions about asbestos roof removal

Does removing an asbestos cement roof need a licensed contractor?

Not usually. HSE says most work on asbestos cement can be done without a licence, as long as the workers have had the right information, instruction and training. Other asbestos materials, such as insulating board or lagging, are a different matter.

Can I take down an asbestos garage roof myself?

This page gives no method for removing asbestos. Breaking asbestos cement releases more fibres, the sheets are fragile to stand on, and the waste must go to a licensed site. Use a contractor with asbestos training and the right access equipment.

How do I get rid of asbestos roof sheets?

HSE says asbestos waste should only be handled by a licensed disposal site, and that your local authority can give details of these. GOV.UK has a postcode tool to find your council's information about asbestos and its disposal.

Does QuoteZila check asbestos contractors?

No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.

This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.

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Sources

  1. QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and FAQ copy.
  2. QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ How does getting quotes work.
  3. S1: Asbestos: frequently asked questions, HSE. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.hse.gov.uk/ASBESTOS/faq.htm
  4. S2: Asbestos essentials, HSE. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/
  5. S3: Fragile surfaces, HSE. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/fragile.htm
  6. S4: Asbestos in your home, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/asbestos-in-home
  7. S5: Reporting fly-tipping, large-scale dumping or other waste crimes, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/report-flytipping