Can I remove an asbestos garage roof myself?
The short answer is that it is strongly advised against. The longer answer is that the legal duties differ between a householder and a business, but the health risk and the waste problem are the same for everyone.
The legal position in plain terms
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 place duties on employers and the self-employed. A householder working on their own home is not an employer, so the regulations do not usually cover them directly. That does not make it safe. HSE advises householders not to work on asbestos materials themselves where there is a choice.
Why it goes wrong
Asbestos cement is only dangerous when fibres are released. Prising, breaking, drilling, sawing and pressure washing release fibres. Old weathered sheets break easily underfoot. An unsafe roof is also a fall risk. Fibres do not make you ill immediately, which is why people underestimate them.
The waste problem
Even a careful DIY removal leaves you with a pile of hazardous waste. It must be wrapped and labelled and taken to a site permitted to accept it. Many council sites do not accept it, or accept it only by appointment and in small amounts, and dumping it is fly-tipping, which is a criminal offence.
Who should do it
Use a contractor who can explain how they will remove the sheets without breaking them, what protection they use, and where the waste goes. For most garages, having removal and the new roof done together is simpler than managing two jobs.
Common questions
Is it illegal for me to remove my own asbestos roof?
What if I have already broken some sheets?
Tell us about the garage
Send photos, get one price for the roof off and the new roof on.
Send photos, get a quote
Postcode, garage size and a few photos of the roof from the ground are enough to start.