Asbestos Cement Garage Roof Removal & Re-Roofing, Croydon

Project Overview

This job came in through a referral from a local estate agent in Croydon. The homeowner had been aware of the asbestos cement roof for several years but had deferred removal. When they noticed a chalky white residue on the garage floor after heavy rain — a reliable sign that the cement binder is breaking down — they contacted us for a survey.

The interior photograph tells the story clearly. The corrugated asbestos cement sheets are visible from below: the surface has darkened with biological growth, the rusted ridge purlin has allowed water ingress at the apex, and the sheets are beginning to separate at the overlaps. This is a common condition in Croydon garages built between the late 1950s and mid-1980s, when asbestos cement was the standard roofing material for residential outbuildings.

The homeowner's brief was straightforward: remove the asbestos roof, re-roof in a durable material, and provide the documentation needed for their property sale. We completed the full scope — removal, re-roofing, and documentation — in a single visit.

What We Found on Survey

The homeowner had noticed the garage roof was beginning to bow and had seen a chalky residue on the garage floor after heavy rain — a reliable indicator that the cement binder is breaking down and releasing material. We attended the same week for a free site survey. Visual inspection confirmed corrugated asbestos cement sheets in a notifiable condition: surface erosion was visible across the full width of the roof, and several sheets showed longitudinal cracking along the ridges. We confirmed the scope in writing and booked the removal for the following week.

On the day, the area around the garage was cordoned off and signage erected under CAR 2012 Regulation 16. Operatives donned full PPE including P3 half-mask respirators, disposable coveralls, and nitrile gloves. Each sheet was wetted thoroughly before any fixings were disturbed. Where possible, sheets were removed whole — unscrewed at the fixings and lifted clear without fracture. The interior shot shows the original asbestos cement ceiling from below: the corrugated profile, surface staining, and rusted ridge purlin are all visible. This is what the homeowner had been living with. Sheets that required cutting to clear the ridge were scored with a hand tool under continuous wet suppression — no power tools were used.

Each removed sheet was double-wrapped in UN-approved heavy-duty polythene and sealed with asbestos warning tape before being lowered to ground level. No sheets were dropped or thrown — impact fractures release fibres. Once all panels were packaged and removed, the new black box-section fascia was fitted to the garage walls, providing a clean, level base for the replacement roof. The site was swept, all debris collected and bagged, and the garage interior inspected for any residual ACM material.

The replacement roof was fitted in the same visit using dark grey corrugated steel sheets — a popular choice for residential garages in Croydon because the profile closely matches the original appearance while providing a 25+ year service life. New black UPVC guttering and a downpipe were fitted to complete the drainage system. The three aerial photographs show the finished roof from above: the corrugated profile is clean and uniform, the guttering is neatly aligned, and the garage is fully weathertight. The homeowner confirmed the garage was back in use the same afternoon.

All asbestos waste was transported to a licensed disposal facility in our own vehicle. A consignment note was raised under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. The homeowner received the consignment note, a copy of our ARCA membership certificate, and a written completion letter confirming the garage roof was free of asbestos. The full documentation pack was provided on the day of completion.

A Note on Garage Base Slabs

On this job, the base slab was sound — the homeowner had maintained the garage and the drainage was adequate. However, in our experience across Croydon and Surrey, a significant proportion of garages where the asbestos roof has been leaking for several years show compromised base slabs. Water ingress through a failing roof does not just stain the floor; over time it saturates the sub-base, promotes subsidence, and can undermine the wall footings.

We always inspect the base slab and walls as part of the survey. If we identify water damage or structural movement, we will tell you — and we will explain the implications for the re-roofing work and the long-term integrity of the structure. A roof-only job on a compromised base is a short-term fix.

Outcome

The job was completed in a single day. The homeowner received the consignment note, our ARCA membership certificate, and a written completion letter on the day of the work. The garage was back in use the same afternoon, and the property sale proceeded without delay.

The corrugated metal replacement roof — visible in the three aerial photographs — is a dark grey profile that sits neatly within the suburban Croydon streetscape. The new black UPVC guttering and downpipe complete the drainage system and will not require maintenance for many years.

We cover all of Croydon, Surrey, and South London. Free quotes, same-week availability, full documentation.