In short
We work in all nine municipalities of the Sierra de las Nieves comarca, including Ojén, Istán, Monda, Guaro, Tolox, Yunquera, Alozaina, Casarabonela and El Burgo. The asbestos-containing material is removed by a company registered in the RERA working as our subcontractor; we coordinate it and handle the rest of the demolition and the clean-up. In a protected mountain landscape, keeping every fragment contained is the priority.
The Sierra de las Nieves comarca: where we work
The Sierra de las Nieves comarca groups nine municipalities: Alozaina, Casarabonela, El Burgo, Guaro, Istán, Monda, Ojén, Tolox and Yunquera. The range itself is part of the Penibaetic System and reaches 1,919 m at La Torrecilla; its core was declared a natural park in 1989 and a biosphere reserve in 1995.
For owners the comarca has two faces. Ojén and Istán sit a short drive from Marbella and have many villas and country homes owned by foreign residents, while Tolox, Yunquera, El Burgo and Casarabonela are more rural, with village houses, small farms and outbuildings. Monda, Guaro and Alozaina fall somewhere in between, with fincas on the edge of the Guadalhorce side.
Typical fibre-cement situations in hill villas and rural homes
What we find depends on the kind of property:
- Villas in Ojén and Istán built or extended a few decades ago: fibre-cement under a garage or terrace roof, water tanks in a loft or on a technical roof, and old downpipes.
- Country houses and fincas: corrugated roofs on stores, tool sheds, chicken houses and covered parking areas.
- Village houses in Tolox, Yunquera or El Burgo: lean-to roofs over back patios and fibre-cement water tanks from before mains water.
- Irrigation and water installations: old pipes and small reservoirs on terraced plots.
Water tanks and pipes are often the forgotten item, because they are out of sight; our page on asbestos pipes and tanks explains how they are dealt with.
Working carefully in karst terrain and a protected landscape
The Sierra de las Nieves is a karst massif with numerous shafts and caves. That makes one rule especially important: broken pieces of fibre-cement must never be buried, tipped into a ravine or left on the plot. Every sheet, fragment and piece of pipe is collected, wrapped and taken away with the rest of the asbestos waste (LER code 17 06 05*), which is never mixed with other rubble and is delivered to an authorised manager.
On the plot itself, the subcontractor's work plan sets how the area is marked off, how the material is kept damp and handled without breaking it, and how the waste is packed. Our part is to make sure nothing else on site – demolition of the structure, rubble, access – gets in the way of that plan.
From the first photos to a clean site
Many enquiries for Ojén and Istán come from owners living abroad or in Marbella part of the year. The usual route is simple: you send photos and the location, we visit with you or your representative, and the RERA-registered subcontractor prepares the work plan for approval by the labour authority of the province before the removal starts. We then carry out any demolition around it and leave the site clean, with photos at each step.
If the building work goes further – a store to be pulled down, a house to be partly demolished – check with the ayuntamiento whether a declaración responsable or a licence applies; each town hall sets its own documents. Our sister site covers general demolition in the Sierra de las Nieves. For the asbestos work, start with uralita roof removal, uralita removal or our overview of asbestos removal.
Services
Uralita roof removal on villas, garages and porches
Uralita roofs on villas, garages, carports and porches removed by a RERA-registered subcontractor and coordinated with the new roof.
Removing asbestos pipes and fibre-cement water tanks
Fibre-cement water tanks, downpipes, chimney flues and buried asbestos pipes removed safely, with the surrounding work handled by us.
Uralita removal for villas, apartments and overseas owners
All the uralita on a villa, apartment or finca removed in one coordinated job, with a single English-speaking contact and photos.
Asbestos removal and disposal before a demolition
Asbestos removal and disposal ahead of a demolition: a RERA-registered subcontractor first, then our demolition and waste sorting.
Frequently asked questions
Do you cover both Ojén and Istán?
Yes. Ojén and Istán are both in the Sierra de las Nieves comarca and in our service area, together with Monda, Guaro, Tolox, Yunquera, Alozaina, Casarabonela and El Burgo.
Old uralita sheets were dumped at the back of my plot years ago. Can they be collected?
Yes. Loose or broken fibre-cement is collected and packed by the RERA-registered subcontractor as asbestos waste; it must never be buried or mixed with garden waste or rubble.
Can the water tank in my loft be removed without damaging the ceiling?
Usually, yes, but it depends on how it was installed and how it can be lowered. Send photos of the tank and of the loft access so the method can be planned.
Is the work done by a local company?
We are based in Marbella and coordinate the whole job; the asbestos phase is carried out by a company registered in the RERA working as our subcontractor.
How do I know whether my roof sheets contain asbestos?
Only a laboratory analysis of a sample confirms it. Until then, treat grey fibre-cement sheets as if they contained asbestos and do not cut, drill or clean them with a pressure washer.
Will I receive proof that the asbestos waste was disposed of properly?
Yes. The waste is delivered to an authorised manager and you receive the delivery receipts (justificantes de entrega) for your records.
Is a waste deposit required by the town hall?
The town hall may require a deposit or guarantee for construction waste, returned once delivery to an authorised manager is proven. The amount depends on the municipal ordinance.
Can I stay in the house during the removal of a garage roof?
Often yes, if the work area can be closed off as the work plan requires. This is discussed before the dates are set.
Is Real Decreto 396/2006 still in force?
No. It was repealed by Real Decreto 847/2026, which now regulates work with asbestos exposure.
Does the census oblige me to remove my uralita?
The law does not set a fixed date for private owners. It sets a 2028 horizon for higher-risk public buildings.