Asbestos in pre-2000 homes

Does a calm note about an asbestos-cement garage roof mean the sheets can be smashed up?

No. A calm note means the surveyor saw sheets that looked intact and is not telling you to destroy them. HSE treats asbestos cement as a cement product and still expects it not to be broken up casually. Smashing, power-washing and dry-brushing make dust. A home survey is not a removal method and not a waste carrier’s note.

Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.

What is the fuller explanation?

Many garages and sheds still have these roofs. Leaving a sound roof alone can be the right maintenance. Replacing it is building work with waste that should be handled as the material it is. HSE’s location material distinguishes cement from insulating board. The survey should say if it is only guessing. Either way, a skip in the drive is not authorised by a condition rating.

If the sheets are already broken, that is a different sentence: damaged material is more likely to be disturbed by accident. Ask a competent contractor what controls apply before the roof comes off. There is no RICS disposal price. Do not barter a “weekend clear-out” off the purchase price.

What should you ask your surveyor?

Are the sheets intact, cracked, or already broken?
Are you naming cement, or are you unsure?
Are you advising me to leave them, or only describing them?

What are the typical next steps?

Do not smash, score or dry-brush the sheets.
If you will replace the roof, ask a competent contractor before the day.
Do not put the sheets in a household waste collection.

Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.

Also asked about this

Is a cracked sheet an emergency?

It is a reason not to break it further. It is not, by itself, a reason to occupy the garage less. Ask for advice before you work on it.

Does a new felt over the sheets remove the asbestos?

No. It covers it. The sheets are still there if someone later strips the felt.