The three Newcastle checks
Distance from breaking surf
Newcastle's beaches run from Stockton's ocean side to Nobbys, Bar Beach and Merewether, and in the June 2007 storm sand blew more than 100 metres inland. The NCC rates ordinary metallic-coated and painted steel as unsuitable within 100 m of breaking surf, and asks for AZ200 or AM150 coated steel from 100 m to 200 m. Monier says its concrete and terracotta tiles are salt safe.
Old coal workings
Parts of the city sit within the zone of influence of old underground mines. In a proclaimed Mine Subsidence District, building work needs Subsidence Advisory NSW approval before it starts, and its conditions can cover materials and construction methods. Ask Subsidence Advisory NSW whether your re-roof needs approval before you sign.
Bush fire prone land
City of Newcastle and the Hunter councils map bush fire prone land. Check yours with the NSW RFS online tool, the council map or your Section 10.7 planning certificate. The RFS says roofing there should be non-combustible and properly sealed, and its upgrade guide suggests sarking with a flammability index of no more than 5 whenever a roof is replaced.
Approvals and heritage
A July 2023 NSW planning fact sheet says repairing or replacing roof tiling and sheeting can be exempt development, meaning no planning approval, as long as the new material performs properly and doesn't compromise the structure. That exemption doesn't apply in heritage conservation areas, and Newcastle has nine of them, from Cooks Hill and The Hill to Hamilton South. Since 2018, roof cladding can only be exempt on one and two storey houses, and never with combustible cladding.
Swapping heavy tiles for steel is a common Newcastle re-roof. Monier notes the roof's pitch and frame were designed for a particular material, so a change can need engineering advice. Our Colorbond vs tile guide sets out the trade-offs, and Colorbond in Newcastle covers which steel suits your distance from the sea.
NSW paperwork for a new roof
- A licensed contractor whose licence covers the work, checked on the NSW Government's online licence check
- A Home Building Compensation Fund certificate in your hands before you pay anything, deposit included
- A deposit of no more than 10 percent, and progress payments that match work actually done
- A written note to your home insurer before work begins, because Building Commission NSW warns you may not be covered at all otherwise
- If the old roof is asbestos, a licensed removalist and a copy of the disposal receipt
Questions for a Newcastle re-roof quote
- How far is my house from breaking surf, and is the steel you're quoting rated for that distance?
- Is my property in a Mine Subsidence District, and have you allowed for any approval?
- Is the block bush fire prone, and how are the roof and gutters sealed against embers?
- Does the price include new sarking, flashings, gutters and taking the old roof away?
- Who tests for asbestos, and is licensed removal in the quote?
Where we'd start
We'd do the three checks first, because each takes minutes online or by phone and can change the whole quote. Close to the surf, we'd rather pay for the right steel, or stay with tiles, than replace a corroded roof early. And we wouldn't pay a cent until the insurance certificate arrives. The national roof replacement page explains the job, and the Newcastle page has the local background.
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.