If your house was built before 2000, you need to read this

DIYer? You need to read this

Asbestos remains one of the least understood risks in residential renovation – particularly among DIYers.

Despite being banned over two decades ago, asbestos remains in thousands of New Zealand homes. Used extensively between the 1940s and late 1980s and still present in some materials up to 2000, it was once considered a miracle material—fire-resistant, durable and cheap. Today, it’s a legacy hazard that the Platinum Pacific Group team still encounters regularly.

“People don’t realise how widespread it was,” says managing director Marty Bamford. “It’s not just in roofing and soffits – it’s in vinyl flooring, wall linings, insulation, switchboards. We still find it often, especially in renovations.”

The risk is not in the presence of asbestos itself. In its inert state – sealed and undisturbed – it poses no danger. The problem arises when it’s unknowingly cut, drilled or sanded. Once airborne, the microscopic fibres can be inhaled, with effects that may not become apparent for decades. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancers remain a public health concern.

While the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 place clear responsibilities on licensed professionals, many homeowners attempt small-scale demolition or alterations without checking the risk. “It’s not safe to disturb,” says Marty. “It puts families at risk.”

Modern materials – including asbestos-free fibre cement, aluminium cladding, and synthetic insulation – have long replaced asbestos. Marty  warns that the problem is far from behind us. “Our advice is simple. If the building predates 2000, test before you touch anything. It’s not worth the risk.

Before you renovate, test. If your home was built before 2000, don’t take chances — call us.