Asbestos in eaves

Eaves on Bendigo houses

Asbestos eaves linings are near-universal on brick veneer and fibro homes built from the 1950s to the 1980s, from Strathfieldsaye and Kennington to Kangaroo Flat and Eaglehawk. They sit high and out of the way, so they're usually intact. They also take the full brunt of hail, possums and decades of weather.

How to recognise asbestos eaves

• Flat sheets between the roof edge and the wall, usually painted
• Timber battens covering the joins between sheets
• Small round vents or louvres set into the lining
• A house built or renovated before 1990

Newer houses often have fibre-cement eaves that look the same. Only a sample sent to an accredited lab can confirm asbestos.

When eaves need attention

• Before drilling. Lights, cameras, aerials and bird spikes.
• Before painting. Washing and brushing on paint is generally fine, but scraping or sanding isn't.
• After damage. Hail holes, a cracked sheet or a possum breaking through.
• During re-roofing or new guttering. The work often disturbs the eaves edge.

Removal and replacement

Eaves removal is bonded asbestos work. Over 10 m², which covers most houses, it requires a WorkSafe Victoria Class B or Class A licence holder, scaffolding or safe access at height, and an independent clearance certificate. Sheets are removed whole, wrapped and taken to a licensed disposal facility, and new linings are fitted by a builder or carpenter.

How it's tested

Sampling eaves means working at height, so a small piece is usually taken from the lowest accessible sheet, near a corner or an existing hole, with the surface wetted first. Houses with eaves added or replaced at different times may need more than one sample.

Asbestos eaves: common questions