What shapes a re-roof in Adelaide
Bushfire rules in the Hills
Ministerial Building Standard MBS008 sets extra requirements for designated bushfire-prone areas, and the Country Fire Service advises on development applications inside the Bushfire Hazard Overlays. Find out early whether your address is affected, because it can shape the materials, the detailing and the paperwork.
Rebuilding after fire
The Cudlee Creek fire in December 2019 destroyed 84 homes and more than 400 outbuildings around towns like Gumeracha, Lobethal, Woodside and Mount Torrens. Ash Wednesday in 1983, which burned particularly in the Adelaide Hills, destroyed 383 homes across South Australia. Out there, a roofer who has worked to the bushfire standard is worth waiting for.
Tiles out, steel in
Until the 1970s, most Adelaide roofs were painted corrugated iron or cement or clay tiles, and Colorbond corrugated steel has dominated since. If you're swapping old tiles for steel, expect new battens and often new gutters as well.
Mostly single-storey
Adelaide's suburbs are historically single-storey detached houses, so the single-storey figure is the useful one for most people. A two-storey or steep roof needs more scaffolding and edge protection, and that shows in the price.
Building to the bushfire standard
Bushfire construction is graded by Bushfire Attack Level (BAL), and Monier says there are six, from BAL-LOW to BAL-FZ. BlueScope says Colorbond roofing, gutters and downpipes can be part of a compliant system in bushfire-prone areas, including BAL-FZ under AS 3959:2018. Monier says concrete and terracotta tiles are non-combustible and can form part of a compliant roof when they're installed with ember protection and fire-rated sarking (the membrane under the roof).
So both steel and tile can work in the Hills. What matters is the whole system, installed to your block's BAL.
Older roof? Test for asbestos first
SafeWork SA says a home built or renovated before the mid-1980s is highly likely to contain asbestos, and the roof and eaves are common places for it. Nobody should cut, drill or water-blast suspect sheeting until a sample has been tested. Removing more than 10 m2 of bonded asbestos takes a Class B licence, and the removalist must notify SafeWork SA before starting. It's priced on top of the new roof. Read is my roof asbestos?
Contracts and insurance for a bigger job
If your re-roof costs $20,000 or more, South Australia requires a written contract that includes the builder's licence number, signed by both of you, plus a notice called Form 1 explaining your rights. The deposit can be no more than 5%, and you have 5 clear business days after signing to change your mind.
Where a job of that size also needs council approval, the builder must take out building indemnity insurance before starting, which covers you if they die, disappear or go broke. CBS has found forged certificates, so it suggests checking the insurance yourself.
Before you sign a re-roof
- Is my address in a bushfire-prone area or a Bushfire Hazard Overlay, and what BAL applies?
- Does the price include strip-off, disposal, new battens, sarking and insulation?
- If I'm going from tiles to steel, has anyone checked whether the frame needs engineering advice?
- Are the gutters, downpipes and flashings new, or being reused?
- What licence and insurance do you hold, and what warranty covers your workmanship?
- How will you protect the house if a storm comes through halfway?
What we'd do
Get two quotes that price exactly the same scope, line by line, because re-roof quotes often differ most in what they leave out. In the Hills, settle the bushfire question before you choose a material. And if any of the old roof might be asbestos, get it tested first, so removal is in the quote rather than a surprise halfway through.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.
Passing your job on
We'll pass your re-roof to one licence-checked roofer who works in your part of Adelaide, if we have one there. If we don't, you'll hear that from us straight away. More on the job in general is on our roof replacement page, and the Adelaide hub covers local conditions.