Planning a renovation? Buying or selling an older home? Or maybe a storm has ripped through and left some damage you weren’t prepared for? If your property was built before 1990 — or even into the early 2000s — there’s a real chance asbestos is somewhere in the building.
That’s not a reason to panic. In many cases, asbestos that’s intact and undisturbed poses little immediate risk. But the moment it gets disturbed — through drilling, cutting, storm damage or a reno gone wrong — it becomes a serious health hazard.
Make Safe Group is a licensed asbestos inspection and testing team serving Ipswich, Springfield, Logan, Toowoomba and greater Brisbane. We help homeowners, landlords and real estate agents understand what’s in their property before it becomes a problem.
Call us on 0424 520 520 or read on to find out when an asbestos inspection is worth booking.
Why Older Queensland Homes Are More Likely to Contain Asbestos
Asbestos was used widely in Australian building products right up until the late 1980s, and a full nationwide ban didn’t come into effect until 31 December 2003. That means any home built or substantially renovated before 2003 could contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) — and homes built before 1990 are particularly likely to.
Across South-East Queensland — Ipswich, Logan, Toowoomba, Springfield and greater Brisbane — older housing stock is common. Federation weatherboards, post-war fibro homes, and 1970s brick veneer all have a reasonable chance of containing asbestos in one form or another.
Common places it turns up include:
- Eaves and soffit lining
- External and internal wall sheeting (fibro/fibrous cement)
- Roofing (corrugated asbestos-cement sheets)
- Fencing
- Vinyl floor tiles and the adhesive beneath them
- Pipe lagging and insulation in older bathrooms and kitchens
- Behind wall and ceiling linings in wet areas
You can’t identify asbestos by looking at it. The only reliable way to confirm it is through professional sampling and NATA-accredited laboratory testing. As the Queensland Building and Construction Commission notes, if your house was built before 1990, there’s a good chance it contains some asbestos.
Warning Signs Your Property May Need an Asbestos Inspection
Not every older home needs an inspection right now — but certain situations make one genuinely worth booking. Here are the key trigger points.
1. Your home was built or renovated before 2003
If the property dates from before the full ban, asbestos-containing materials may be present even if they’re not visible. This is especially true for homes built between the 1940s and 1990s, when asbestos products were at their most common in residential construction.
2. You’re planning a renovation or demolition
Renovation is the most common trigger for asbestos exposure. Cutting, drilling, sanding or removing older sheeting, tiles or roof materials can release fibres into the air. Under Queensland Work Health and Safety legislation, an asbestos inspection is required before any renovation or demolition work on a property that may contain ACMs. Getting this done before your tradies start protects everyone on site.
3. Sheeting or materials are visibly damaged or deteriorating
Crumbling, cracked or weathered fibro sheeting, damaged eaves or disintegrating pipe lagging are warning signs. Deteriorating asbestos — known as “friable” asbestos — is more likely to release fibres and is considered significantly higher risk than intact, bonded material. If you can see damage to old sheeting or suspect materials, don’t touch it.
4. The property has been through storm, fire or water damage
Storm damage that tears away eaves or roofing, fire that burns through wall linings, or flood water that swells and cracks older flooring can all disturb asbestos-containing materials that were previously intact. If your SE-QLD property has sustained weather or fire damage, an asbestos inspection should happen before any make-safe or repair work begins.
5. You’re buying or selling the property
An asbestos inspection gives buyers confidence and protects sellers from disputes down the track. For landlords and property managers, having an up-to-date asbestos register on file is best practice — and in some circumstances a legal requirement under Queensland WHS regulations when tradespeople are working on the property.
6. You’ve found unidentified materials in the roof, eaves or fences
Old corrugated roofing, flat eave sheeting or fibrous fence panels that you can’t identify are worth having looked at professionally. The golden rule: if you’re not sure, treat it as if it’s asbestos until it’s been tested.
Why You Shouldn’t Disturb Suspected Asbestos Yourself
Intact, bonded asbestos — the kind found in wall sheeting or vinyl tiles — poses a relatively low risk if it’s left alone and in good condition. The danger comes when it’s disturbed.
When asbestos-containing materials are cut, drilled, broken or sanded, microscopic fibres become airborne. Those fibres can be inhaled without you knowing, and they stay in the lungs permanently. Over time, they can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma — diseases that may not appear until decades after exposure.
Under Queensland Work Health and Safety law, removal of asbestos requires a licence. Class A licences cover friable (loose or crumbling) asbestos; Class B licences cover non-friable (bonded) materials. Both require specialist training, equipment and disposal procedures that aren’t available to unlicensed operators.
If you suspect a material contains asbestos, the right move is to leave it alone, restrict access to the area, and call a licensed inspector. Don’t drill it, sand it, break it or attempt to remove it yourself.
What an Asbestos Inspection Involves
A professional asbestos inspection isn’t just a visual check. Here’s what a thorough assessment covers:
Visual assessment
The inspector examines all accessible areas of the property — internal and external walls, eaves, roofing, subfloors, roof spaces and any other areas where ACMs are commonly found. The goal is to identify suspect materials and assess their condition.
Sampling
When suspect materials are identified, small samples are collected by trained technicians in accordance with appropriate safety protocols. Samples are then sent to a NATA-accredited laboratory for analysis — the only definitive way to confirm whether asbestos is present and what type it is.
Asbestos register and report
Following the inspection and lab results, you receive a detailed written report. This includes the location of any identified ACMs, photographic evidence, risk assessments, and compliance documentation suitable for insurance, renovation planning, or regulatory purposes. For commercial and rental properties, this forms the basis of an asbestos management plan.
Clearance inspection
After any asbestos removal work, a clearance inspection confirms the area is safe before the space is re-occupied or building work continues.
What Make Safe Group Does
Make Safe Group provides end-to-end asbestos inspection and testing services for residential and commercial properties across South-East Queensland. Our technicians are trained in asbestos identification and sampling procedures in accordance with Queensland Work Health and Safety regulations.
We handle the whole process: inspection, NATA-accredited lab testing, detailed reporting, and — where removal is needed — licensed asbestos removal and clearance. We also liaise directly with insurers and builders, which matters when an inspection has been triggered by weather damage or an insurance claim.
Our reports are structured to support renovation planning, workplace safety obligations, insurance claims, and asbestos management plans. We work with homeowners, landlords, real estate agents and small businesses, and we’re available for both urgent and scheduled inspections.
Call us on 0424 520 520 to book an asbestos assessment or ask a question.
Areas We Cover
Make Safe Group services Ipswich and the wider South-East Queensland corridor, including Springfield, Logan, Toowoomba and greater Brisbane. If you’re unsure whether we cover your area, give us a call on 0424 520 520.
What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos in Your Property
If you’ve found suspect materials or you’re approaching a renovation on an older home, here’s what to do:
- Don’t disturb it.
- Restrict access to the area.
- Don’t clean it up.
- Book an inspection.
- Get the results in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my home has asbestos?
You can’t tell by looking. Age is the best indicator: if your home was built or renovated before 2003, there’s a real chance asbestos-containing materials are present somewhere. The only way to confirm it is through professional sampling and NATA-accredited laboratory testing. A licensed asbestos inspector will assess the property and take samples from any suspect materials.
Is asbestos dangerous if it’s left alone?
Intact, bonded asbestos that’s in good condition poses a lower immediate risk than damaged or deteriorating material. The danger comes when asbestos is disturbed — through renovation, storm damage or physical deterioration — and fibres become airborne. If you have asbestos in your property that’s intact and not being disturbed, the general advice is to have it inspected, documented, and monitored regularly rather than removed immediately. Your inspector can advise on the right management approach.
Do I need an asbestos inspection before renovating?
Yes, if your property was built or renovated before 2003. Under Queensland Work Health and Safety law, an asbestos inspection is required before renovation or demolition work begins on a property that may contain ACMs. This protects both the people doing the work and the occupants of the property. Carrying out renovation work without checking first can result in serious health risks and potential legal liability.
How much does an asbestos inspection cost?
Costs vary depending on the size of the property and the number of samples required. The best way to get an accurate figure is to contact Make Safe Group directly for a quote. Call 0424 520 520 for a no-obligation assessment.
What’s the difference between Class A and Class B asbestos removal?
Class A licences are required for friable asbestos removal — materials that are loose, crumbling or can be reduced to powder by hand. This is the higher-risk category. Class B licences cover non-friable (bonded) asbestos, where the fibres are mixed into a binding material such as cement. Both require licensed professionals and strict safety and disposal procedures. Make Safe Group can advise which applies to your situation after inspection.
Ready to Book an Asbestos Assessment?
If you’re planning a renovation, buying or selling, or you’ve found suspect materials in an older property, don’t leave it to chance. Make Safe Group is a licensed asbestos inspection and testing team based in Ipswich, available across Springfield, Logan, Toowoomba and greater Brisbane.
We’ll assess the property, get samples to a NATA-accredited lab, and give you a clear, compliance-ready report — so you can move forward with confidence.
Call 0424 520 520 or visit makesafegroup.com.au to request your asbestos assessment today.