The short answer
Soffits on houses built before 2000 can contain asbestos. They’re usually one of two materials. Asbestos cement soffits are normally non-licensed work. Asbestos insulating board (AIB) soffits usually need a contractor holding an HSE licence. You can’t reliably tell them apart by eye, so test first.
Soffits, fascias and what’s what
The fascia is the board along the edge of the roof that the gutter fixes to. The soffit is the flat board underneath, between the fascia and the wall. Fascias are usually timber. Soffits are where asbestos boards were most often used, along with panels under windows and porch canopies.
Cement vs insulating board
Asbestos cement is dense and hard, with a relatively low asbestos content held in a cement matrix. HSE treats careful work on it, including removal without breaking it up, as non-licensed work.
Asbestos insulating board is softer, lighter and more absorbent, and it releases fibres more easily when damaged. HSE says “most work on asbestos insulating boards” needs a licensed contractor (HSE). Only short, minor tasks on AIB can be done without a licence.
This is why the test matters. The same-looking soffit could be a job for a non-licensed contractor or a licensed one, with a big difference in method and cost.
Testing first
A sample from each type of board, taken carefully and analysed by an accredited laboratory, will tell you the material and the asbestos type. Different parts of the house, such as an extension or a porch, may use different boards, so they may each need a sample. See asbestos testing.
Don’t break off a piece yourself with pliers. Drilling or snapping AIB releases fibres.
How cement soffits are removed
For cement, the approach follows HSE’s non-licensed methods: wet the boards, remove fixings carefully, take each board down whole, wrap it in polythene, and dispose of it as hazardous waste. Work at height needs safe access, such as a scaffold tower. The work area below is kept clear.
How AIB soffits are removed
AIB removal is licensable in most cases. It must be done by a contractor holding an HSE licence, notified to the enforcing authority at least 14 days before work starts, and carried out with stricter controls. Before you hire anyone for licensed work, check them on the list of current licence holders linked from HSE’s licensable work page. Licences last up to three years, so check the current list rather than an old certificate. See licensed asbestos removal.
Guttering, downpipes and porch canopies
Soffits are rarely the only cement product on a roofline. Older gutters and downpipes can be asbestos cement too, and so can porch canopies and panels under windows. If you’re replacing the roofline, have each of these checked at the same time. HSE’s Asbestos essentials sheets include non-licensed methods for removing cement gutters, and for a cement panel beside or beneath a window.
Replacing with uPVC
Once the old boards are out, most people fit new uPVC soffits and fascias, which need little maintenance. Covering the old boards with uPVC is sometimes offered too. If you go that way, the asbestos stays in place behind the new boards and fitters still need to know about it before they drill or fix through it. Record it for the future.
Book the asbestos work before the roofline fitter, so they start on a clean opening.
Quick answers
Are all old soffits asbestos?
No. Many are timber or other materials. A sample test is the only reliable way to know.
Can a roofer remove asbestos soffits?
A trained roofer can remove cement soffits as non-licensed work. AIB soffits usually need an HSE-licensed contractor.
Can I cover asbestos soffits with uPVC?
It is sometimes done. The asbestos stays behind, so keep a record for anyone who works on it later.
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.