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Understanding Roof Replacement
A roof replacement is a major home improvement project. It is becoming more common around Australia and Adelaide as many older homes approach the 40 – 50 year mark. Often a homeowner may be happy with the house and area in which they live but fed up with the performance of their roof. Intermittent roof leaks, vermin and possum ingress and lack of thermal and acoustic Insulation are often experienced with an older tiled roof. A roof replacement completely removes the original roof cladding and starts from scratch.The most common form of roof replacement around Adelaide is a tile to Colourbond conversion. In this particular roof replacement type the roof is completely converted from an original concrete or Terracotta tiled roof to an Insulated Colourbond roof. There are many benefits to this type of conversion.Roof Weight reduction
The tiled roof cladding of an average roof is probably much heavier than you would expect. A typical concrete tiled roof on a four bedroom house with a footprint of around 200 square metres has an approximate weight of 15 tonnes. The weight of all Colourbond materials in the roof replacement is around one tenth of the original tiled roof weight or about 1.5 Tonnes. This weight reduction helps to reduce the risk for further structural sagging in the roof structure following the roof replacement.Replacing a roof with new tiles
Much less common these days is to replace an original tiled roof with a new tiled roof. The significant weight reduction and Insulation benefits received with a new Insulated Colourbond roof are not obtained with a new tile roof. There is also no opportunity to Install roof blanket Insulation and therefore increase the thermal and acoustic Insulative properties of the roof. For homeowners that insist on a tiled roof replacement the option is still available by way of new concrete roof tiles from Monier. The cost for replacing with tiles is usually 10% – 15% more than replacing with a new Colourbond roof.
Cost Factors for Roof Replacement
Roof replacement costs can vary widely due to several factors. Key elements include the choice of materials, labour rates, the size and complexity of the roof, the height of the roof the site access conditions and any other unique factors that may arise.Material Costs
Material cost typically makes up 30 – 40% of the total cost of a roof replacement. Like nearly everything, the cost of building materials has increased significantly in the last five years since the covid lock downs. For some time periods roofing materials like GlassWool Roofing blanket were completely unavailable due to the supply chain problems caused by world wide lock downs. When the products were finally available again the prices were 20 – 50% higher than previous. Unfortunately prices go up but never seem to come down and have now become the new normal in building and roofing costs.Labour Costs
The component cost of labour can vary from 30% for a straight forward simple design roof replacement to 50% or more for a labour intensive detailed difficult roof replacement. The Australian trade labour shortage of recent years has also increased the cost of trade labour significantly. Australia simply does not have enough quality building and construction tradesmen from all different trades. This has been brought about from several factors but one of most being the trade jobs were not really promoted 15 – 20 years ago and therefore the supply of new tradesmen to the workforce slowed significantly. Combine this with Australians housing shortage and demand for tradesmen building new housing and the Trade labour shortage becomes more understandable.Roof Size and Complexity
With increase in size comes increase in cost. This is quite logical and understandable. A roof double the size of another will obviously cost double the price. The pitch or steepness of a roof is less linear in cost increase. A heavily pitched roof can result in 3 to 4 times the increase in labour cost and therefore result in a roof replacement cost significantly higher by proportion than a more flat lower pitch roof. Scaffolding requirement In the case of a multi story home or split level home requiring roof replacement the need for scaffolding is highly likely in order to allow safe access for the workers. Scaffolding will usually result in a roof replacement that is $10,000 to $12,000 higher in cost compared to a roof not requiring scaffolding. Solar panel removal and reinstallation cost A roof replacement can still be done of a roof that has solar panels fitted. The panels and rails are simply removed by solar electricians and refitted after the roof replacement has been completed. The mounting brackets will always need to be replaced to suit the new colourbond roof. The cost for this as charged by good solar electricians is around $120+GST per panel. This usually covers reinstallation with new mounting brackets but assumes all other parts can be used and no problems are previous poor installation is discovered.Estimating Your Roof Replacement Cost
Example Roof Replacement costs
Roof Replacement in the Adelaide Suburb of Flagstaff Hill
Project Brief:
Original Holostone Madrid Concrete tiled roof removed and Insulated Colourbond Roof sheeting Installed. Low pitch Roof. Good site access. Simple roof type with skillion style roof (no Hips & Valleys). No scaffolding required. Small sized roof of around 150sqm.
Cost $18,000 GST
Roof Replacement in the Adelaide Suburb of Stonyfell
Project Brief:
Original Monier Centurion Concrete tiled roof removed and Insulated Colourbond Roof sheeting Installed. Low pitch Roof. Difficult site access due to block type and split level home. Typical roof type with standard hips and valleys. Scaffolding required to all rear and sides of the home. Moderate sized roof of around 250sqm.
Cost $44,000 GST
Roof Replacement in the Adelaide Suburb of Fulham Gardens
Project Brief:
Original Monier Tudor Concrete tiled roof removed and Insulated Colourbond Roof sheeting Installed. Higher pitch roof of 30 Degrees. Reasonable side access with no major issues and flat block. Typical roof type with standard hips and valleys. Scaffolding was not required however safety handrails installed due to higher pitch. Large sized roof of around 350sqm.
Cost $48,000 GST
Planning and Preparation
When planning to replace a roof in Adelaide, careful preparation is key. Selecting the right contractor is crucial, and understanding how weather and timing impact the process helps ensure a smooth project.
Choosing a Contractor
Selecting a roofing contractor in Adelaide involves careful research. It’s important to verify licences and insurance. Contractors should have the necessary legal requirements to work in South Australia. All builders licences in South Australia are public information and can be searched and read on the OCBA website with their find a licence holder tool
Financing and Budgeting
Replacing a roof can be a big expense, but there are ways to manage the cost. It’s important for homeowners to explore different financing options. Some may choose to save in advance, while others might prefer loans or payment plans.
Personal savings are often the first choice. Setting aside a fixed amount each month can ease the financial burden over time. This option avoids debt and interest payments.
For those needing immediate solutions, home improvement loans are available. These loans typically have fixed interest rates and set repayment periods. It’s crucial to compare different lenders to find the best terms.
Some roofing companies offer financing plans. These plans break down the total cost into monthly payments, making it easier to fit the project into a budget. It’s important to read the terms carefully.
Maintenance and Warranties
A roof replacement is a long term solution for a poorly performing old roof and it’s great to know the process comes with a long term warranty. Workmanship warranties in South Australian are lifetime. This is actually a statutory requirement for building work. Obviously this warranty does not cover fair use or wear and tear, just problems that may arise specifically pertaining to workmanship issues.
Value Addition to Property
A new roof can greatly enhance a home’s market value. Not only does it improve curb appeal, but it can also make the property more energy efficient. This can be appealing to potential buyers, leading to a higher resale price.
High quality workmanship and quality materials like Colourbond steel used on your new roof will add appeal and therefore value to your home. Investing in a roof replacement could offer returns if the property is sold often increasing a property value by more than the sum invested. Real estate trends in Adelaide often show that homes with newer, well-maintained roofs sell faster and at better prices.
Conclusion
Roof Replacement in Adelaide is becoming a more common home renovation each year. The cost is significant but the long term benefits are obvious and offer good value.
To quickly gain an understanding of what a roof replacement may cost for your property give All Roof Restoration a call or make contact via our online enquiry form. We respond quickly with an accurate estimate and in most cases a fixed price quote for what roof replacement will cost for your home. We are able to measure your property roof with our NearMaps software and within seconds generate a quote for your roof replacement.
Happy Roofing from the team. All Roof Restoration Adelaide.
Ready to start your roof replacement journey? Contact All Roof Restoration Adelaide, today for a free estimate. In most cases we can measure and price your roof within a few minutes and send you a formal fixed price quotation. Call us on 0484 582 133 or better still just send us an enquiry today.
