ASBESTOS & RENOVATION · VICTORIA
Asbestos and Home Renovations in Victoria: What Owners Should Know
Asbestos becomes a renovation risk when materials are disturbed, cut, drilled, broken or removed without the right controls.
Short answer
If a Victorian home was built or renovated before 1990, asbestos-containing materials may be present. Before demolition or intrusive work, identify suspect materials and obtain appropriate testing or professional advice. Friable asbestos must be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist, and other removal work may also require licensing depending on the material and quantity.
Do not identify asbestos by appearance alone
Asbestos was used in many building products, and visually similar materials may or may not contain asbestos.
If the material is suspect, laboratory testing or advice from a competent asbestos professional provides a safer basis for planning the work.
Renovation can disturb materials that were previously stable
Cutting walls, removing eaves, lifting old flooring, demolishing wet areas or opening service chases can disturb concealed or bonded products.
Plan asbestos assessment before the demolition programme so discovery does not stop the project unexpectedly.
Use licensed removal where required
Asbestos Victoria advises that friable asbestos should only be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist and recommends engaging licensed professionals where asbestos may be present during renovation or demolition.
Do not use ordinary demolition methods on suspected asbestos materials.
Keep asbestos planning separate from design decisions
Knowing where asbestos is located helps the builder and demolition team plan safe sequencing, access, removal and disposal before the new construction work begins.
The result is a more reliable programme and fewer assumptions in the demolition scope.
Questions homeowners ask
Which homes may contain asbestos?+
Victorian consumer guidance notes that homes built before 1990 may contain asbestos-containing materials.
Can I tell asbestos by looking at it?+
Not reliably. Suspect material may need laboratory testing or professional assessment.
Can I renovate around asbestos?+
Possibly, but the work must be planned so asbestos-containing material is not disturbed unsafely. Obtain specialist advice for the actual material and scope.
Who removes friable asbestos?+
Friable asbestos should only be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist.
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Tell EBC what you are planning and we will help you work through the practical next steps.
EBC services Melbourne's Eastern Suburbs. View service areas.
Related EBC pages
- Renovating an Older Melbourne Home
- Demolition Before Renovation or Rebuild
- Prepare Your Home for Renovation