House Demolition
Full demolition of single and double-storey houses — approvals checked, services disconnected, structure down, block handed back level.
Learn more →Why this page exists
Sydney has an enormous stock of houses built between the 1940s and the 1980s — the decades when asbestos cement was one of the most common building materials in Australia. Fibro houses across the west and south-west, brick-veneer houses with fibro eaves and wet areas, and 1970s additions to older homes everywhere.
Demolishing any of them without dealing with asbestos first is illegal, dangerous, and expensive to fix afterwards.
The honest position
The demolition contractor on jobs arranged through this site holds a NSW demolition licence. That is not an asbestos removal licence. Demolition experience does not substitute for it.
So asbestos removal is referred to a separately licensed asbestos removalist, every time. It is sequenced before demolition, and demolition does not start until clearance is issued.
The sequence
1. Survey. Where the house was built or renovated before about 1990, a competent person inspects it and samples suspect materials for laboratory analysis. The result is a register of what is present, where, and how much.
2. Licensed removal. The removalist prepares the work area, provides notice to the regulator where required, and removes the material under controlled conditions. Friable asbestos requires a Class A licence; non-friable removal above small quantities generally requires at least a Class B licence. The removalist confirms which applies.
3. Disposal. Asbestos waste is wrapped, transported and disposed of at a licensed facility, with records.
4. Clearance. An independent assessor inspects and, where required, monitors air before issuing a clearance certificate.
5. Demolition. Only now does the demolition crew begin.
Where asbestos turns up in Sydney houses
| Location | Typical era |
|---|---|
| Eaves and soffits | 1950s–1980s, very common |
| Bathroom and laundry wall linings | 1950s–1980s |
| External fibro cladding | 1940s–1970s, especially the west and south-west |
| Corrugated roofing and garages | 1950s–1980s |
| Fencing | 1950s–1980s |
| Floor tiles and underlays | 1950s–1980s |
| Fill and soil under old structures | Any older site |
What goes wrong when it is skipped
A machine breaking fibro spreads fibres and fragments over the whole site and often next door. Clean-up of contaminated soil can cost many times the original removal. Neighbours complain, councils and the regulator can stop the job, and the builder cannot start until the site is remediated.
Especially relevant areas
Fibro and post-war housing is concentrated in Blacktown, Bankstown, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Penrith and parts of Parramatta and St George. The guide to asbestos before demolition in Sydney goes further.
For your own safety
Do not drill, cut, break, sand or water-blast suspected asbestos. Keep children and pets away from damaged material. SafeWork NSW publishes guidance for homeowners.
Call 02 5943 7968 or send the job details through.
More services
Explore our other services
Knock Down Rebuild Site Prep
The demolition half of a knock-down-rebuild, sequenced to your builder's start date rather than to ours.
Learn more →Partial Demolition
Rear extensions, second storeys, walls and wings taken off while the rest of the house stays standing and weathertight.
Learn more →Garage & Shed Removal
Detached garages, carports, sheds, granny-flat shells and outbuildings removed, slab in or out.
Learn more →Concrete & Driveway Removal
Driveways, slabs, paths and footings broken out and carted, reinforced or not, with the kerb and neighbours protected.
Learn more →Site Clearing
Blocks cleared of structures, rubbish and fill for sale, survey or construction — with protected trees left alone.
Learn more →
FAQs
Questions people ask before they commit
Do you remove asbestos?
No. Asbestos removal is carried out by a separately licensed asbestos removalist. The demolition contractor holds a demolition licence, which is a different authorisation. We arrange the referral, sequence the removal before demolition, and make sure the clearance is in hand before the demolition crew starts.
How do I know if my house has asbestos?
You cannot tell by looking. If the house was built or renovated before about 1990, an asbestos survey by a competent person, with samples sent to a laboratory, is the way to find out. Common locations include eaves, wet-area wall linings, external cladding, roofing, fencing, and floor coverings and underlays.
Who needs to be notified?
Licensed asbestos removal work in NSW generally requires notice to SafeWork NSW before it starts, and councils may have their own neighbour notification requirements. The licensed removalist handles the regulatory notification for their work. Confirm the current requirements with them rather than relying on a website.
What is a clearance certificate?
After licensed removal, an independent assessor inspects the area and, where required, conducts air monitoring, then issues a clearance certificate confirming the area is safe to re-occupy or for work to continue. Demolition should not start on that area without it.
How much does asbestos removal add?
It varies more than any other part of a demolition price — from a modest sum for some eaves sheeting to many thousands for a fully fibro-clad house with contaminated soil. That is why it is surveyed and priced as its own line rather than guessed.
Free, no-obligation