Paddington's roofs
Ridges and gullies
Paddington is extremely hilly, with shops along the ridgetop roads of Given Terrace and Latrobe Terrace and houses stepping down into the gullies. One side of a house can be a full storey higher than the other.
Iron on timber
Wikipedia describes small blocks crowded with workers cottages and Queenslander-style homes with corrugated iron roofs. Queenslander roofs were traditionally corrugated steel because it stood up to torrential rain and could be reused.
Old from the start
The first land sale, 55 lots, was in 1859, and trams reached Latrobe Terrace in 1898. Many houses date from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Heritage examples
Brisbane's local heritage register includes 42 Guthrie Street, an interwar Queenslander, and Drumtochty on Kennedy Terrace, built around 1887. Both are recorded with corrugated iron roofs and timber walls.
Renters and units too
At the 2021 Census, 42.8% of homes were rented and 21.7% were flats or apartments.
Do council's character rules affect a re-roof?
They can. Under Brisbane City Plan 2014, in certain circumstances houses built before 1947 are to be retained, with changes complementing the traditional style, and houses built before 1911 keep their pre-1911 parts. Council's 1946 aerial photos are one way to check your house's age.
Places on the Queensland Heritage Register need approval for most changes, and that can include repairs. For a locally listed house, talk to council first. Re-sheeting like for like is the simplest path, and Lysaght still makes CUSTOM ORB, the traditional corrugated profile. See roof replacement in Brisbane and our slate and heritage roofs page.
What a Paddington roof quote should show
- The sheet profile, so the new roof matches the old corrugated look
- How the roofer will work safely on a slope: scaffold, edge protection and access from the low side
- The gutter profile, such as OGEE, which suits period homes
- Whether council approval is needed, and who's checking
- A QBCC roof and wall cladding licence number
- Queensland Home Warranty cover if the job is over $3,300
If it were our Queenslander
We'd keep it in iron and keep the profile. We'd also ring council before the roofer orders anything, because a quick check costs nothing and an unapproved change can cost plenty. Tell us the job and your street. If a licence-checked roofer who knows Paddington is on our list, they'll be the one roofer who gets it, and if there isn't one yet, you'll hear that from us.
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.