What goes wrong on Mackay roofs
Short sheets, more laps
Council's heritage guide says older Mackay houses were first roofed with short lengths of corrugated galvanised iron, fixed with lead-head galvanised nails. Every overlap between short sheets is a place water can get in, and old nails work loose. Many roofs have since been re-sheeted in single lengths of zincalume.
Old and new metal don't mix
The guide warns that water running off new zincalume into old galvanised gutters can cause electrolysis and corrosion. A repair that adds new sheets above old gutters can start a fresh problem a few years later.
Heavy wet-season rain
February is Mackay's wettest month at 322.7 mm on average, with January close behind at 309.3 mm (Mackay Aero, 1950 to 2024). Mackay's highest one-day total, 627.4 mm, fell during the 1918 cyclone. A worn roof gets found out quickly between December and March.
Termites and dry rot
The council says yearly termite checks are essential for Mackay buildings, and structural timber should be checked for dry rot and termite damage. Soft battens won't hold screws, however new the sheet on top.
Repair or re-sheet?
A loose sheet, a failed flashing or a handful of popped nails can be repaired. If the iron is rusting through in several places, or the roof is still on lead-head nails, a patch buys little time. Re-sheeting is when council's guide says to improve bracing and the joint strength of the framing for tie-down.
Be aware that Queensland's Household Resilience Program, which closed to new applications on 2 October 2026, never covered partial roof replacement or re-nailing. So if anyone suggests a grant for re-nailing, it wasn't on offer even before the program closed.
Whirlybirds are a common leak point too. The QRA says they can spin excessively, change shape or blow off in a cyclone, letting wind and water in. If yours is old, ask whether it should be replaced or capped. See whirlybirds.
Fibro, wet roofs and storms
Mackay's heritage guide notes some timber houses were clad with asbestos cement sheeting, and old fibro needs precautions before anyone removes it. Never go up on a wet roof or once a cyclone warning is out. For storm damage emergencies call the SES on 132 500.
Questions for a Mackay roofer
- Is the roof still on lead-head nails, and should it be re-sheeted rather than patched?
- Will new sheets drain into old galvanised gutters, and should those be replaced too?
- Did you find termite damage or dry rot in the battens or rafters?
- If we re-sheet, will you upgrade the tie-downs and bracing as council's guide suggests?
- Is my house heritage-listed or in a character area, and does that limit the materials?
- Which QBCC licence covers this work, and what's the number?
Our take
We'd patch a sound roof and re-sheet a tired one, and on an older Mackay house we wouldn't re-sheet without the tie-down upgrade. Replace old galvanised gutters at the same time if the new roof will drain into them. Doing it in pieces usually costs more in the end.
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.
Tell us what's leaking and your suburb. Where we have a licence-checked roofer for repairs in your part of Mackay, your contact details go to them and no other roofer. See our national roof repairs page and the Mackay hub.