Asbestos in bathrooms and laundries
Where asbestos hides in older bathrooms and laundries and what to do before you renovate.
Where is asbestos found in bathrooms?
asbestos.nsw.gov.au lists cement sheeting used in wet areas, including Tilux (coloured waterproof sheeting for kitchens, bathrooms and laundries) and Versilux (internal walls and ceilings) (source). It also lists asbestos behind tiles and in flooring underlay (source).
Is vinyl flooring or tile underlay a risk?
asbestos.nsw.gov.au lists material under floor tiles and vinyl flooring among friable asbestos found in NSW homes (source). Any friable asbestos must be removed by a Class A licensed removalist.
Can my tiler or plumber remove it?
A tradesperson can remove less than 10 m² of non-friable asbestos for a homeowner, but not friable asbestos (source). Ask whether they have done asbestos awareness training and how they'll dispose of it.
Should I test before a bathroom reno?
If the home was built or renovated before 1990, yes. See asbestos testing cost in Sydney.
Get a free quote from a licensed removalist
Sydney Asbestos Quotes is a free referral service. We are not an asbestos removalist and we do not hold an asbestos removal licence. We pass your request to independent removalists who say they hold a current SafeWork NSW licence, and you should always check a removalist's licence yourself before you engage them. Nothing on this site is safety or legal advice; see SafeWork NSW.