Does your Sydney home have asbestos?
If your Sydney home was built before 1987, there’s a real chance it contains asbestos. Thousands of Australian homes still contain asbestos today.
You don’t need to panic. But you do need to know what to look for before you renovate or do any work on your property.
When was asbestos used in Australian homes?
Asbestos was a very common building material in Australian homes from the 1940s to the 1980s. It was cheap, fire-resistant, and easy to work with. Asbestos was used in fibro homes, in brick homes, and in commercial buildings alike.
The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency estimates that one in three Australian homes built before 1987 still contain asbestos materials. Australia officially banned all asbestos products on 31 December 2003, but the real risk zone is homes built before 1987.
Homes built between 1930 and 1987 are at highest risk. But even a renovator working on a home built after 1987 should check, as some pre-ban materials may have been used.
Where does asbestos hide in your home?
Asbestos was used in many different building products. It’s often hard to spot because it was mixed with cement, vinyl, or other materials. Here are the most common places asbestos is present in Sydney homes.
Walls, ceilings and eaves
Flat fibro sheeting was one of the most popular building materials in Australia for decades. It was used on external walls, internal walls, and ceilings of fibro homes across Sydney.
Eave lining and fascia boards on older homes often contain asbestos. So do the flat sheets around carports and garages. If your Sydney home was built before 1987 and has flat sheet materials anywhere, treat them as suspect until tested.
Roofing and gutters
Asbestos cement was used widely in roof sheeting, particularly the old corrugated style. Many Sydney homes still have asbestos cement roofs in place. Roof gutters and downpipes from this era can also contain asbestos.
Asbestos roof sheeting in good condition can often be left in place under an asbestos management plan. But any asbestos removal from a roof must be done by a licensed removalist.
Floors and tiles
Vinyl floor tiles from the 1950s to 1980s often contain asbestos fibres. The tile backing sheet (the material under the tile) also frequently contains asbestos. Even the adhesive used to bond tiles to the floor can contain asbestos.
Bathroom and kitchen wall tiles from this era are worth checking too. If the presence of asbestos is confirmed, the tiles shouldn’t be drilled into or broken up without proper protection.
Insulation and pipe lagging
Loose asbestos insulation was used in older homes, particularly around pipes, in roof cavities, and in ceiling insulation products. This type of asbestos is called friable asbestos. It’s the most dangerous form because it crumbles easily and releases fibres into the air.
Pipe lagging (the wrapping around hot water pipes) often contains asbestos in homes built before 1987. If you see old wrapped pipes in your Sydney home, don’t touch them until you know what they contain.
Two types of asbestos in your home
Not all asbestos is the same. There are two main types found in Australian homes.
Bonded asbestos (non-friable) is the most common. The asbestos fibres are locked in a solid matrix like cement or vinyl. Bonded asbestos is generally less dangerous when it’s in good condition. But it becomes risky when cut, drilled, sanded, or broken.
Friable asbestos is loose and crumbly. It releases fibres when touched. Friable asbestos requires a Class A licensed removalist to remove it safely, regardless of how small the area is.
How to tell if your home has asbestos
You can’t tell just by looking. Asbestos fibres are too small to see without a microscope. Even experts can’t confirm the presence of asbestos from sight alone.
The only reliable way to know if asbestos is present in your home is to get the suspected material tested at a NATA accredited lab. A licensed asbestos assessor can take a small sample safely and send it for testing. Results usually come back within a few days.
Here’s a quick guide for Sydney homeowners:
- Is your home built before 1987? It likely contains asbestos materials in at least one area.
- Do you have flat fibro sheeting on walls, ceilings, or eaves? Have it tested before any home renovation work.
- Do you have old vinyl floor tiles with a fibrous backing sheet? Treat them as asbestos until tested.
- Do you have an old corrugated or flat asbestos cement roof? Don’t walk on it or drill it without testing.
- Do you have old pipe insulation or loose ceiling insulation? Don’t disturb it. Call a professional.
What does asbestos look like?
Asbestos-containing materials don’t look different from non-asbestos materials. Asbestos cement looks like ordinary cement sheet. Fibro sheeting looks like any other flat board. Tiles with asbestos fibres look the same as those without.
Age and location are your best clues. If a building material is in an older Sydney home and it’s in a high-risk location, treat it as asbestos until a test confirms otherwise.
Is asbestos dangerous?
Asbestos in good condition and left undisturbed isn’t an immediate danger. The risk comes when asbestos materials are cut, drilled, broken, or disturbed. This releases fibres into the air.
Breathing in asbestos fibres causes serious diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. These diseases can take 20 to 40 years to develop. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, according to SafeWork NSW and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025.
What to do if you think your home has asbestos
Don’t disturb it. Don’t try to remove it yourself. This is the most important rule for any homeowner.
If you think you’ve found asbestos in your home, stop any work in the area straight away. Get a licensed asbestos assessor to inspect and test the material. If asbestos is confirmed, you’ll need a licensed asbestos removalist in Sydney to remove it safely.
Under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025, all friable asbestos removal must be done by a Class A licensed removalist. Bonded asbestos removal over ten square metres also needs a licensed removalist.
Why Sydney homes still contain asbestos
Sydney has a huge amount of older housing stock. Many residential properties in suburbs like Blacktown, Parramatta, Liverpool, and the Inner West were built between 1950 and 1987. That’s when fibro sheeting and asbestos cement products were at their most popular.
Many Sydney homes still contain asbestos that’s never been touched. It’s sitting in walls, under floors, and on roofs across the city. Asbestos awareness has improved, but the materials themselves aren’t going anywhere unless you remove asbestos properly.
The key message for any Sydney homeowner is this: if your home was built before 1987, get it tested before you start any renovation work. Don’t assume it’s safe.
Asbestos in greater Sydney: what the numbers tell us
Greater Sydney has hundreds of thousands of residential homes built before 1987. Asbestos remains in many homes across New South Wales, particularly in fibro and brick veneer homes from the post-war era.
Many homes in Western Sydney, the Inner West, and the Northern Beaches were built with fibro sheeting as the main wall cladding. The concern isn’t just fibro. Even a brick veneer house was built with fibro eave linings, fibro wet area panels, and asbestos cement roofing in many cases.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, the material releases microscopic fibres into the air. These microscopic fibres are what cause the disease. You can’t see them, smell them, or taste them.
For 10 square metres of bonded asbestos or more, NSW law requires a licensed removalist. For smaller amounts of non-friable asbestos, you can do it yourself but only if you follow the safe work procedure. When in doubt, call a professional.
Asbestos testing: what to expect
A licensed asbestos assessor will visit your home and inspect suspected materials. They’ll take a small sample and send it to a lab. You’ll get a written report confirming whether asbestos is present and what type.
If asbestos is confirmed, the assessor can help you understand your options. In many cases, bonded asbestos in good condition can be left undisturbed under an asbestos management plan. In other cases, you’ll need to remove asbestos before renovation work can proceed safely.
Does your pre-1990 home need an asbestos assessment?
If your home was built before 1990, an asbestos assessment is worth doing before any renovation or sale. Roughly one in three Australian homes built before 1987 may contain asbestos in at least one area.
A formal asbestos assessment produces an asbestos register. This lists every location where asbestos is present or suspected in the building. It’s a legal requirement for commercial properties and a smart move for any homeowner planning work on a pre-1990 home.
Any home built or renovated before the 2003 ban may contain asbestos materials. Even if your home was built before 2003 but after 1987, it’s worth checking for materials installed during earlier renovations.
Any home built before 1990 should be considered at risk. If you’re not sure when your home was built, check your council records or the original building plans.
How much asbestos needs to be removed by a licensed professional?
Under NSW law, the amount of friable asbestos must always be removed by a licensed Class A removalist. There’s no minimum threshold.
For non-friable asbestos, the threshold is ten square metres of bonded asbestos. Any job over ten square metres of bonded asbestos must be done by a licensed Class B or Class A removalist.
If you’re not sure what type you have or how much is in your home, start with an asbestos assessment. The assessor will identify the exact materials and advise on the right approach.
Get connected with a Sydney asbestos professional
We connect Sydney homeowners with licensed asbestos assessors and removalists. Whether you’re planning a home renovation or just want peace of mind, we can help you find the right professional fast.