Asbestos was widely used in building materials because of its durability and resistance to heat. Although its use has declined significantly, asbestos-containing materials can still be found in older homes, commercial buildings, roofs, ceilings, wall linings, flooring, and other parts of properties.
When these materials are damaged or disturbed, asbestos fibres can become airborne. For this reason, property owners planning renovations, demolition, repairs, or property upgrades should take asbestos seriously. Professional asbestos removal provides a controlled way to identify, remove, clean up, and dispose of asbestos-containing materials.
In New Zealand, AR Plus provides licensed asbestos removal services for residential and commercial properties across the central North Island, including Tauranga, Rotorua, TaupÅ, the wider Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Coromandel, and Gisborne.
Asbestos becomes a health hazard primarily when its fibres are released into the air and inhaled. These microscopic fibres can remain in the lungs and are associated with serious long-term diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
Asbestos-containing materials can generally be grouped into bonded and friable materials. Bonded asbestos is incorporated into a harder material such as cement, while friable asbestos can be crumbled or powdered more easily and therefore requires particularly careful handling.
Even bonded asbestos can become a problem if it is cut, sanded, drilled, broken, or otherwise damaged. Professional assessment is therefore important before work begins on a property where asbestos may be present.
One of the challenges with older properties is that asbestos is not always obvious. It may be present in materials that look similar to ordinary construction products.
AR Plus identifies several potential locations in residential properties, including:
Properties constructed or renovated before 2000 may warrant particular attention. However, appearance alone cannot reliably confirm whether a material contains asbestos. Testing and professional assessment may be necessary.
Asbestos removal may become necessary in several situations. Renovating an older home is one common example. Replacing a ceiling, modifying walls, removing flooring, or carrying out structural work could disturb asbestos-containing materials.
Demolition projects are another important situation. Before a building is demolished, suspected asbestos materials should be identified and appropriately managed so that demolition does not unnecessarily disturb them.
Asbestos may also need to be addressed when an existing survey identifies contaminated materials or when damaged building components require remediation.
Rather than beginning work and dealing with asbestos after it has been disturbed, identifying potential asbestos before construction starts can make the entire project safer and easier to manage.
Asbestos removal requires specialist knowledge, equipment, and safety procedures. In New Zealand, significant asbestos removal work must be performed by appropriately licensed professionals. AR Plus states that its team holds both Class A and Class B licences, allowing it to handle different forms of asbestos, including friable materials.
Professional removal also helps ensure that asbestos waste is handled and disposed of correctly. Trying to remove asbestos without appropriate controls can potentially spread fibres beyond the original work area.
For property owners, using a licensed contractor also provides a structured process from initial assessment through to final clearance.
Every property is different, but professional removal generally follows several stages.
The first stage is understanding what is present on the property. AR Plus can assess a site and arrange asbestos testing, or review an existing asbestos survey to establish the scope of work.
Once the asbestos situation is understood, the contractor develops an appropriate removal plan. The scope can include the materials involved, required controls, expected timeframe, and project cost.
Licensed workers carry out the removal using appropriate containment and safety procedures. AR Plus describes measures including site isolation, specialist PPE, air filtration, low-dust removal techniques, wet handling, and HEPA vacuum cleaning.
Asbestos waste must be handled separately from ordinary construction waste. AR Plus states that removed asbestos is transported to an approved landfill and that the affected area is thoroughly cleaned after removal.
After the work has been completed, the area can undergo a post-removal clearance inspection. AR Plus states that an independent third-party assessor completes the clearance inspection and report.
This final stage is important because simply removing visible asbestos-containing material does not necessarily mean the work area is ready for unrestricted use.
Renovations can expose hidden asbestos in older buildings. A homeowner may begin a project intending to replace a ceiling or renovate a bathroom, only to discover that existing materials require specialist attention.
Addressing asbestos before other renovation work begins can help prevent delays and reduce the possibility of exposing workers or occupants to unnecessary risks.
AR Plus also offers plastering, painting, and reinstatement services. This means some projects can move from asbestos removal into restoration without requiring the property owner to coordinate every stage with separate contractors.
Roofing and ceiling materials can be important areas of concern in older properties. AR Plus specifically provides asbestos roof removal and replacement services as well as popcorn ceiling removal and remediation.
Textured or stippled ceilings can be particularly difficult for property owners to identify because they may simply appear to be decorative finishes. If an older ceiling needs to be scraped, repaired, renovated, or removed, professional assessment should take place before the material is disturbed.
Asbestos management is not limited to residential homes. Commercial buildings can also contain asbestos-containing materials, making professional assessment important during maintenance, refurbishment, demolition, and property management projects.
AR Plus works with a range of clients, including builders and developers, local councils, schools, property and facility managers, landlords, insurance providers, and EQC claims.
For commercial projects, careful planning is particularly important because work may need to be coordinated around employees, visitors, tenants, contractors, and ongoing business activities.
There is no universal price for asbestos removal because every project has different requirements. According to AR Plus, factors can include the amount and type of asbestos, accessibility of the affected area, whether testing or air monitoring is required, and whether plastering or painting will be needed afterward.
A professional site assessment allows the contractor to understand these factors and provide a more accurate scope and quotation.
If you think a material may contain asbestos, avoid disturbing it. Do not sand, drill, cut, break, or remove the material simply to investigate it yourself.
Instead, arrange an assessment or asbestos test. A professional can determine what needs to happen next and whether removal, management, monitoring, or another approach is appropriate.
Taking action before renovation or demolition begins can help protect occupants, workers, and other contractors while keeping the project properly organised.
When selecting an asbestos contractor, consider more than the quoted price. Look for appropriate licensing, experience, safety procedures, waste-disposal arrangements, testing capabilities, and a clear process for completing the work.
AR Plus has operated since 1995 and provides Class A and Class B licensed asbestos removal services. Its published process covers assessment, planning, controlled removal, disposal, clean-up, and independent post-removal clearance.
Asbestos should never be treated like ordinary building material. If an older property contains suspected asbestos, disturbing it without proper assessment can create unnecessary risks.
Professional asbestos removal provides a structured solution for homeowners, builders, property managers, developers, and commercial organisations. From testing and planning to controlled removal, waste disposal, cleaning, and independent clearance, each stage plays an important role in managing the project safely.
For properties in the central North Island, AR Plus provides licensed asbestos removal services covering residential and commercial projects, as well as specialised services such as popcorn ceiling removal, asbestos roof removal, demolition, and contaminated soil removal.