What does Basalt look like?
BlueScope draws it from the mineral tones of basalt rock. It's lighter and softer than Monument, so ridges and flashing lines still show from the street. BlueScope says it coordinates with greyed timber, recycled brick and concrete, and its palette sets a Basalt roof over paler Shale Grey fascias or render.
Dark greys look close to black on a small chip indoors. View a sample sheet outside in full sun to see the grey it really is.
Classic or Matt Basalt?
| Basalt Classic | Basalt Matt | |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Low sheen | Soft, diffused reflections |
| Solar absorptance | 0.67 | 0.71 |
| NSW BASIX class, worked out from the figure | Medium | Dark |
| NCC 2019 class, worked out the same way | Dark | Dark |
| Matching gutters and flashings | Full range | Selected range |
What a dark grey roof means for heat
Both finishes are above 0.64, so a new home in climate zones 1 to 5 would go down the 7 star NatHERS route rather than the elemental checklist. Tell your builder early. In zones 6 to 8, roof colour isn't a constraint.
On an existing house, think about the roof space as well as the colour. CSR Bradford says an unventilated roof space can reach 70 degrees C in summer, and a darker roof adds to that, so a re-roof is a good time to sort roof ventilation and insulation.
Near the coast
Basalt isn't one of BlueScope's 7 Ultra colours. Within 200 m of breaking surf, ask whether it's possible on request. The dark greys BlueScope does make in Ultra are Woodland Grey and Monument, both a little deeper.
Our call
If you want a dark roof that isn't harsh, Basalt in Classic is where we'd begin. In NSW, check whether the Matt version's dark rating affects your BASIX certificate before you fall for the texture. We're an independent referral service, not connected to BlueScope or the Colorbond brand.
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.