Colorbond, concrete or terracotta?
| Colorbond steel | Concrete tiles | Terracotta tiles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight, published examples | 4.35 kg per m2 for Lysaght corrugated at 0.42 mm | 57.2 kg per m2 for Monier's Horizon | 47.25 kg per m2 for Monier's Marseille |
| Lowest pitch | 5 degrees for corrugated, as low as 1 degree for some profiles | 15 degrees for most Monier concrete profiles | 15 degrees with sarking for Marseille, 12 for Monier's Nouveau |
| By the sea | Standard sheet from 200 m back from breaking surf, Ultra or stainless closer in | Monier says salt safe | Monier says salt safe |
| Colour over time | Baked-on finish in 22 core colours | Surface colour fades to a softer, matt look | Fired-in colour that doesn't fade |
| Routine upkeep | Hose the spots rain can't reach every six months | Ridge mortar and pointing, repaint only for looks | Ridge mortar and pointing, no repainting needed |
| Bushfire | Can be part of a compliant roof up to BAL-FZ | Non-combustible under NCC 2022 | Non-combustible under NCC 2022 |
Why weight and pitch matter more than looks
In those published examples, a square metre of tiles weighs more than ten times as much as a square metre of corrugated steel. That cuts both ways when you switch.
Going from steel to tiles means the frame has to carry far more load, and Monier says a roof's pitch and structure are designed around a particular material. Going from tiles to steel makes the roof much lighter in wind. WA's Building and Energy found lightweight metal that had replaced tile or asbestos roofing was over-represented among roofs lost in storms. Either way, the frame and tie-downs need checking, and the change often needs a building permit.
Pitch can settle it outright. Tiles generally need a slope of 12 to 15 degrees or more depending on the profile, while corrugated steel goes down to 5 degrees and some concealed-fix sheeting to 1 degree. A low skillion or near-flat roof is a steel roof.
Which is hotter, and which is noisier?
Colour matters more than material for heat. BlueScope says a light roof can run up to 35 degrees cooler on the surface than a dark one in hot sun, and tile makers publish solar absorptance figures for their colours as well. Under the 2022 edition of the National Construction Code, new roofs in climate zones 1 to 5 need a solar absorptance of 0.64 or less to use the simpler compliance pathway. Our Colorbond colours guide lists the figure for each colour.
Steel is louder in heavy rain unless it's insulated well. Lysaght says an insulation blanket held hard against the underside of the sheets reduces rain noise, so make sure one is quoted. Monier claims a tiled roof has a noise reduction rating of 30 decibels, though that's the maker's own figure.
Under either roof, insulation does most of the work for comfort. BlueScope says the best thermal result under metal comes from a blanket and foil under the roofing plus insulation in the ceiling. Our guide to roof insulation explains the options.
What about the coast, hail and bushfire?
Salt decides the steel. BlueScope recommends standard Colorbond more than 200 m from breaking surf, Colorbond Ultra between 100 and 200 m, and its SUPERDURA stainless product closer than that. Monier says its concrete and terracotta tiles are salt safe and won't corrode, which makes tiles the simpler pick right on the beach.
In hail, BlueScope says dents don't usually shorten a Colorbond roof's life, though big dents on a low pitch can hold water. With tiles, Monier says only the broken ones need replacing after a storm. Our guide to hail damage claims covers the insurance side.
Both can work in bushfire areas. BlueScope says Colorbond roofing can be part of a compliant system right up to BAL-FZ, the highest attack level. Monier says its tiles are recognised as non-combustible under NCC 2022 and, with ember protection and fire-rated sarking, can form part of a roof that meets AS 3959, the bushfire building standard.
Which one lasts longer?
Tiles, on most published figures. The NSW Government's heritage maintenance schedule gives steel roofs 20 to 40 years and terracotta about 40, and Monier says terracotta often lasts more than a century. In practice the mortar, flashings and sarking on a tiled roof need attention well before the tiles do.
Warranties differ too. Monier tiles bought from 1 July 2026 carry a 30 year product warranty when installed to its guides, and Bristile offers 100 years on selected terracotta. BlueScope's warranties depend on the end use and location, and BlueScope says overpainting Colorbond voids them, so a steel roof is one you hose down rather than paint.
How to choose for your house
Check the pitch and the frame
Ask a roofer to measure the pitch and look at the frame. A low pitch rules out tiles, and a frame built for steel may not carry tiles without work.
Work out how close the surf is
Within 200 m of breaking surf, standard Colorbond isn't BlueScope's recommendation, so price Colorbond Ultra, stainless or tiles instead. BlueScope measures from the high water mark.
Check overlays and bushfire ratings
Ask your council whether a heritage overlay or bushfire rating applies to your block. Heritage controls can require particular materials, and your bushfire attack level sets what the roof has to meet.
Pick a colour for your climate
Lighter colours keep the roof cooler. Try colours on a photo of your own house with our colour visualiser, then look at a real sample in your own light.
Old roof coming off? Rule out asbestos first
Cement sheeting on a house built or renovated before 1990 may be asbestos cement, and only a licensed asbestos removalist should take it off. Nobody should cut, drill or walk on it before it's tested. Our page on asbestos roof replacement explains how that job runs.
What's yours to sort out, and what's the roofer's
You can
- Check council overlays and bushfire maps for your address
- Look at real colour and tile samples in your own light
- Work out roughly how far you are from breaking surf
- Decide how long you're staying and what look you want
- Ask for both materials quoted on the same scope
Leave to a roofer
- Measuring the pitch and checking the frame
- Advising on tie-downs or structural changes
- Arranging permits or certifier sign-off where needed
- Taking the old roof off, with licensed asbestos removal if needed
- Fitting sarking, insulation blanket and flashings
How we'd choose
We'd let the house decide. On a low pitch or a light frame, we'd go steel and insist on a proper insulation blanket under it. Close to the surf, we'd lean to tiles or Colorbond Ultra rather than standard sheet. On a sound tiled house in a street of tiled houses, re-tiling keeps the look and the structure as they are. Whichever you pick, we'd have the frame checked before anyone changes the weight it carries.
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.