If you’re a roofer working on homes or garages built before the year 2000, there’s a good chance you’ll come across asbestos at some point. It was widely used in roofing materials, soffits, insulation boards, and pipework for decades, and although it’s now banned, many homes still contain it – often hidden beneath newer layers.
So what should you do if you find it? What are the risks, and are you covered by insurance?
Let’s break it down.
Why Is Asbestos So Dangerous?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre that was widely used in construction from the 1950s until it was fully banned in the UK in 1999. It was prized for its strength, fire resistance, and insulating properties – but it came with a deadly cost.
When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed, tiny fibres are released into the air. When inhaled, these fibres can lodge in the lungs and cause serious, often fatal illnesses many years later. These include:
- Asbestosis: A scarring of the lung tissue that causes chronic breathing difficulties.
- Lung cancer: Particularly dangerous in people with long-term exposure.
- Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs or abdomen. It is almost always caused by asbestos exposure.
- Pleural thickening: A condition that affects the lining of the lung, causing breathlessness and chest pain.
The danger lies in how easily the fibres can be disturbed during construction or renovation work. Once airborne, they are virtually invisible and can remain in the air for hours. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that over 5,000 people die each year in the UK due to asbestos-related illnesses – many of them tradespeople like roofers.
Where Roofers Might Find Asbestos
Asbestos was commonly used in a variety of roofing materials and components, including:
- Corrugated asbestos-cement roofing sheets (often on garages and outbuildings)
- Roof tiles, slates, and underlay
- Bitumen-based roof felts
- Roof lining boards or insulation boards under flat roofs
- Soffits, fascias, and rainwater goods (gutters and downpipes)
- Chimney flues and boiler flue pipes
It can be bonded with cement, hidden behind other materials, or even painted over—so it’s not always obvious.
What To Do If You Discover (or Suspect) Asbestos on a Job
1. Stop Work Immediately
If you uncover material that you suspect contains asbestos, halt the job immediately. Continuing to drill, cut, or remove it could release hazardous fibres into the air.
2. Avoid Touching or Disturbing the Material
Do not break it apart, move it, or attempt to bag it up. Even minor damage can release fibres.
3.Inform the Property Owner or Site Manager
Let them know straight away. If they’re not aware of it, they’ll need to arrange a proper survey to confirm whether it is asbestos and what type it is.
4. Get a Professional Survey
Only a UKAS-accredited asbestos surveyor can legally confirm the presence and type of asbestos. They can assess the risk and advise what needs to happen next.
5. Use a Licensed Contractor for Removal
Some lower-risk asbestos materials (like intact cement sheets) can be removed by a trained but non-licensed contractor. However, any work on friable (easily crumbled) asbestos or large quantities must be done by a fully licensed asbestos removal specialist.
Are You Covered by Insurance If You Discover Asbestos?
The answer is – not always. Many standard roofing insurance policies do not automatically include cover for asbestos-related risks, especially if you are not trained to deal with it.
At Construction Insure, we always make sure that roofers have the right protection based on the age of the properties they typically work on.
Insurance cover you may need:
- Public Liability Insurance with asbestos-related extensions
Protects you if asbestos is disturbed during your work and someone claims for injury, illness, or property contamination. - Employers’ Liability Insurance
Required by law if you employ staff or subcontractors. Covers claims from workers exposed to asbestos on your site. - Contract Works Insurance
Protects the work in progress, including delays or damage caused by asbestos-related discoveries. - Professional Indemnity Insurance
If you provide advice, manage a project, or oversee subcontractors, this can cover claims related to advice that leads to exposure or mishandling of asbestos.
If you don’t have the right policy in place, you could be personally liable for remediation costs, legal claims, and penalties from the HSE.
Real-World Example: Roofing Contractor Fined for Mishandling Asbestos
In 2022, a roofer working on a domestic garage in Birmingham removed asbestos roofing sheets without any safety precautions. The asbestos debris was left in open builders’ bags and placed in a general waste skip. After a neighbour complained, the HSE investigated and found multiple breaches of asbestos regulations.
The roofer was fined over £3,000 and had to pay additional clean-up and disposal costs.
If the roofer had stopped work and followed the proper process, these penalties—and the risk to their health – could have been avoided.
Protect Yourself and Your Business
If you work on roofs, garages, soffits, or chimneys in older buildings, it’s not a matter of if you’ll come across asbestos, but when. The key is to be prepared:
- Get asbestos awareness training (mandatory for trades working on pre-2000 buildings)
- Review your insurance policies to ensure asbestos-related risks are covered
- Never attempt removal without proper training and PPE
- Log and report asbestos finds properly to protect your legal position
How Construction Insure Can Help
We specialise in insurance for roofers and other high-risk trades. Whether you’re a sole trader or run a roofing business with a full team, we’ll make sure your policy covers the risks that really matter – including asbestos.
We can help with:
- Roofing Public Liability Insurance (including asbestos extensions)
- Employers’ Liability Cover
- Tools, plant, and equipment insurance
- Contract Works and site risk cover
We’ll also help you stay compliant with regulations, explain your policy in plain English, and give you peace of mind when working on older buildings.
Need to check if your current policy covers asbestos risk?
Get in touch today for a no-obligation review and expert advice tailored to your roofing business.