Fibro homes in the west

After the Second World War, fibro cement sheeting was a quick and affordable way to build. Across Sunshine, Braybrook, Albion, St Albans, Ardeer and Altona North, whole streets of fibro homes went up on timber stumps. Many are still standing, and many still sit on their original stumps.

Those stumps are now old, and the reactive basalt clay underneath has been working on them for decades. Reblocking is often the fix. But before anyone starts work, there is one thing every owner of an older fibro home should think about: asbestos.

Why asbestos matters

Fibro cement sheeting made in Australia before the late 1980s may contain asbestos. When it is intact and left alone, it is generally considered low risk. When it is cut, drilled, broken or sanded, fibres can be released into the air, and breathing them in can cause serious illness years later.

You cannot tell whether fibro contains asbestos just by looking at it. The only way to know is to have a sample tested.

Does reblocking disturb fibro?

Most of the time, reblocking happens under the floor and does not involve the walls. New stumps go in, the house is lowered and packed to level, and the cladding is left alone. In many fibro homes, the walls are never touched.

There are some situations where fibro can come into play:

Base sheeting around the bottom of the walls that needs to come off for access.
Fibro under the house, such as old offcuts, packing or sheeting left behind by previous builders.
Wet area linings inside, which can crack if the floor moves a lot during re-levelling.
Eaves and other sheeting that may be affected if the house moves significantly.

Get it tested first

If there is any chance that fibro will be disturbed, the safest step is to have it tested before work starts. A licensed asbestos assessor or a suitably qualified person can take samples and arrange laboratory testing. If asbestos is found, any removal must be done according to Victoria's rules, and some work can only be done by a licensed asbestos removalist.

We are not asbestos removalists. When we inspect a fibro home, we look at where sheeting might be affected and tell you if testing is a good idea. Where we can, we plan the reblock so that fibro is not disturbed at all.

Planning a reblock around fibro

On most fibro homes, careful planning means the walls stay untouched:

Access through existing openings, such as the subfloor hatch or gaps in the base.
Working from inside the subfloor rather than removing sheeting.
Lifting slowly during re-levelling to reduce stress on wall and ceiling linings.
Leaving fibro offcuts in place and flagging them for testing rather than moving them.

What else to look for

Fibro homes often have other subfloor issues worth checking at the same time:

Rotten stumps and bearers under bathrooms and laundries.
Owner-built additions on lighter stumps.
Poor ventilation where base sheeting has been fitted without vents.
Leaks from old plumbing.

Keeping the house

Many owners in the west are keeping their fibro homes rather than knocking them down. A sound frame on new stumps can give a fibro house many more years, and it can be extended or reclad later. Knowing what is in the walls, and planning around it, is part of doing that safely.

Who does what

It helps to be clear about roles. We assess the subfloor, plan and carry out the reblock, and tell you if sheeting is likely to be disturbed. An asbestos assessor or other qualified person can sample and test material. A licensed removalist handles removal where it is needed. Keeping those jobs separate, and in the right order, keeps everyone on site safe and avoids delays halfway through the reblock.

A sensible first step

If you own an older fibro home and the floors are starting to slope, start with an inspection. We will look under the house, take level readings and tell you whether any sheeting is likely to be affected. If testing is needed, it can be arranged before the job is booked.

Reblocking a Fibro House: Checking for Asbestos First