Balaclava has plenty of pre-1990 houses and older walk-up flats where asbestos can be hiding in eaves, wet areas and old vinyl flooring—especially before any renovation or repair work.
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We visually assess eaves linings, soffits, gable ends and external wall cladding that may be asbestos cement sheeting in pre-1990 construction. These areas are commonly disturbed during gutter replacement, painting, downlight installs and roof maintenance, so identifying them early reduces the risk of fibre release.
We inspect accessible wall and ceiling linings in wet areas for asbestos-era fibre cement, including behind access panels where possible. Wet-area upgrades are common in Balaclava, and demolition or re-sheeting can disturb bonded asbestos if it’s present.
We look for older vinyl tiles, sheet vinyl and likely asbestos-backed underlays in accessible areas and note where newer flooring may be laid over older layers. This matters for sanding, grinding, adhesive removal and floor-level changes during renovations.
We visually assess accessible garages, sheds and older fencing panels for asbestos cement products commonly used decades ago. These are often overlooked during purchase checks but can be disturbed during storage fit-outs, partial demolitions or boundary works.
We identify likely ACMs near penetrations such as plumbing and electrical entries, older meter board surrounds and areas where trades typically cut openings. Even if the main material is stable, disturbance points are where fibres can be released if not managed correctly.
We record the apparent condition of suspected materials (intact, weathered, damaged) and explain what that means for day-to-day use, rental management and renovation timing. You’ll get practical recommendations on leaving materials undisturbed, encapsulation options, and when to arrange sampling or removal.
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Get Visual Asbestos Survey as part of a comprehensive inspection package
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our inspection service.
A visual survey is the best starting point because it identifies where asbestos is likely to be and which areas are most at risk of being disturbed. However, it can’t confirm asbestos without laboratory testing. If you’re planning to remove walls, replace eaves, renovate bathrooms, or strip flooring in a Balaclava property built before 1990, we’ll advise where sampling and testing is worth doing before work begins.
We inspect accessible internal and external areas for materials consistent with asbestos-era products, including eaves, external cladding, wet-area linings, older flooring layers, garages/sheds and other fibre-cement components. We also pay attention to likely disturbance points such as service penetrations where trades commonly cut or drill. The survey is non-destructive, so we don’t remove finishes or cut samples unless separately arranged.
Yes. We can survey the unit itself and note suspected asbestos within accessible areas of the lot, such as bathrooms, laundries, balcony soffits and older flooring. For common property items (for example, shared eaves, stairwells, plant rooms or external cladding), access and permission usually sit with the owners corporation. We can outline what we observed and recommend what the strata manager should investigate further.
It can happen, particularly where newer linings or floors have been installed over older layers to save time. That doesn’t automatically create a problem if the suspected asbestos material is intact and left undisturbed, but it can become an issue when later works cut into those layers. A visual survey helps you understand what may be underneath and where careful planning, testing or licensed removal may be required.
A visual asbestos survey identifies materials that look like asbestos-containing products based on age, appearance and typical use in pre-1990 buildings. Asbestos testing involves taking a physical sample and having it analysed by a laboratory to confirm if asbestos fibres are present. Many clients in Balaclava start with a visual survey to map likely areas, then choose targeted testing for renovation-critical items.
Still have questions?
Contact us for more informationACE Building and Pest Inspections will identify suspected asbestos materials common in pre-1990 Balaclava properties and explain practical next steps. Call 0413 163 187 to organise your survey.