Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. The risk of contracting these diseases increases with the number of fibres inhaled and the risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibres is also greater if you smoke. People who get health problems from inhaling asbestos have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos. Then it is too late.

Inside my house:
Bonded materials containing asbestos were often used inside houses for wall sheeting, particularly in ‘wet’ areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, toilet and laundry (eg. the glazed patterned panels around showers and baths that are held in with screws). They were also used as ceiling sheeting. Asbestos might also be found bonded in plaster patching compounds, textured paint, switchboards and vinyl floor tiles / sheet.

Loosely bound materials containing asbestos might be found in a few older forms of insulation used in domestic heaters and stoves. Asbestos-felt was used as a backing for many vinyl and linoleum sheet floorings and does not pose a health risk while it remains undisturbed. However, these materials become loose when the floor covering is damaged or removed. Asbestos-felt vinyl flooring and other forms of loose asbestos must only be removed by an asbestos removal business that holds an A class certificate.

Outside my house:
Externally, bonded materials containing asbestos were commonly used for roof sheeting (Super Six) and capping, guttering, gables, eaves/soffits, water pipes and flues, wall sheeting, flexible building boards and imitation (false) brick cladding. They have also been used for fencing and building car ports, garages, bungalows, outhouses, garden surrounds, thunderboxes and sheds.

As mentioned before, bonded materials containing asbestos are the most common asbestos materials in domestic houses. They are not dangerous if they are in good condition (ie. undamaged, undisturbed, painted, sealed). Loosely bound asbestos materials are not common in domestic houses – although there are some recorded cases here in Victoria.

No. Since 31 December 2003, asbestos and all products containing asbestos have been banned throughout Australia. It is illegal to import, store, supply, sell, install, use or re-use these materials. The ban does not apply to asbestos installed prior to this date (eg. asbestos in houses)

Asbestos has not been used in domestic building materials since the 1980s. Cellulose fibres are now used instead of asbestos in building materials and non-asbestos fibres.

You are unlikely to be covered for accidents involving asbestos, whether you are undertaking DIY with a standard Home and Contents policy or as an Owner-Builder with additional insurances for the job.

You do not necessarily have to avoid purchasing a home if it contains asbestos. Asbestos can be removed safely when done by a professional. You can usually get an estimate from asbestos removal professionals and, from there, you can decide if the home is still worth purchasing