Asbestos Roof Encapsulation
South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire has one of the highest concentrations of asbestos cement roofing in England. The region's industrial expansion in the post-war decades produced thousands of factories, warehouses, and storage buildings roofed with corrugated asbestos cement sheets, at the time, the cheapest and most widely available large-span roofing material. Today, building owners across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, and Doncaster face the cost and regulatory challenge of managing this legacy safely. Encapsulation is the approved, cost-effective solution for the majority of these buildings.

Asbestos cement roof encapsulation involves a multi-stage process. First, a comprehensive asbestos survey establishes the condition of the sheets and confirms that the material is in a condition suitable for encapsulation rather than removal. The sheets are then cleaned with specialist biocide treatments to remove biological growth, the surface is prepared by specialist pressure washing and priming, and a reinforced liquid encapsulation coating is applied in two coats over the entire roof surface, sealing all asbestos fibres securely in place and providing full waterproofing performance. The result is a fully encapsulated, weathertight roof that is HSE-compliant and safe for the duration of the 20-year guarantee period.

The cost advantage of encapsulation over removal is substantial for South Yorkshire building owners. Licensed asbestos removal involves hazmat-rated contractors, full site segregation, air monitoring, specialist disposal at licensed facilities, and then complete re-roofing after the removal, a process that can cost £50 to £80 per square metre for a straightforward single-ply replacement, or significantly more for a premium system. Encapsulation typically costs £15 to £30 per square metre and delivers a 20-year guaranteed result without the disruption, regulatory burden, or waste management costs of full removal. For buildings that are not being demolished, encapsulation is almost always the correct choice.

Our encapsulation teams are trained to work safely with asbestos-containing materials in line with current Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 requirements. We carry comprehensive public liability insurance for asbestos work and work in close coordination with asbestos consultants and the building owner's duty holder to ensure full regulatory compliance throughout the project. Post-completion, we provide full documentation including method statements, risk assessments, site records, and the guarantee certificate.