Old roofing is one of the first things a renovation or a demolition produces, and sellers often assume it is all scrap steel. It may not be. Cement sheeting that looks a lot like corrugated iron from the ground can contain asbestos, and that changes everything about what you do next. This guide covers the check you make first, what we could find on selling steel roofing as scrap and what to ask a yard. The sources on asbestos are government and council material, and the sources on scrap yards were thin, so we say where we found nothing. It is not instructions for handling asbestos, and we give no prices. ScrapTrade runs a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.
Check for asbestos first
The WA health department's guidance says a roof is likely to be asbestos cement if it is cement-like sheeting, was erected before 1990 and has the typical visual features. Appearance alone is not reliable: a NSW council brochure says the most accurate way to find out whether fibro contains asbestos is to have a licensed asbestos removal contractor inspect and test it, and that you cannot tell by looking. Asbestos cement sheeting is typically greyish unless painted or weathered, about 7 mm thick and corrugated. Metal roofing such as Colorbond is the usual non-asbestos alternative. A forum commenter's rule of thumb, that sheet which bends is iron because asbestos sheet would break, is anecdotal and we would not rely on it.
Only licensed contractors may legally remove asbestos roofing, with significant penalties for unlicensed work, according to the sources, and licence classes differ: a Class B licence covers non-friable asbestos including cement sheet roofing. Do not cut, drill, break or scrap a roof you cannot confirm. Asbestos cement is not scrap metal, and a mixed or doubtful load should be tested and removed by a licensed contractor before anything goes to a yard. Your state regulator, such as SafeWork or WorkSafe, can confirm the rules.
Selling steel roofing
Steel roofing is generally recyclable. One page says steel roofing, including many Colorbond and Zincalume products, is commonly sent to scrap metal recyclers, though the page looked like a low-quality blog and we would check with a yard. We found no Australian yard policy on accepting roofing iron, painted sheets or minimum quantities, and one source warns that recycling arrangements vary and you should not assume a recycling credit applies. So ask. Our guide to scrapping copper pipe shows the same logic for another metal: clean, sorted material is the easier sale.
Sorting a roof strip-out
A roof comes off with more than sheets. In our reading, expect:
- Sheeting. Steel, which a yard may price as light iron or steel.
- Ridge capping, flashings and gutters. Often steel or aluminium, and sometimes lead or copper, which have their own values. Our guide to scrap aluminium prices covers aluminium.
- Fasteners, insulation and timber battens. Not scrap metal. Keep them out of the pile.
- Downpipes and fittings. Check each for the metal.
Sorting into piles before you go means each pile is graded by its metal, and a mixed pile is likely to be priced at the lowest rate.
Questions to ask a yard
- Do you take roofing iron, and do you want it painted or bare?
- Do you need it flattened, cut to length or bundled?
- What do you do about suspect asbestos? Most yards will not take it, and you should expect to be asked.
- What identification and records do you need? Dealer rules differ by state, as our guide to scrapping copper cable outlines.
- Do you collect large loads?
Where ScrapTrade fits
Offcuts from one shed belong at the local yard. A roofer, a builder or a demolition crew with a quantity of sorted steel sheet, aluminium and copper flashings might try the marketplace: listing is free with no commission, price and terms are agreed live in chat and an accepted bid puts the buyer's 5 percent deposit in escrow. Businesses and individuals can sell after verification, and buyers in more than 50 countries bid. Whether roofing sheet is accepted, how it is graded and how asbestos would be dealt with are things we could not confirm, so ask cs@scraptrade.com.au first.
What we could not verify
- What a yard pays for roofing iron. We give no prices.
- Any Australian yard's policy on roofing, paint or quantities.
- How to test a roof yourself. The sources say to use a licensed contractor.
- Whether ScrapTrade accepts sheet roofing.
Frequently asked questions
Is old corrugated iron worth scrapping?
Steel roofing is recyclable, and we found no Australian price, so ask a yard.
How do I know if a roof has asbestos?
You cannot tell by looking. Pre-1990 cement sheeting is the main risk, and a licensed contractor should inspect and test it.
Can I scrap an asbestos roof?
No. It is not scrap metal, and only licensed contractors may remove it.
Do yards take Colorbond?
It is commonly sent to scrap recyclers, according to one source. Ask your yard.
Can I list roofing on ScrapTrade?
Verified sellers can list scrap. Ask support about sheet roofing.
Sources
- WA Department of Health guidance on asbestos cement roofs, a NSW council fibro brochure, the Asbestos Safety website and licensed-contractor pages, as summarised in search results.
- A page on steel roofing and scrap recyclers, which looked like a low-quality blog, as summarised in search results.
- ScrapTrade website, accessed November 2026.
General information only, not safety or legal advice. If you suspect asbestos, do not disturb it and consult a licensed professional.