Asbestos Roofing Birmingham
If you've got an older garage, outbuilding, workshop or industrial unit in Birmingham with corrugated roof sheeting that looks a bit tired, there's a decent chance it could contain asbestos, especially if the building went up before 1999, when asbestos was banned in the UK. That's not something to panic about, but it is something to deal with properly. Our asbestos roofing service covers identifying suspected material, advising you on the safest way forward, and safely removing and replacing lower-risk asbestos cement sheeting following official guidance, with correct disposal every step of the way. Where a roof turns out to involve higher-risk, licensable material, we bring in a specialist licensed contractor and manage that part of the job for you. Straightforward, honest advice, no scare tactics.
18 years
Trading in Birmingham
15
Experienced roofers
Up to
20 years
Workmanship warranty
Fully insured
What our asbestos roofing service includes
We work on garages, sheds, workshops, industrial units and agricultural buildings right across Birmingham and the West Midlands, many of which still have their original roof sheeting from decades ago. Our service includes:
- Visual assessment and identification.
- We'll take a look at your roof and tell you honestly whether the material looks like it could be asbestos cement sheeting, and what that means.
- Guidance on testing.
- Not every grey corrugated sheet is asbestos, and not every asbestos-containing sheet carries the same level of risk. We'll always recommend proper sampling and testing where there's genuine doubt, rather than guessing.
- Safe removal of lower-risk material.
- Where the sheeting is the kind of intact, lower-risk asbestos cement commonly found on older garages and outbuildings, we can carry this out ourselves, following official safety guidance and using the right protective equipment.
- Licensed disposal.
- Asbestos waste has to go through a licensed waste carrier. We handle this so it's dealt with legally and responsibly, not dumped or left lying around.
- Coordination with licensed specialists.
- If your roof involves higher-risk, licensable material (this is a legal classification for certain types of asbestos work that only an HSE-licensed contractor can carry out), we'll bring in a specialist contractor and manage that side of the project alongside our own work.
- Replacement with modern roofing.
- Once the old material is safely removed, we'll fit a modern replacement, such as steel sheeting or a fibre cement alternative, so your building is left safe, weathertight and looking a lot better.
Signs you might have asbestos roofing
Asbestos cement sheeting was hugely popular for garages, farm buildings, workshops and industrial units from the 1950s right through to the late 1990s, so age is the biggest clue. Other things worth looking out for:
- Grey, corrugated sheeting with a slightly rough, fibrous texture rather than smooth modern profiled steel
- A building you know or suspect was constructed before 1999
- Sheeting that's cracking, chipping or crumbling, which can release fibres and is a sign it needs attention sooner rather than later
- Roof material with a slightly flatter, more matte finish than typical modern steel roofing
- Old documentation, surveys or building records that mention asbestos cement or "AC sheeting"
None of these signs are proof on their own. The only way to know for certain is proper testing, and we'd always rather send a sample off and get a straight answer than have you living with uncertainty, or worse, paying for asbestos removal on a roof that never had asbestos in it in the first place.
Our process
Initial chat and site visit.
Give us a call and we'll talk through what you're dealing with. In most cases we'll come out and take a look in person.
Assessment and, where needed, testing.
We'll give you an honest opinion on what we're looking at, and recommend sampling and testing if there's any doubt about the material.
Explaining your options.
We'll walk you through what the results mean, whether the work falls into the lower-risk category we can handle ourselves, or whether it needs a licensed specialist, and what that means for cost and timescale.
Safe removal.
Working to official guidance, with the right protective equipment and controls in place, we'll remove the material without unnecessary disturbance or risk.
Licensed disposal.
All asbestos waste is removed via a licensed waste carrier, with the correct paperwork, so you've got a clear record it's been dealt with properly.
Replacement roofing fitted.
We'll fit your new roof covering, so the building is left sound, safe and ready to use.
Why choose Midlands Roofing for asbestos roofing in Birmingham
We know the roofing trade has a reputation for cowboys, and asbestos work is exactly the kind of job where that reputation can cost people money or, worse, put their health at risk. We'd rather lose a job than cut corners on something like this.
We're a family-run business, trading in Birmingham and the West Midlands for 18 years, with a team of 15 experienced roofers and no subcontractors passing the job around. That means the people assessing your roof are the same people who'll be doing the work.
We'll always give you a straight answer, even if that means telling you the material isn't asbestos at all, or that a job is smaller (or bigger) than you thought. No pressure, no jargon, just an honest quote. We're fully insured, and our workmanship is backed by a warranty of up to 20 years, depending on the material and scope of the job. As a local family business, our reputation in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands matters to us, because we live here too.
What affects the cost
There's no fixed price for asbestos roofing work, because every job is different. Some of the main things that affect cost:
- The size of the roof and how much material needs to be removed and replaced
- The condition of the sheeting, since crumbling or heavily damaged material needs more careful handling than intact sheets
- Whether the work is lower-risk or licensable, as licensable work carried out by a specialist contractor is priced separately
- Access to the building, for example a garage roof is usually more straightforward than a large industrial unit
- Disposal volume, since licensed asbestos waste disposal is charged by weight and volume
- The replacement material you choose, whether that's steel sheeting or a fibre cement alternative
The best way to get a realistic figure is a free, no-obligation quote. We'll look at the roof, talk through your options, and give you honest numbers, not a guess over the phone.
Areas We Cover
As well as asbestos roofing across Birmingham, we cover the wider West Midlands, including Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, West Bromwich, Walsall, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Halesowen, Stourbridge and Wednesbury. Wherever you are in the area, our team can usually get to you quickly, with same-day emergency callouts available when you need us most.
Related roofing services
FAQs
You can't be certain just by looking, though age and appearance can be strong clues. The reliable way to know is testing a sample of the material. We'll always recommend this where there's genuine doubt, rather than assuming either way.
Intact, undisturbed asbestos cement sheeting generally poses a low risk. The main danger comes from damage, drilling, cutting or breaking it up, which can release fibres into the air. If your sheeting is cracked, crumbling or you're planning building work nearby, it's worth getting it looked at sooner rather than later.
We can safely manage lower-risk, non-licensable asbestos cement sheeting, the kind commonly found on garages, outbuildings and many industrial and agricultural roofs, following official safety guidance. Where a roof involves higher-risk, licensable material, that work has to be carried out by a specialist HSE-licensed contractor, which we'll coordinate as part of your project.
It's disposed of through a licensed waste carrier, in line with official guidance, so it's handled and tracked properly from your roof to a licensed disposal site. We're not going to leave sheets round the back of your building or in a skip meant for general waste.
Most customers go for modern steel sheeting or a fibre cement alternative, both of which give you a safe, durable, weathertight roof without any of the risks of the old material. We'll talk you through the options that suit your building and budget.
For most garage, outbuilding and workshop jobs, no, though we'll always explain any precautions needed for your specific situation, including keeping people and pets away from the work area while it's underway.
Worried you might have asbestos roofing, or already know you do and need it sorted properly? Call us now on 07735 424741 for an honest chat, or get a free quote and we'll come and take a look.
9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Same day response when your roof needs urgent attention.