Repair, restore or replace? Start with what you can see
| What you are seeing | Usually means | Read next |
|---|---|---|
| One drip after a storm, roof otherwise sound | A targeted repair: a cracked tile, a lifted sheet or a failed flashing | Roof repairs |
| Faded, porous concrete tiles but solid battens | Restoration may buy time; a re-tile or steel conversion if the tiles are crumbling | Restoration vs replacement |
| Rust through the sheets, not just on the paint | Metal roof replacement; patching rusted iron rarely lasts | Metal roof replacement |
| Leaks in several rooms, or the same leak back again | Usually time to replace the roof covering and what sits under it | Signs you need a new roof |
| Fibro-style sheeting on a pre-1990 house | Possible asbestos cement; leave it alone and get it assessed | Asbestos roofs |
| Hail or a fallen branch has opened the roof | Make it watertight, photograph everything, then talk to the insurer | Storm-damaged roofs |
Roof replacement in Brisbane, in plain terms
Roof Replacement Brisbane connects homeowners, landlords and building managers with independent local roofing contractors who replace roofs across Greater Brisbane. That covers stripping old galvanised iron off a Queenslander, converting a tired concrete tile roof to steel, re-tiling a terracotta bungalow, replacing an asbestos cement roof with help from a licensed removalist, and getting a hail-damaged roof watertight before the insurer's assessor arrives. Every quote follows an inspection, and the scope is written down so you can compare it with any other quote you get.
Why Brisbane roofs wear out the way they do
A Brisbane roof works hard. Summer brings heavy storms with hail and strong downdraughts, often late in the afternoon, and rain that falls faster than old gutters and undersized downpipes can carry it away. The rest of the year is warm and humid, so moisture lingers in roof spaces and under laps. Strong UV breaks down paint, sealants and tile coatings. Closer to the bay, salt in the air speeds up corrosion on fixings, flashings and unpainted steel.
None of that means every old roof needs to come off. Plenty of leaks trace back to one cracked tile, a blocked valley or a flashing that has pulled away from a wall. A good inspection separates those from roofs that really are finished: iron rusting through at the laps, battens that have rotted, tiles that have turned porous, or a roof that has been patched so many times the patches are leaking.
What a proper roof replacement includes
The visible roof is only part of the job. When the old covering comes off, the contractor checks the battens and the frame, replaces anything rotten, and lays a foil blanket or sarking that helps with heat and condensation. Then the new sheets or tiles go on, followed by ridge capping, valleys, flashings around chimneys and walls, and sealing at every pipe, vent and skylight. Gutters, fascia and downpipes are often renewed at the same time, because it is cheaper to do while the edge of the roof is already open.
Ask for each of those items to appear on the quote. If a quote is a single line with a total, you have no way to tell whether it allows for new battens, how it handles asbestos, or who takes the old roof away.
How we work
- You call or send the form with a few details about the house and the roof.
- We pass the job to an independent local roofing contractor who covers your area.
- They inspect, photograph what they find, and give you a written quote.
- You decide. There is no charge for the inspection or the quote, and no obligation to go ahead.
We ask the contractors we work with to hold the licences and insurance the job needs. In Queensland the QBCC licenses roofing contractors, so ask to see a licence and certificate of currency before work starts. Our guide to choosing a roofing contractor in Brisbane covers what to check.
Before you call
Have a rough idea of the roof material, the age of the house, whether it is single or double storey, and what you have noticed: stains on ceilings, drips in storms, rust, cracked tiles or a sagging line. Photos from the ground help. If you are weighing up costs, the roof replacement cost guide explains what pushes a price up or down, and the roofing FAQ answers the questions people ask most often.
Roofing work we arrange in Brisbane
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Re-Roofing
The old roof comes off down to the frame and a new roof goes on, with battens, blanket, flashings and gutters sorted in one job.
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Metal Roof Replacement
Rusted galvanised iron and tired steel roofs replaced with new sheeting, screws, ridge capping and flashings.
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Tile Roof Replacement
Concrete and terracotta roofs re-tiled, or converted to steel when the tiles and battens are past saving.
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Colorbond Roofing
New Colorbond roofs with the profile, colour and steel grade matched to the house, the pitch and the distance from the bay.
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Roof Repairs
Leaks, cracked tiles, lifted sheets, perished pointing and rusted flashings fixed when the roof still has life left.
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Emergency Roof Replacement
Storm-damaged roofs made watertight first, then assessed and replaced once the weather and the insurer allow.
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Insurance Roof Replacement
Photos, a written damage report and a clear scope your insurer can assess when a storm or fallen tree has wrecked the roof.
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Commercial Roof Replacement
Warehouse, shop, strata and office roofs re-sheeted in stages, planned around tenants, trading and site safety.
The three roofs you see on most Brisbane streets
Steel sheeting
Colorbond and Zincalume corrugated or ribbed sheet is light, quick to fix and copes with heavy rain at low pitches. It is the usual choice when an old iron or tile roof is replaced. Near the bay, ask which steel grade suits the site.
Colorbond roof replacementConcrete tiles
Common on lowset brick homes built from the 1960s on. The tiles themselves can outlast their surface coating, but the ridge pointing, valleys and battens need checking before anyone talks about replacing the lot.
Tile roof replacementTerracotta
Fired clay holds its colour and suits interwar bungalows and character houses. It is heavy, so swapping to it or from it changes what the frame carries, and a character overlay may affect what you can change.
Terracotta tile replacement
How a Brisbane re-roof usually runs
- InspectionA contractor checks the roof, the gutters and the roof space, and photographs what matters.
- Written scope and quoteMaterials, profile and colour, battens, blanket, flashings, gutters, disposal and edge protection, itemised.
- Approvals and asbestosBuilding approval if your certifier says it is needed, and a licensed removalist if asbestos is present.
- Strip and repairThe old roof comes off a section at a time, and rotten battens or damaged timbers are replaced.
- New roof onBlanket or sarking, new sheets or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings and penetrations sealed.
- Clean-up and handoverGutters cleared, magnets run over the yard, and paperwork for the materials handed to you.
Recent Brisbane roofing guides
- Best materials for BrisbaneSteel, terracotta or concrete tile? How each roofing material handles Brisbane's heat, hail, wind, humidity and bayside salt air, and how to choose.
- Cheapest roofing materialsThe cheapest roof to install is not always the cheapest to own. See what makes Brisbane roofing materials cost more or less across the life of the roof.
- Choosing a roofing contractorHow to vet a Brisbane roofing contractor: check the QBCC register, insurance, written scope and contract, deposit rules, and storm-season red flags.
- Colorbond roof replacementPlanning a Colorbond re-roof in Brisbane? Profile, colour, insulation, flashings and tile-to-steel conversions explained before you request quotes.
- Asbestos roof replacementThink your Brisbane roof contains asbestos? Learn why to leave it alone, who can remove it, and how a safe replacement is planned from start to end.
- Energy-efficient roof optionsHow to make a Brisbane roof replacement cooler and more efficient: roof colour, sarking, insulation, ventilation and solar-ready planning explained.
Where we take enquiries
Enquiries are taken from across Greater Brisbane, from the inner city and the older timber suburbs to the northside, southside, western and eastern suburbs and the bayside. Whether a contractor is available for your street depends on the job and the time of year, and we will tell you straight away if we cannot help.
Brisbane CBD and inner cityNorthsideSouthsideWestern suburbsEastern suburbsBayside
Straight answers to common questions
How do I know if my roof needs replacing or just repairing?
Isolated problems such as one cracked tile, a lifted sheet or a perished flashing are repairs. Rust right through the steel, tiles that crumble when walked on, sagging lines and leaks that keep coming back point to replacement. Ask whoever inspects the roof to show you photos before they recommend either.
Do I need council approval to replace my roof in Brisbane?
It depends on the work and the house. A like-for-like re-roof often proceeds without a formal approval, but changing the material weight, the structure or the roof shape, or working on a house in a character overlay, can need one. A private building certifier or Brisbane City Council can confirm before work starts.
What if my old roof contains asbestos?
Many Brisbane houses built before 1990 used asbestos cement sheeting. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland regulates its removal, and above a small area it must be done by a licensed removalist. Do not cut, drill or pressure-clean it. The re-roof is quoted with removal and disposal shown separately.
How long does a roof replacement take?
On a typical single-storey house the work on site is often measured in days rather than weeks, with steel usually quicker than tiles. Summer storms, asbestos removal, rotten battens and access can all stretch it. Our process guide walks through each stage and what slows it down.
What does a new roof cost in Brisbane?
Roof area, pitch, access, the old material and the new one drive the price. Our roof replacement cost page has 2026 planning bands for common Brisbane jobs, but a real figure only comes from an on-site quote.
Who actually does the work?
This is a referral website. Work is carried out by independent local roofing contractors. We ask the contractors we work with to hold the licences and insurance the job needs, and you should ask to see them before work starts.
Book a quote
Prefer to talk it through? Call and describe the job.
Call now 07 3179 6217