The short answer
Most garage roofs made of asbestos cement sheets can be taken off as non-licensed work, so the job is usually a day or less for a small team. Price guides we checked put a single garage roof somewhere between about £350 and £1,300 and a double between about £650 and £1,800, before any new roof goes on.
These are other companies’ figures, not ours. We price every job individually after seeing photos or the site, because size, access and the state of the sheets vary a lot. If you want a firm number, ask us for a quote.
What published price guides say
We opened each of these pages ourselves when we checked in October 2026. None of them says whether VAT is included, so check that on any quote you get.
| Source (page date) | Single garage roof | Double garage roof | Other figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| BestBuilders’ garage roof guide (22 August 2026) | £450–£900 strip and disposal | £800–£1,600 | £25–£50 per m², £15–£35 per sheet, disposal £80–£250 |
| MyBuilder’s asbestos removal price guide (21 August 2026) | £350–£1,295 | £650–£1,800 | Whole garage including sides £1,100–£3,750 |
| MyJobQuote’s roof removal cost guide (9 September 2026) | £400–£900 | £750–£1,400 | Single roof 3–6 hours, double about a day |
BestBuilders also says London prices run about 20–30% above its UK figures and the wider South East about 10–20% above. That matches what you’d expect from parking, congestion charges, travel time and tip costs, but treat it as their estimate.
What changes the price
- Size. A double garage has roughly twice the sheets, so more labour, more wrapping and more waste. Some firms price per square metre or per sheet.
- Single or double, attached or detached. A garage joined to the house, or one with a lean-to, can need more care around gutters, flashings and walls.
- Access. A garage at the end of a narrow alley, behind a terrace or with no parking nearby takes longer. Sheets may have to be carried further.
- Condition of the sheets. Sound sheets can be unbolted and lowered whole. Brittle, cracked or fire-damaged sheets take more time, and if they will be substantially broken up the work can become notifiable (see below).
- Other materials. Gutters, downpipes, a cement soffit or a fascia board add to the job. If insulating board or lagging is also present, that part may need a contractor holding an HSE licence.
- Disposal. Asbestos waste has to go to a permitted site, and gate fees are charged by weight or load. Some quotes include this, others list it separately.
- VAT. Ask whether the price is with or without VAT. The guides above don’t say.
Re-roofing is a separate cost
Taking the old roof off and putting a new one on are two different jobs. Many quotes for “asbestos garage roof replacement” bundle them, which makes comparisons hard. Ask for the removal and the new roof to be priced on separate lines.
For a rough idea, BestBuilders’ garage roof guide gave £1,400–£2,800 to remove a single garage roof and replace it with steel box-profile sheets, and £2,400–£4,500 for a double, when we checked in October 2026. The type of new roof (steel, EPDM rubber, bitumen sheets or felt) changes this a lot. Check whether the timber purlins or rafters need replacing too, because they are often tired on older garages.
Is it licensed work?
Usually not. HSE lists removing asbestos cement that is handled carefully without breaking it up as non-licensed work, and HSE task sheet A14 covers removing cement sheets and dismantling a small cement structure. That work still needs a risk assessment, trained operatives, damping down, suitable RPE and correct waste handling.
If the sheets will be substantially damaged or broken up, for example after a fire, a storm or a partial collapse, HSE says the job becomes notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW). The contractor must then notify the enforcing authority before starting and keep health records. Our guide to licensed and non-licensed work explains the three categories.
What a proper quote should include
- What is being removed: the roof sheets only, or gutters, downpipes, ridge pieces and fixings too.
- Whether the price includes waste wrapping, transport and the tip’s gate fee.
- A hazardous waste consignment note. For asbestos from a home, the contractor is named as the producer and your address is recorded on the note.
- The waste carrier registration number of whoever takes the waste away.
- What happens to the timber frame and any felt underneath, and whether the area is cleaned up at the end.
- Whether the price includes VAT, and whether a new roof is included or quoted separately.
- Any testing: some firms take a sample first if nobody knows whether the sheets contain asbestos.
Why a very cheap quote is a warning sign
Disposal is one of the real costs of the job. Licensed tips charge for asbestos, and the waste has to be double-wrapped, labelled and carried by a registered carrier. If a price looks far below everyone else’s, ask where the waste is going.
BestBuilders’ garage roof guide says a single garage strip and disposal priced well below £300 suggests legal disposal is being skipped. Fly-tipped asbestos is a real problem, and HSE publishes guidance (A38) on dealing with it. If your waste turns up in a lay-by, you will want proof that you used a registered carrier and got a consignment note. You can check a carrier on the public register of waste carriers.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is this non-licensed work, and how do you know? Have you seen the sheets or photos?
- Are your operatives trained for non-licensed asbestos work, and what RPE will they wear?
- How will you get onto the roof without standing on the sheets? Cement roofs are fragile.
- Where will the waste go, and will I get a copy of the consignment note?
- What is your waste carrier registration number?
- Is VAT included? Is the new roof included or separate?
- What happens if you find other materials, such as insulating board?
Our contractor checklist goes into more detail.
Can I take it off myself?
HSE’s advice to householders is not to repair or remove asbestos yourself unless you are trained for the work. A garage roof also means working at height on a surface that won’t hold your weight. HSE’s task sheets say plainly that cement roofs “are always fragile and cannot bear weight”. If you are thinking about it anyway, read can I remove asbestos myself? first, and check with your local council about what it will accept.
Quick answers
How long does it take?
MyJobQuote’s roof removal cost guide puts a single garage roof at 3–6 hours and a double at about a day (when we checked in October 2026). Access and the state of the sheets change this.
Do I need a survey first?
Not usually for a garage roof on its own. If you’re unsure what the sheets are, a single sample sent to a lab will tell you. A survey makes more sense if the garage is being demolished or other materials are involved.
Is disposal included?
It depends on the firm. Ask for a price that includes wrapping, transport, the tip’s gate fee and a consignment note.
Will you give me a fixed price?
We quote each job individually after seeing photos or the site. Ask us for a quote.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For the law itself, see the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE’s asbestos pages. Not sure what you’re dealing with? Ask us.