Colorbond vs tile roof: re-roofing costs compared
What a full re-roof costs in Australia with concrete tiles, terracotta tiles or Colorbond-style steel, how long each lasts, and which suits your home.
For a typical 120 m² pitched roof, stripped and re-covered with scaffolding, new sarking, battens, gutters and flashings, concrete tiles are usually the cheapest option at about $15,000 including GST. Terracotta tiles come to around $20,900, and pre-painted steel sheet, the Colorbond-style roof most Australians picture, to about $16,800. The covering is only part of the bill: scaffolding, stripping, sarking, gutters and flashings cost much the same whichever you choose.
The three roofs side by side
The table prices the same roof and the same job, changing only the roofing material. Figures include 10% GST.
| Material | Typical | Usual range | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete tiles | $15,000 | $11,700 – $19,500 | 30-50 years |
| Metal roofing (steel) | $16,800 | $13,100 – $21,900 | 40-70 years |
| Clay tiles (interlocking) | $20,900 | $16,300 – $27,200 | 50-80 years |
The difference between two rows is roughly what the change of material costs you. Change the roof area and see every line in our Roof replacement.
Concrete tiles
Concrete tiles ($15,000) are the budget tiled roof and have covered a large share of Australian suburbs for decades. They are heavy, which helps with noise and insulation, and they last 30-50 years. The surface coating wears over time, so older concrete roofs often look tired and get restored and repainted before they are replaced. Individual broken tiles are easy to swap.
Terracotta tiles
Terracotta ($20,900) costs more but keeps its colour, because the colour is fired through the clay or glaze rather than painted on. It is the longest-lasting of the three, typically 50-80 years, and suits Federation, Californian bungalow and Mediterranean-style homes. Like concrete, it is heavy, and the ridge capping still needs re-bedding and re-pointing over the years.
Colorbond and steel roofing
Pre-painted steel sheet ($16,800) is light, goes on quickly in long lengths, and has few joints for water to find. It lasts 40-70 years depending on how close you are to the coast and on the grade of coating, and it does not need re-pointing. It suits low pitches that tiles cannot handle, and its light weight can matter on older timber frames.
What to weigh up:
- Coastal and industrial areas. Salt spray shortens the life of steel. Ask which coating grade is suitable for your distance from the sea; a higher-grade product may be needed close to the coast.
- Noise. Rain on a steel roof is louder. Good sarking with an insulation blanket underneath makes a real difference.
- Heat. Lighter colours reflect more heat. Colour choice also affects how the roof looks next to the neighbours, which some councils and estates control.
- Solar. Panels mount easily on steel with clamps, without walking on and breaking tiles.
Switching from tiles to steel
Many Australians re-roofing an old tiled house switch to steel. It is usually straightforward: the tiles and tile battens come off, new battens for sheeting go on, then sarking, insulation blanket and sheets. Because steel is so much lighter, the frame carries less load. Going the other way, from steel to tiles, is rarer: the frame must be checked for the much heavier load, and that may need an engineer.
What costs the same whatever you choose
- Scaffolding and edge protection round the house for the job
- Stripping and disposal of the old roof
- Sarking or underlay and battens
- Gutters, downpipes and flashings
- Fall-arrest anchors for safe access later
We build the estimate from those quantities and the hours a roofer and labourers need at local labour rates, plus materials, then check it against market prices and real quotes. That is why the shape of the roof matters as much as the material: hips, valleys, and multiple levels mean more cutting, more flashing and slower work.
What is usually not included
- Rotten battens or rafters, only visible once the old roof comes off. Ask for a rate per metre in the quote.
- Tip fees, beyond loading and carting away.
- Asbestos, which in older homes can be in eaves, gables or an old fibre-cement roof. Removal is specialist licensed work and priced separately.
- Solar panels coming off and going back on, which needs a licensed electrician.
- Skylights, whirlybirds and chimney work.
Licensing and rules
Roof plumbing, such as gutters, downpipes and flashings, is plumbing work, and plumbing and electrical work must be done by licensed tradespeople under state licensing. Some councils and heritage overlays have rules on roofing materials and colours, so check before you choose. Our figures include 10% GST.
Which to choose
- Lowest upfront cost: concrete tiles.
- Longest life, heritage and period homes: terracotta.
- Low pitch, lighter load, fewer repairs, easy solar: steel sheeting.
Check your quote
Ask for quotes that name the material, colour and coating grade, and list scaffolding, sarking, insulation blanket, gutters and rubbish removal separately, with a rate for timber repairs. Then compare the total with typical prices in your state using our "Is my quote fair?" tool: Is my quote fair?.