About asbestos in Cape Town buildings
Asbestos is a natural mineral fibre that was mixed into cement roof sheets, gutters and ceiling boards until South Africa banned it in 2008. Intact, it is stable. Broken, cut or cleaned, it can release fibres that harm the lungs, which is why removal is regulated and done by registered contractors.
Indi Maintenance Services (Pty) Ltd, Registered Asbestos Contractor (Type 2), certificate 2025RAC/CI-180, valid until 26 August 2028. Verify it with the Department of Employment and Labour.
Where you'll find it
- Corrugated and flat roof sheets, ridge cappings and fascias
- Gutters and downpipes
- Ceiling boards, eaves and soffits
- Wendy houses, outbuildings, carports and water tanks
It's common on factories, warehouses, schools and blocks of flats as well as homes. Only a test by an accredited laboratory can confirm it.
Why disturbed asbestos is a risk
When asbestos cement breaks, weathers badly, or is cut, drilled, sanded or cleaned, it can release fibres far too fine to see. Breathed in, they can lodge in the lungs. According to the World Health Organization, asbestos exposure causes diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis, which can appear many years later.
Left intact and undisturbed, the material is far more stable. That's why the law focuses on how asbestos is handled, not just on whether it's there.
Why our crew dresses the way it does
Every removal follows the Asbestos Abatement Regulations: respirators and disposable coveralls for everyone in the work area, a demarcated regulated area with signs, sheets kept wet and taken off whole by hand, no power tools, sealed and labelled waste, and air monitoring by the approved inspection authority. It protects the crew, your staff or family, and your neighbours. See how a legal removal works.
Remove it, seal it or leave it?
- Leave it, and manage it, if it's sound and nobody needs to work on it. Workplaces must keep an asbestos inventory and management plan.
- Encapsulate it if the sheets are sound and you want to keep the roof for now. It usually costs far less than replacement.
- Remove it if it's cracked or breaking up, or you're renovating, extending or adding solar panels, which can't be fixed to asbestos cement. We work with solar installers so the new roof is ready for them.
Questions we get asked
When was asbestos banned in South Africa?
In March 2008, when regulations prohibited using, making, importing and exporting asbestos. Asbestos cement was widely used before then, so buildings from before about 2008 may still have asbestos roofs, gutters or ceiling boards.
Is it safe to live or work under an asbestos roof?
Intact asbestos cement that nobody disturbs is generally considered low risk. The risk rises when it's broken, weathered, drilled, cut or cleaned. We don't judge the risk of a particular roof from a description; the approved inspection authority can measure fibres in the air.
Do I have to remove asbestos before selling a house?
We haven't found a rule that requires it. Many buyers and banks ask about it, though, so disclose it and ask your conveyancer how to handle it in the sale. A written quote or a clearance certificate can make the conversation easier.
Can an asbestos roof be painted?
Only without any surface preparation: no washing, pressure-cleaning, scraping, brushing or sanding, which release fibres and are prohibited. Many painters don't know this. Ask us first and we'll tell you whether your roof suits painting, encapsulation or removal.
What should I do if an asbestos sheet breaks?
Keep people and pets away from the pieces. Don't sweep, vacuum, hose or break them further, and don't put them in the household bin. Asbestos waste must go to a designated disposal site, so call a registered contractor to remove it.
Get a free quote
Send us the address and a few photos for an estimate within 24 hours, or book a site visit and written quote within 72 hours.