Asbestos fence removal
Asbestos Fence Removal in Canberra
If your fence went up before 1990 and is made of flat or ribbed cement sheets, there's a fair chance it contains asbestos. Our team removes asbestos fences across Canberra under WorkSafe ACT rules, then wraps and disposes of every sheet. You get one fixed price first, and a clear line ready for the new fence.
- Licensed removal and testing
- Independent clearance included
- Fixed price before we start
How to tell if your fence is asbestos
You can't confirm asbestos by looking, but a few clues make it likely. WorkSafe ACT lists fences, along with sheds and garages, as common places to find asbestos around homes built before 1990 (WorkSafe ACT guide).
- Grey cement sheets, either flat or with deep ribs, held in timber or metal posts
- A fence that was already there when an older home was built or bought
- Sheets with cracks, chipped tops, or edges that have gone soft and furry
- Moss, lichen or a weathered, pitted surface after decades of Canberra winters
- No sign of a modern steel or timber fence brand on the panels
Want certainty before you budget? A licensed assessor can take a sample for a lab. See asbestos testing in Canberra.
Is it safe to paint or leave an asbestos fence?
A bonded asbestos fence in good shape, left alone, isn't the main worry. The risk climbs when the sheets are broken, weathered badly, or disturbed. That's why the prep for painting matters more than the paint itself: sanding, scraping, wire brushing and pressure washing can all release fibres, so skip them.
If the fence is leaning, cracked, storm damaged or coming apart, or you're planning to replace it anyway, removal is the safer and tidier option. Leaving a damaged fence for "one more year" usually means more broken edges to deal with later.
Can I remove an asbestos fence myself in the ACT?
No. Unlike some other states, the ACT has no general homeowner allowance to remove bonded asbestos yourself. The only exception is removal incidental to minor or routine maintenance work (WorkSafe ACT). Taking down a fence line is a removal job, so it needs a licensed removalist.
WorkSafe ACT does prosecute. In October 2025 a person not licensed in the ACT was convicted over unsafe removal of asbestos shed roof sheets (WorkSafe ACT prosecutions).
Get a fast quote
Send us a few details or photos and we'll be in touch within 30 minutes.
How it works. Easy as.
- 1
Fill out the quick form
A name, a number and a rough idea of the job is plenty. Photos help if you have them.
- 2
We'll be in touch within 30 minutes
Our team calls or texts back to talk it through and answer the first round of questions.
- 3
We come out and measure up
At a time that suits you, we take a look, measure up and check access.
- 4
Your written quote lands soon after
One all-inclusive fixed price, covering removal, wrapping, transport, disposal and clearance where required.
- 5
Say yes when you're ready
Flexible payment options are there if cash flow's a bit tight. Just ask.
- 6
Notice, then removal day
We give WorkSafe ACT the required written notice (at least 5 days), then on the day we remove it safely and leave the place cleaner than we found it.
- 7
Done and dusted
Everything is wrapped, transported and disposed of at Mugga Lane, with an independent clearance where required.
How we remove your fence, step by step
- 01
Measure up and fixed price
We walk the fence line, check access through your yard and your neighbour's, and give you one written price.
- 02
WorkSafe ACT notice
Once you say yes, we lodge written notice at least 5 days before removal starts.
- 03
Set up the work area
Barriers and signage go up, and we keep the area damp to hold dust down.
- 04
Sheets out whole
Panels are lifted out whole wherever possible, never cut or smashed, and posts are dealt with as quoted.
- 05
Wrap, clean and go
Everything is double wrapped in heavy plastic, sealed and loaded. The ground is cleaned up along the line.
- 06
Disposal and clearance
The load goes to Mugga Lane, and an independent clearance is done where required.
Safety and the ACT rules
- WorkSafe ACT regulates asbestos licensing and compliance. A Class B licence covers non-friable (bonded) asbestos only, while a Class A licence covers friable and non-friable asbestos (Access Canberra licensing).
- The ACT has no general homeowner allowance to remove bonded asbestos yourself. The only exception is removal incidental to minor or routine maintenance work (WorkSafe ACT).
- A licensed asbestos assessor is needed for identification, risk assessment, air monitoring, clearance inspections and clearance certificates (WorkSafe ACT).
- The licensed removalist must give WorkSafe ACT written notice at least 5 days before licensed removal starts, and WorkSafe ACT warns people to be wary of anyone offering to start sooner than that after a quote is accepted (WorkSafe ACT safety alert).
What changes the price of a fence job
- Length of the fence line, in linear metres
- Height and whether the sheets are flat or ribbed
- Condition: whole sheets are quicker than broken or crumbling ones
- Access for carrying sheets out, especially through tight side paths
- Posts and footings, and whether they come out too
- Whether other items, like a shed or eaves, are done in the same visit
See our guide prices on the asbestos fence removal cost page.
Common questions
No. The ACT has no general homeowner allowance to remove bonded asbestos yourself. The only exception is removal incidental to minor or routine maintenance work, and taking down a fence isn't that. Use a licensed removalist.
Painting a sound fence without sanding, scraping or water blasting it doesn't disturb the sheets. Prep work that roughs up the surface is the risky part. If the fence is cracked, broken or crumbling, removal is the better path.
That's between you and your neighbour, and it's worth agreeing before anyone books. We're happy to quote for the full run and talk it through with both households so the price and timing suit everyone.
Our job is the asbestos part: removing the old fence, wrapping it, disposing of it and getting clearance where required. Once it's done your fencing contractor has a clean line to work with.
Most backyard fence lines are done in a day once the work is underway. The bigger wait is the WorkSafe ACT notice, which must be lodged at least 5 days before licensed removal starts.
Our 2026 Canberra guide price for bonded asbestos fence removal is $45 to $110 per linear metre, with typical totals of $1,500 to $4,000 including GST. See our fence removal cost page.
Prices are a guide only and depend on size, access and condition. You'll get a fixed price before any work starts.
Let's get it sorted
Tell us what you've got and where. We'll be in touch within 30 minutes, measure up at a time that suits, and give you one fixed price before any work starts.