Roofing for Perth homes, from one cracked tile to a whole new roof

Roofing in Perth: what we do and how it works

Roofing Perth connects homeowners, landlords and businesses across the Perth metro area with local roofing contractors for roof replacement, re-roofing and roof repairs. That covers concrete and terracotta tile roofs, Colorbond and Zincalume steel, older asbestos cement roofs, low-pitch skillions, and commercial sheds and warehouses. Every job starts with a contractor on site, looking at the roof and the space underneath it, and ends with a written quote you can compare line by line.

You can call 08 5122 5252 during business hours or use the form at the bottom of any page. Tell us the suburb, roughly how old the house is, what the roof is made of and what is going wrong. That is enough for us to line up the right contractor and a time to look.

Why Perth roofs fail the way they do

Most roofing problems in Perth come down to a handful of local conditions, and a good roofer will talk about them before talking about price.

• Summer heat and UV. Long runs of very hot days bake ridge pointing, sealants and the surface of concrete tiles. Pointing cracks, tile surfaces erode and lose their coating, and old steel loses its paint finish.
• Winter fronts. Most of the year's rain arrives between May and September, often on strong north-westerly winds that drive water uphill under tiles and flashings. Leaks that never show in a still shower appear in the first big front of the season.
• Salt on the coast. Sea breezes carry salt kilometres inland. Steel, fixings and flashings near the coast need a grade chosen for marine conditions, or they corrode early.
• Bushfire-prone areas. In the Hills and other areas mapped as bushfire prone, new roofing work may need to meet a Bushfire Attack Level, which affects materials, sarking and how gaps are sealed.
• Age of the housing stock. A great many Perth homes built from the 1960s to the 1990s still carry their original concrete tile roofs, and many older homes, sheds and garages have asbestos cement sheeting.

Repair first, replace when it makes sense

A roof with a few slipped tiles, cracked ridge pointing or one rusted sheet usually needs roof repairs, not a new roof. A roof with leaks in several places, battens that have sagged, widespread rust or tiles that crumble when walked on is a different conversation. Our roof replacement vs repair guide sets out the signs, and the contractor who inspects should explain which side of the line your roof sits on, with photos.

When replacement is the right answer, most Perth homeowners choose between new tiles and a tile-to-Colorbond re-roof. Steel is far lighter, quick to install and suits the low-pitch roofs on newer homes. Tiles suit some older streets and some owners prefer the look and the quiet. Our Colorbond vs tile roofing guide compares the two honestly.

What a good roofing quote looks like

Quotes that look cheap often leave things out. Before you sign, check that the quote covers:

1. Removal and disposal of the old roof, including asbestos handling if it applies.
2. Replacement of rotten or undersized battens, and any frame repairs found once the roof is open.
3. Sarking or an insulation blanket under the new roof.
4. New flashings, ridge capping, valleys and whirlybirds, not just the main sheets or tiles.
5. Gutters and downpipes, if they are being replaced at the same time.
6. Scaffold or edge protection, which WorkSafe WA rules require for work at height.
7. Any building permit, if your local government requires one for the work.

Our guide to choosing a roofing contractor in Perth covers the rest, including the registration and contract questions to ask.

Prices

Roofing prices vary widely with roof size, pitch, access and material. We keep all our planning figures on one page so they stay current: see the roof replacement cost guide for Perth. Every job still needs an on-site quote before anyone can give you a real number.