Asbestos in the Ceiling

Asbestos in the ceiling is very common in New Zealand, especially in textured ceiling panels, ceiling tiles, boards and even ceiling paint.

There are many different types of asbestos ceilings, but you can often tell if you have asbestos if it has a mottled plaster look, has a white or grey colour, and sometimes with a silver or gold “fleck” through it. Other types of ceilings that may contain asbestos are swirl or rag rolled plaster finished ceilings.

This became very common in the 80s when everyone thought they looked awesome, but tastes have changed. Nowadays more people want to modernise their homes with smooth ceilings or downlights, or install home ventilation systems. Often we will also get called in when there has been a roof leak through an asbestos ceiling.

It’s really important that you or your electrician don’t drill straight into asbestos ceiling panels or tiles. If in doubt, do get your asbestos ceiling tested by a professional.

If asbestos is found in your textured ceiling, you usually have two options. One is to scrape the asbestos off and sand it back as much as possible, and the other is to drop the ceiling and start again with new lining. We are happy to talk with you about the cost and process of each option. Either way, we will handle your home asbestos removal professionally and with extreme care to keep you safe.

We also highly recommend a ceiling cavity clean and decontamination whenever asbestos is found in your ceiling. Many asbestos removal companies will look to cut corners, and skip this step to lower the cost of asbestos removal. However, it should be done, as otherwise the ceiling space may fail an asbestos test, meaning it is unsafe and does not meet asbestos removal standards.

At AASL, we believe all asbestos removal work should be done the right way, not just the cheapest way, to keep you safe. If you have any questions, or are unsure if your home or workplace has asbestos, we can carry out an asbestos test for you and offer expert asbestos advice.

In New Zealand, asbestos ceilings can be:

Textured ceiling panels and boards

Popcorn, artex, pinex

In the roof space

Ceiling paint

Ceiling Asbestos Testing and Removal in New Zealand

There are many kinds of common ceiling panel asbestos in New Zealand, and it can be dangerous, so it should be taken very seriously. The reality is, that if your asbestos company does a poor job, you’re putting yourself (and your family) at risk.

However, it doesn’t have to be as scary as you might think, because we guarantee to do everything correctly and safely. Choosing to work with AASL means you will always know that the asbestos in your ceiling has been removed properly, rather than the laziest or fastest way through shortcuts and loopholes.

Protecting your health is absolutely our number one concern, and we promise that all of the asbestos work we do at your home or workplace will be carried out to the highest standards by our expert team. We also promise to carry out our service as efficiently as possible, to make sure you experience minimal disruption.

That’s why we say the safest and easiest way to remove asbestos is to let us professionally remove it!

About Ceiling Asbestos Testing and Removal

How to know if my ceiling is asbestos?

If you want to know if you have asbestos in your ceiling, one of our team members will arrange a date and time that suits you, to assess your home or workplace. We’ll come and take a sample then send it for local asbestos testing at an independent laboratory. It usually takes around 48 hours to get results back.

What to do if I have asbestos in my ceiling?

If you do have asbestos in your ceiling we will supply a detailed and competitively-priced free quote, then arrange the best time to start work. Our team will work closely with you to make sure that the process runs as smoothly and seamlessly as possible, communicating with you every step of the way. You’ll always work with James, Ray, Sarah, Daniel, Rob, and Ayden from start to finish.

What is the asbestos removal process in New Zealand?

Day one on site is usually setting up, lining the spaces with plastic and blocking off any areas as required. Then we will do the asbestos removal in line with Worksafe Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 and ISO 45001 standards. After that, we’ll get independent asbestos assessors in to do air testing, swab testing, or visual testing to ensure that all your asbestos has been removed properly. We’ll wipe everything down, let you back into your space, and supply a certificate of clearance to guarantee ultimate peace of mind!

How much does asbestos removal cost?

It sounds like a cliche, but it really is difficult to say exactly how much asbestos testing and removal costs without first assessing your home. Above the obvious things like the scale of your asbestos removal, certain products, or areas are harder to remove. For example, what is the condition of your building, walls, subfloors, and ceiling? How deteriorated is the actual material containing asbestos? And what is access to your property or area like? Generally speaking, when done correctly, Class B asbestos costs less, as the materials are not friable, so they are less likely to give off as many airborne fibres. The best way to find out how much your asbestos testing and removal will cost is always to get in touch with us for a free consultation and quote.

How long does asbestos removal take?

The time that we need to be on-site and blocking off spaces does range, but general interior removals like ceilings may take around a week, depending on the size of it. We know it’s not ideal having work done at your property, so we want to make the process as efficient as possible to make sure you experience minimal disruption. Whatever your project, we’ll do everything possible to keep you in your home while we’re working, but if you do need to leave it will be for as short a time as possible.

Partnering with electricians, builders, insulation companies, and roofers

If you work with ceilings, and are looking for a quality asbestos subcontractor, we’d love to hear from you too. We work with trades in Wellington, Hutt Valley, Kapiti, Wairarapa, Levin, Palmerston North, and everywhere in between! Get in touch with us to talk more about what you’re looking for from a local asbestos removal company.