Super 6 Roofing

Common Questions About Super 6 Roofing

What is Super 6 roofing?

Super 6 is a type of corrugated asbestos-cement roofing widely used in New Zealand from the 1940s through to the 1980s. It was commonly installed on homes, farm buildings, sheds, and industrial buildings because of its strength and durability.

The sheets are thicker and stronger than standard corrugated fibre-cement roofing and often have a distinctive textured surface.

Does Super 6 roofing contain asbestos?

Most Super 6 roofing installed before the mid-1980s contains asbestos fibres within the cement sheet.

These fibres are bound within the cement matrix and are generally not considered hazardous unless the material is disturbed and fibres become airborne.

How do I know if my roof is Super 6?

Super 6 roofing is a type of corrugated asbestos-cement sheet widely used in New Zealand from the 1940s through to the 1980s.

It can often be identified by its larger corrugation profile and thicker sheet compared with standard corrugated roofing.

Super 6 sheets typically have:

✔ A deeper corrugated profile
✔ A thicker sheet edge than modern fibre-cement roofing
✔ A textured or dimpled surface
✔ Large overlapping sheets

If your roof was installed before the mid-1980s and has these characteristics, it may be Super 6 asbestos-cement roofing.

Because asbestos-containing materials can be difficult to identify visually, professional advice or testing may sometimes be required to confirm the roofing type.

Is it dangerous to have a Super 6 roof?

Undamaged asbestos-cement roofing is generally considered low risk when it remains intact and undisturbed.

Problems can occur when the surface deteriorates, cracks, or is disturbed by drilling, cutting, or abrasive cleaning methods.

For this reason many older roofs are managed using encapsulation systems rather than removal.

Can a Super 6 roof be painted?

Yes, but it must be done correctly, just paint alone will not solve the problem. In fact incorrectly painting may make it harder and more expensive to rectify.

Because asbestos-cement sheets are porous and weathered over time, specialised encapsulation systems are used. These systems include penetrating primers and high-build coatings designed to stabilise the surface and create a durable protective barrier.

What is asbestos roof encapsulation?

Encapsulation is the process of applying specialised coatings that seal and stabilise the asbestos surface.

The coating system binds surface fibres, protects the roof from weathering, and creates a protective barrier without disturbing the existing sheets.

Encapsulation is commonly used as a practical alternative to full roof removal.

How long does an encapsulated roof last?

When properly prepared and coated, encapsulation systems can significantly extend the service life of an asbestos-cement roof.

The longevity depends on factors such as roof condition, environment, and ongoing maintenance.

Can Super 6 roofs be cleaned?

Yes, but abrasive cleaning methods should never be used.

✖ Water blasting, grinding, or sanding can damage the surface and release asbestos fibres.

Cleaning is normally done using chemical treatments and gentle washing methods to remove moss, mould, and contamination.

Is roof replacement always necessary?

Not always.

If the sheets remain structurally sound, encapsulation systems can stabilise the surface and extend the life of the roof while avoiding the cost and disruption of full roof replacement.

Is the Triple-Lock system water-based?

Yes. The system uses water-based coatings that can be spray applied using standard airless equipment. This allows for easier application and simple clean-up using water rather than solvents, while still providing the high-build protective coating required for encapsulation.

Can the encapsulation system be applied with a normal spray gun?

The coating system is typically applied using professional airless spray equipment designed for high-build coatings.

Because the membrane layer is applied at a high film thickness, the coatings are heavier than standard roof paints and require the correct spray setup to achieve even coverage and the specified film build.

Airless spray equipment with the appropriate tip size and pressure ensures the coatings are applied consistently across the roof surface.

Why is a thick coating important for asbestos encapsulation?

Encapsulation systems rely on building a protective coating barrier over the asbestos-cement surface.

Applying the coating at the specified film thickness ensures the system can:

✔ Properly seal the roof surface
✔ Provide durable waterproof protection
✔ Stabilise ageing asbestos sheets
✔ Protect the roof from long-term weather exposure

A thicker elastomeric membrane also helps bridge minor surface cracks and provides greater durability compared with thin paint coatings.

Will the coating stop asbestos fibres being released?

Encapsulation systems are designed to stabilise and seal the surface of asbestos-cement roofing.

The penetrating primer helps bind surface fibres, while the high-build coating system forms a protective barrier across the roof surface. This helps reduce the likelihood of fibres being released due to weathering or surface deterioration.

Encapsulation allows asbestos-cement roofing to be managed in place without disturbing the existing sheets.

All work involving asbestos-containing materials must be carried out in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016.

Why is white the recommended colour for asbestos roofs?

White or light-coloured coatings are recommended because they reflect more of the sun’s heat compared with darker colours.

By reflecting sunlight, the roof surface absorbs less heat, which helps reduce the amount of expansion and contraction that occurs in the asbestos-cement sheets during temperature changes.

Reducing this movement can help minimise the rubbing of overlapping roof sheets and reduce surface wear over time.

Light-coloured coatings can also help keep the building cooler by reflecting a portion of the sun’s radiant heat.