Breakdown of re-roofing costs for homes in Australia

Firstly, you need to determine what material you’d like for your roof. The most common in Australia, by a long way, is metal roofing. It’s easier to install, extremely durable and offers a great appearance. However, every home is different, so it’s important to understand that there are other options out there.

These are the basic costs for re-roofing materials.

• Colorbond® metal roofing: $19 – $38 per m2.
• Concrete and asphalt tiles: $40 – $60 per m2
• Terracotta tiles: $80 – $120 per m2
• Slate tiles: $200 – $500 per m2

As you can see, metal roofing is the cheapest, but this is just the cost of materials. Labour for installation is the other expense to consider. Fortunately, metal roofing also ends up as a winner there, with it being easier to install than other options.

Still, you may have an older home and you want to keep the existing aesthetic, which is where other materials may be favoured. It all comes down to your individual home, your budget and personal preference.

Since the figures above are just for the materials, we thought it was worth giving a snapshot of the overall re-roofing cost. Remember, the old roof needs to be removed, so the existing materials can impact how long it takes to get rid of the existing roof.

In very general terms, for an average Australian home, here are the total costs below:

• Replacing old metal roofing with Colorbond®: Between $6,000 – $10,000
• Removal of an asbestos roof in favour of Colorbond®: $15,000 – $20,000
• Removing a tiled roof and adding Colorbond® roofing: Approx $20,000

Again, these figures won’t be accurate for everybody because the size and complexity of the roof can make a big difference. But this is a handy guide to show you the ballpark figure you should be budgeting for.

Like everything, it’s always worth asking your roof contractor about any additional costs. You don’t want to get your final bill and get a shock because you haven’t budgeted for certain expenses. So, always ask your roofing expert for a complete quote with everything included.

Here are a few things to consider.

Structural works
Older homes may not have desired (or in some instances, required) structural integrity to support a re-roofing project. In many cases, structural timber battens could be water-damaged or rotted, meaning they also need to be replaced. In certain areas with high winds, you may even be required to use steel battens.

It’s not always possible for your roofer to know this until the removal of the old roof takes place, so you should always maintain constant contact in case an issue such as this occurs.

Removal of the old roof
Most roofing contractors would include the removal and disposal of old roofing materials in their initial quote. But on the off chance they don’t, make sure you ask if this is part of the service. If not, you may need to search elsewhere, such as hiring a skip bin or arranging another way to get rid of old materials.

Ventilation products
If your old roof had ventilation products such as whirlybirds, you’ll no doubt want something similar on your new roof. There is a range of different ventilation options these days, so talk to your roofing expert to decide what will work best. But naturally, the old ones need to be removed and replaced, so this will add to your costs.

Solar panels
Finally, solar panels often get forgotten when planning the re-roofing cost. Much like ventilation, solar panels need to be taken down and put back up when the new roof is installed. As there is likely to be wiring involved, you’ll need to hire an electrician for both the removal and re-installation. It shouldn’t be a huge expense, but naturally, you’ll be paying a solar expert for two visits that need to be accounted for in the budget.