Metal roof replacement in Perth
Metal roof replacement means removing rusted or failing steel sheeting and installing a new steel roof, with new fixings, flashings and usually gutters. Roofing Perth arranges metal roof replacement throughout the Perth metro area for houses, granny flats, patios and sheds, through independent local roofing contractors. The quote follows an on-site look at the roof and the ceiling space.
Where old steel roofs fail
Metal roofs in Perth rarely fail evenly across the whole roof. Look for:
- Laps and side overlaps, where water and salt sit between sheets.
- Fixings, where old nails have lifted or rusted and the washers have perished.
- The gutter line, where sheet ends stay wet and debris collects.
- Flashings and cappings, especially where different metals meet.
- Under shade, where rain does not rinse salt and dust off.
If you can see daylight through sheets from inside the roof space, or rust stains spreading from screws across the sheet, the roof is close to the end.
Choosing the new sheets
Most replacements in Perth use Colorbond steel. Choices to make:
- Profile. Corrugated for a traditional look; wider trapezoidal profiles for low pitches and long runs.
- Colour. Lighter colours reflect more summer heat; darker ones show less dirt. Some strata schemes and estates have rules. Our Colorbond colours guide covers the trade-offs.
- Grade. Near breaking surf, ask about a steel grade made for severe marine environments. BlueScope publishes guidance by distance from the coast.
- Fixings. Screw class must suit the environment. Cheap fixings rust long before good sheets do.
Doing it properly underneath
Re-sheeting is the time to fix the parts you cannot reach later:
- Replace battens that have rotted or were never fixed well.
- Add an anticondensation blanket. It cuts rain noise, reduces heat gain and stops condensation dripping from the underside of the sheets on cold winter mornings.
- Check roof space ventilation; a whirlybird or ridge vent may help in summer. See roof ventilation.
- Make sure every flashing is compatible with the new steel. Lead and copper should not drain onto Zincalume.
Asbestos
Some older metal-roofed homes have asbestos cement in eaves, gables or patio roofs. If the contractor suspects asbestos anywhere the work will disturb, it has to be dealt with first. See asbestos roof replacement.
Related work
- Colorbond roofing for new and converted roofs.
- Flat roof replacement for skillions and low pitches.
- Roof repairs if only part of the roof is affected.
Planning prices are on our roof replacement cost guide.
Looking after the new roof
A new steel roof needs little, but not nothing. Rinse areas that rain does not reach, such as under eaves and verandahs, especially near the coast. Keep gutters clear so sheet ends do not sit wet. Remove swarf and offcuts left by other trades, because they rust and stain the sheets. Do not let copper pipes, lead flashings or air-conditioning condensate drain onto the roof.