How much does a roof replacement cost in SA?

Typical ranges

For a standard single-storey South Australian home of 150–250 m² of roof area, a full Colorbond® roof replacement — strip, dispose, new sarking, battens checked, new sheets, flashings, ridge, gutters and downpipes — generally falls between $18,000 and $40,000 including GST. Smaller cottages and simple gable roofs sit at the lower end; larger, steeper or more cut-up roofs at the higher end.

A tile-to-Colorbond® conversion usually costs 10–20% more than steel-to-steel because of the tile removal, disposal and extra battening. A straight re-sheet of an existing iron roof with sound timbers can be less.

What moves the price

• —Roof area and pitch — steeper roofs take longer and need more safety gear.
• —Complexity — hips, valleys, dormers, skylights and multiple levels add cut sheets and flashings.
• —Access — tight sites, two storeys or no room for a skip and delivery truck add time.
• —Existing material — tiles cost more to remove and dispose of than iron; asbestos 'super six' requires a licensed removalist.
• —Timber condition — rotten battens, rafters or fascias are only visible once the roof is off. We price a sensible allowance and only charge for what we actually replace.
• —Sarking and insulation — always included in our re-roofs, but the type varies.
• —Colorbond® grade — Ultra (marine grade) for coastal homes near Victor Harbor or Meningie costs more than standard.
• —Gutters, downpipes and fascia — replacing them at the same time is cheaper than doing it later.
• —Solar panels — removal and reinstallation by a licensed electrician is a separate line.

What should be in a proper quote

A roofing quote should be line-itemised, not a single number. Look for: the exact material and profile (for example 'Colorbond® Trimdek 0.42 BMT in Monument'), sarking type, fixings, flashings, the number and size of gutters and downpipes, disposal, scaffolding or edge protection, timber allowance, and the warranty terms. If it doesn't say what happens when rotten timber is found, ask.

Repair or replace?

As a rule of thumb, if a repair costs more than about a third of a replacement, or if you've had two or more leaks in different places in the last couple of years, replacement is the better spend. A patch on a roof that is failing everywhere just moves the leak. Our guide on the signs your roof needs replacing goes into this in detail.

Paying for it

Most of our customers pay a deposit on acceptance, a progress payment when materials are on site, and the balance on completion after the final walkthrough. Insurance work is invoiced to match your insurer's process. We don't charge for quotes or site visits anywhere in our service area.