What Tuggeranong roofs are up against
Hail, more than once
The storm of 31 December 2006 brought hailstones up to 5 cm across to Tuggeranong. On 3 January 2022 a supercell dropped golf-ball-sized hail here and on West Belconnen, and the ACT SES took over 800 calls. Much hail damage can't be seen from the ground.
Frost most winters
Frost is very common here in winter. Water sitting in a cracked tile or under failed pointing can freeze and open the gap further, so fix small faults before winter.
Big family houses
At the 2021 Census, 79.5% of occupied homes were separate houses, and most had three bedrooms (46.3%) or four or more (42.1%). Bigger roofs mean more ridges, valleys and gutters to watch.
Mr Fluffy and Kambah
Kambah, the first suburb, was settled in 1974. On the ACT's 2015 list of 1,022 Mr Fluffy homes it had the most of any suburb: 102, about one in 53 of its free-standing houses. Southern Tuggeranong was reported clear, as it was built after the installer stopped work in about 1979. By February 2021, 35 affected houses were still standing across the ACT.
Bush on the doorstep
The January 2003 firestorm reached Kambah, and in January 2020 the Orroral Valley fire brought an emergency warning for Tharwa and the southern suburbs. Dry leaves in gutters are the first thing an ember finds.
What's different about roof work in the ACT
Re-roofing needs approval. Under ACT Planning's rules, a full roof replacement needs building approval but a single new tile doesn't, and work needing approval needs a licensed builder. Ask who that is before you sign.
Roofers aren't all licensed. ACT Planning says not everyone who works on a project, roofing contractors included, has to hold a licence. Check builders on the Access Canberra registers and ask any roofer for their public liability certificate of currency.
Asbestos is licensed work only. The ACT has no 10 square metre homeowner exception. Clearing leaves from an asbestos cement roof's gutters counts as minor maintenance; high pressure cleaning doesn't.
Mr Fluffy homes need notice. Owners must give WorkSafe ACT at least five business days' notice of work that may disturb the roof space, and give workers the Asbestos Management Plan.
The jobs that come up most in Tuggeranong
Hail repairs. Have a roofer check for cracked tiles and dented flashings before the next rain, and photograph everything for your insurer. See roof repairs in Canberra and hail damage claims.
Restore or replace in the early suburbs. Kambah's first roofs have had five decades of frost and hail. Try the restore or replace quiz.
Built before 1990? Rule out asbestos first
The ACT Asbestos Advice Notice says a home built before 1990 may contain dangerous asbestos. Don't drill, cut or water-blast suspect sheeting, and leave any loose, fluffy insulation in the roof space alone. A licensed asbestos assessor can confirm what it is.
Where we'd start in Tuggeranong
After any hailstorm, we'd have a roofer look within days, even if nothing's dripping, and keep their photos with the claim. For a full re-roof, we'd sort building approval and the builder's name before booking dates. On an early Kambah house, we'd confirm its Mr Fluffy status before anyone lifts a tile.
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.