Asbestos removal in Cape Town, done legally
Asbestos cement roof sheets, gutters, fascias, downpipes and ceiling boards were fitted on factories, schools, apartment blocks and homes for decades. Asbestos was banned in 2008, but much of it is still in place, old, brittle and weathered.
Removing it is regulated work. Under the Asbestos Abatement Regulations, 2020, anything beyond a very small job (under 10 square metres) must be done by a registered asbestos contractor, under a written plan of work, with disposal at a designated site and a clearance certificate at the end. Getting a step wrong exposes people on site and leaves the owner without the paperwork they need.
Our registered sister company, and why it matters
The asbestos work on our projects is carried out by our sister company, Indi Maintenance Services, a Registered Asbestos Contractor (Type 2), certificate 2025RAC/CI-180, valid until 26 August 2028. Roof Direct inspects, coordinates the project and installs the new roof, and Indi quotes the asbestos work. You have one point of contact, and the plan of work and asbestos documents carry Indi’s name, so your safety officer or managing agent knows exactly who did what.
Removal, encapsulation or replacement?
Not every asbestos roof has to come off straight away. At the inspection we’ll explain which option suits your building:
- Asbestos roof removal for roofs, gutters and fascias that are damaged, weathered or in the way of other work.
- Asbestos encapsulation for roofs that are still sound, sealed without any cleaning or surface preparation.
- Asbestos roof replacement when the old roof comes off and a new one goes on, planned as one project.
- Asbestos ceiling removal for ceilings made of asbestos insulating board.
Each step in detail
- Inspection and quotes. We look at the roof, gutters or ceilings, and you get itemised quotes: Indi’s for the asbestos work, and ours for anything that follows, such as a new roof.
- Plan of work and notification. A written plan of work sets out who is involved, the material, the methods, protective equipment, air monitoring and disposal. An approved inspection authority is appointed, you co-sign the plan, and the Department of Employment and Labour is notified at least seven days before work starts.
- Safe removal. The work area is demarcated as a regulated asbestos area. Indi’s trained team removes the material with the right respiratory protection and without power tools, which the regulations prohibit for cutting, grinding or drilling asbestos.
- Disposal. The waste is sealed, taken to a site designated for asbestos waste, and a disposal certificate is issued.
- Clearance certificate. The approved inspection authority inspects the area, takes air samples, and issues the clearance certificate.
- Your new roof. Where the roof has come off, Roof Direct installs the replacement. See asbestos roof replacement.
What the 2020 regulations mean for building owners
The regulations place duties on owners, not only contractors. Asbestos in a building has to be identified, assessed and recorded in an inventory, with a plan for managing it. When asbestos work is planned, the client provides that inventory, makes sure a risk assessment is done, and appoints an approved inspection authority. Asbestos in good condition doesn’t always need immediate removal, but it does need to be managed.
Only an accredited laboratory test can confirm that a material contains asbestos. Until you know, don’t cut, drill, sand or pressure-wash it. For the official text of the regulations, see the Department of Employment and Labour. This page is general information, not legal advice.
What we don’t do
Our sister company’s Type 2 registration covers asbestos cement products and asbestos insulating board. Pipe lagging, sprayed insulation and other loose asbestos materials need a different class of registration, so we refer that work on. Asbestos testing and air monitoring are done by accredited laboratories and approved inspection authorities, not by us.
Planning solar on an asbestos roof?
Panels can’t be mounted on asbestos cement, because drilling the sheets releases fibres, so replace the roof first. See solar on asbestos roofs.
Asbestos projects for every kind of building
- Commercial and industrial: work planned around your operations, with the documents your safety officer needs. See commercial and industrial roofing.
- Body corporates: itemised quotes for the trustees and certificates for the building’s records. See body corporate roofing.
- Homeowners: the same legal process and paperwork, from a garage roof to a whole house.
For the credentials behind the work, see safety and compliance.
Get a free asbestos assessment
Request your quote, call us, or send photos on WhatsApp.
