Asbestos Garage Roof: Removal, Safety and Costs

Corrugated asbestos cement roofs are common on garages, sheds and outbuildings built before 2000. If yours is intact, there may be no rush to remove it. If it is damaged, or you want to replace it, this guide explains who can do the work, what it typically costs and how the waste is dealt with.

Is it asbestos?

Asbestos cement is ordinary cement mixed with asbestos fibres. It is a hard, grey material that was moulded into roof sheets, wall cladding, gutters, downpipes and flues. Modern fibre cement sheets look very similar, so you can't be sure by looking. A sample analysed by an accredited laboratory will confirm it.

Do I need to remove it?

Not necessarily. HSE says asbestos in good condition that is unlikely to be damaged is often best left in place and checked from time to time. Asbestos cement is one of the lower-risk materials because the fibres are bound in cement, although weathering and damage can release them.

Things that make removal more likely:

• sheets that are cracked, broken or badly weathered
• a roof that leaks and needs replacing anyway
• plans to demolish or rebuild the garage

Don't use a pressure washer, wire brush or power tools on an asbestos cement roof, and don't walk on it: old sheets can be fragile.

Who can remove it?

HSE says most work on asbestos cement doesn't need an HSE licence, as long as the people doing it have had the right information, instruction and training. HSE's Asbestos essentials task sheet a14 describes how trained workers should remove asbestos cement sheets and dismantle a small structure such as a shed or garage, provided the sheets stay intact.

• Non-licensed work: removing sheets carefully, without breaking them up.
• Notifiable non-licensed work: if the sheets break up creating significant dust, or the roof is deliberately broken up or dropped, the work must be notified in advance.
• Licensed contractor: needed if other higher-risk materials are present, such as insulating board lining the garage, or if the cement is so badly damaged that a risk assessment says a licence is required.

Before hiring anyone, see choosing an asbestos specialist.

Can I do it myself?

HSE advises homeowners not to repair or remove asbestos without training for non-licensed asbestos work, and strongly encourages using trained professionals. Handling large sheets at height also brings a real risk of falls.

What does it cost?

There are no official prices. Checkatrade's asbestos removal cost guide (last updated April 2026) says asbestos cement garage roofs typically cost £950 to £3,750 to remove, with an average of £2,100. A replacement roof costs extra. The price depends on the size of the roof, access, whether scaffolding is needed, and how the waste will be disposed of. Encapsulation, sealing the roof in place, is given as about £33 per m², but it is only suitable for sheets in reasonable condition.

See our asbestos cost page for more.

If the replacement will be a flat roof, Better Roofing, another Better Home Hub site, explains the main flat roofing options, and Nationwide Roofing Specialists has a guide to typical flat roof costs. For other asbestos in a house roof, such as soffits, felt or flues, see our guide to asbestos in roofs before roof work.

Getting rid of the sheets

Asbestos cement waste is hazardous waste. HSE says intact sheets should not be broken up; they should be double wrapped in heavy polythene and labelled.

• If a contractor removes the roof, the waste is theirs to dispose of. In England, businesses carrying waste must be registered with the Environment Agency.
• If you have a small amount yourself, some council tips accept bonded asbestos from householders, usually for a fee and with limits. Devon County Council, for example, takes up to 10 sheets or bags at £21.30 each (checked September 2026). Rules vary, so check with your council through GOV.UK's asbestos in your home page.

Better Home Hub, which runs this site, can try to introduce you to a contractor who can remove or replace an asbestos garage roof.

Sources

• HSE Asbestos essentials a14: removing asbestos cement sheets and dismantling a small structure
• HSE: locations of asbestos, including asbestos cement
• HSE: non-licensed work
• HSE asbestos FAQs
• Checkatrade: asbestos removal cost guide
• Devon County Council: chargeable waste

Last reviewed September 2026.