Tile roof replacement in Brisbane
Tile roof replacement covers several different jobs: swapping broken tiles, replacing a section, re-tiling a whole roof, or converting a tiled roof to steel. Roof Replacement Brisbane arranges all of these through independent local roofing contractors across Greater Brisbane. The first step is always an inspection, because the right answer depends on the condition of the tiles, the battens and the valleys.
Concrete and terracotta: how they age
Most lowset brick houses built in Brisbane from the 1960s to the 1990s have concrete tiles. Concrete tiles are strong, but their surface coating weathers away under UV and rain, and the tile then absorbs more water, grows lichen and becomes brittle. Terracotta is fired clay and keeps its colour much longer, though older clay tiles can crack, chip and become fragile.
On both, the parts around the tiles tend to fail first:
- Ridge and hip capping, where the bedding and pointing cracks and lets water in
- Valley irons, which rust or collect leaf litter and overflow
- Flashings against walls and chimneys
- Tiles knocked out of place by storm winds, hail or someone walking on the roof
- Battens that have rotted or loosened under decades of weight
Repair, re-tile or convert?
| Situation | Usual answer |
|---|---|
| A few cracked tiles, pointing worn | Roof repairs or a restoration |
| Tiles sound but valleys and ridges failing | Re-point, re-bed and replace valleys |
| Tiles porous, brittle or widely cracked | Re-tile or convert to steel |
| Battens rotten across large areas | Strip, re-batten and re-roof |
If the tiles are still sound, a restoration can extend the roof's life. Our restoration versus replacement guide covers that call.
Re-tiling
A full re-tile removes the old tiles, checks or replaces the battens, adds sarking, and lays new tiles from the gutter up. Ridges and hips are either bedded and pointed or fixed mechanically with a flexible system, depending on the product and the installer. Valleys are usually replaced at the same time. New concrete tiles come in a range of colours and profiles; new terracotta costs more but keeps its colour longer.
Converting tile to steel
Converting to steel is one of the most common re-roofs in Brisbane. The tiles come off, tile battens are replaced with battens spaced for steel, a foil blanket goes down, and the new sheets are fixed. Because steel is much lighter, the frame carries less load. The house looks different, so check any covenant or Brisbane City Council character overlay first. See metal roof replacement for more on the steel side.
Things to check before you sign
- Is asbestos present anywhere, such as old eaves linings or a flat-roofed extension?
- Are the battens being replaced, and how is extra rotten timber priced?
- Does the quote include new valleys, flashings and ridge work?
- Who removes the old tiles, and are good ones being kept for future repairs?
We ask the contractors we work with to hold the licences and insurance the job needs. Ask to see them before work starts. For typical 2026 price bands, see the roof replacement cost page.