HomeServicesBathroom & Kitchen Strip-outs
Asbestos Bathroom & Kitchen Strip-outs in Bendigo
Pre-1990 bathrooms, laundries and kitchens are where renovations most often run into asbestos: behind the tiles, under the vinyl and inside the splashback. Testing and licensed removal before demolition keep the rest of your renovation on schedule.
Where asbestos sits in wet areas
- Wall sheeting behind tiles. Asbestos cement sheet was the standard tile backing for decades.
- Shower recesses and bath surrounds. Sheeting around the bath or shower base.
- Vinyl floor tiles and sheet vinyl. Older vinyl, its backing or its adhesive.
- Kitchen splashbacks and walls. Particularly in 1950s–70s kitchens and behind old wall ovens.
- Laundry walls and troughs. Some older troughs and the wall behind them.
- Wet-area ceilings. Moisture-resistant fibro was common.
- Flues and heater surrounds. Near old hot-water services and space heaters.
Floors are covered in more detail in asbestos in vinyl floor tiles and sheet vinyl.
Why strip-outs need a different approach
The usual strip-out is a demolition hammer, a crowbar and a skip bin. On asbestos sheeting, that breaks it into fragments, spreads dust through the house and contaminates the skip. Asbestos waste cannot go in an ordinary skip at all.
The Bendigo Asbestos Removal process for bathroom and kitchen strip-outs
Testing
Wall sheeting, flooring and any suspect material are sampled and lab-tested.
Isolation
The doorway is sealed with plastic and the area signed off.
Disconnection
Your plumber may need to disconnect the bath, basin and toilet first.
Removal
Sheets come out as whole as possible, often with the tiles still attached, which is safer than chipping them off.
Flooring
Vinyl is lifted with hand tools and wet methods, then bagged.
Clean and clear
The room is cleaned with an asbestos-rated vacuum. Licensed jobs over 10 m² receive an independent clearance certificate.
What to expect from bathroom and kitchen strip-outs
- One set-up for several rooms. Bathroom, ensuite, laundry and toilet are often done together.
- A written quote covering area, flooring, disposal and clearance.
- A day or two of removal for a single bathroom, after the WorkSafe notification period.
- The rest of the house usable in most cases, with the work area sealed off.
- A clean room handed back, ready for your builder, tiler, plumber and electrician.
Renovation booked? Clear the asbestos before the builder starts.
Wet areas in Bendigo homes
Post-war homes in Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat and Eaglehawk commonly have original asbestos sheeting behind bathroom and laundry tiles. In older central Bendigo and Castlemaine houses, the bathroom is often in a 1950s–70s rear addition built largely from fibro.
Strip-outs across Bendigo and district
Wet-area and kitchen strip-outs are available in Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Strathfieldsaye, Eaglehawk, Golden Square, Castlemaine and Heathcote.
Bathroom and kitchen strip-outs: common questions
My builder says it isn't asbestos. Should I test anyway?
If the house was built or renovated before 1990, yes. Testing costs far less than a contaminated house halfway through a renovation.
Can I tile over the old sheeting?
Tiling over intact sheeting avoids disturbing it, but drilling and cutting for new fixtures will. Most renovations end up removing it.
Can I keep using the rest of the house?
Usually. The room is sealed off and waste leaves by the shortest route. Any rooms that must stay clear will be identified at the site visit.
What drives the cost of bathroom and kitchen strip-outs?
The number of rooms, sheeting area and height, whether tiles stay attached, flooring and access. Typical prices are in the Bendigo asbestos removal cost guide.