Roofing FAQs

# Frequently asked questions

The most common questions we receive from homeowners, builders and property managers across South East Queensland. Can’t find your answer? Call us on 0488 773 232 or send an enquiry.

Materials & Choices

## Choosing the right roof

For most Queensland homes, Colorbond steel is an excellent choice. It is engineered and tested in Australian conditions, lightweight, durable, low-maintenance and available in profiles and colours suited to everything from a heritage Queenslander to a contemporary coastal home. It performs well in high-UV, high-humidity and coastal environments, and with Colorbond Coolmax technology, reflects more radiant heat than standard roofing.

Concrete and terracotta tiles remain popular for their thermal mass, sound absorption and traditional aesthetic, and are a good choice where structural load capacity, council heritage requirements or personal preference favour them. The “best” material depends on your specific home, budget and long-term objectives — we discuss this honestly at the quoting stage.

Colorbond is BlueScope’s pre-painted steel product — the colour is a factory-applied paint system fused to the steel surface. Zincalume is the same base steel with an aluminium-zinc alloy coating but without the painted finish — it retains a bright metallic appearance. Both are manufactured by BlueScope and share similar structural and corrosion-resistance properties. Colorbond is the choice when a specific colour is required; Zincalume when a raw metallic aesthetic is preferred.

Re-bedding involves removing the ridge and hip cappings on a tile roof, cleaning the base course and re-setting the cappings in new sand-cement mortar. Re-pointing applies a flexible polymer pointing compound over the mortar to seal and protect it. This typically needs doing every 15–25 years. Signs it’s needed: cracking or missing pointing compound, mortar fragments in gutters, and ridge tiles that shift when touched.

Timelines & Costs

## Time, cost and what drives them

For a standard three-to-four bedroom residential home, a complete re-roof typically takes three to seven working days. Factors that extend the timeline: a complex roof with many hips, valleys and penetrations; a two-storey home with more complex access; bad weather; and whether fascia, soffit and gutters are included in scope. On commercial and multi-residential buildings, timelines depend on roof area, staging requirements and access complexity — we provide a programme with every commercial quote.

Costs vary widely based on roof size, complexity, material choice, access difficulty, and whether gutters and fascia are included. As a very rough indication, a complete Colorbond re-roof on a standard three-to-four bedroom home in Brisbane might range from $12,000 to $30,000 or more. We provide fixed-price written quotes after a site inspection — we do not quote over the phone without seeing the roof.

Indicative scope | Rough range
--- | ---
Colorbond re-roof, standard single-storey home | $12k – $22k
Tile-to-Colorbond conversion, larger / two-storey | $22k – $35k+
Ridge & hip re-bed and re-point | $2.5k – $6k
Pre-purchase roof inspection & report | from ~$300

Indicative only — every quote follows a site inspection.

You receive two layers of warranty: a workmanship warranty from Innovare Roofing covering the quality of our installation, and a manufacturer product warranty on materials — for Colorbond and Zincalume through our BlueScope-accredited installer status, BlueScope’s product warranty applies to eligible products. For QBCC-eligible residential work, QBCC Home Warranty Insurance also applies. We provide warranty documentation at handover.

Compliance & Approvals

## Standards, approvals and solar

Yes. Roofing in SEQ must be installed to AS 4055 (wind loads for housing) and AS/NZS 1170.2 (structural design actions — wind actions). South East Queensland is classified primarily as Wind Region B, with coastal and exposed areas potentially reaching Region C. Fastening patterns, sheet profiles and sarking specifications must be calculated for the specific site. We calculate wind classification for every project and install accordingly.

For a like-for-like re-roof (same profile and pitch), council development approval is generally not required. A building permit may or may not be required depending on the project value and scope — we advise on this for each project. If you are changing the roof form, pitch or structure significantly, development approval may apply.

Yes — and if you are planning solar, a new roof is the ideal time. We co-ordinate with your solar installer so roof penetrations are correctly positioned and watertight, and that panel mounting rails are fixed to the structure correctly. It is far easier to integrate solar penetrations during a re-roof than to retrofit them through a completed roof later.

Storms & Emergencies

## When the weather turns

First, ensure the safety of all occupants. If there is structural damage or live electrical hazards (such as powerlines near the roof), call emergency services. For roof damage causing water ingress, place buckets or towels in affected areas and call Innovare Roofing on 0488 773 232 for urgent assistance. Do not attempt to access a damaged roof yourself — it is dangerous and may void your insurance coverage if you cause further damage.

We prioritise emergency callouts and aim to attend within 24 hours for most Brisbane and Gold Coast locations. During and immediately after major storm events, response times may be extended due to high demand across SEQ.

Most home building insurance policies cover sudden and accidental storm damage. Maintenance-related deterioration (old, worn-out roofing) is generally not covered. We provide a scope-of-damage report and photographic documentation to support your claim.

Still Have Questions?

## Talk to a licensed roofer

If your question isn’t answered here, our team is happy to help — no obligation.

Ask a question
Call 0488 773 232