Ocean, river, hills and wind
The ocean side
The metro coast runs from Two Rocks to Singleton along the Indian Ocean. BlueScope's TB-35 names Scarborough, Cottesloe, and Leighton and Port Beach as surf, and Cockburn Sound and Safety Bay as exposed, which carries the same limits. Its homeowner guide says standard Colorbond suits homes more than 200 m from breaking surf, Colorbond Ultra suits 100 to 200 m, and Superdura Stainless is for very severe sites within 100 m.
The river side
About 60 km of the Swan River is brackish estuary. BlueScope's TB-35 bulletin classes the river west of the Narrows Bridge as calm, and that takes in Melville Water. Standard Colorbond can go any distance from calm water. Upstream of the bridge the table doesn't name the river, so get your roofer to check that stretch.
The hills
BlueScope says Colorbond roofing, gutters and downpipes can form part of a compliant system in bushfire prone areas, right up to BAL-FZ under AS 3959. The ember gaps at ridges, eaves and valleys still need sealing as part of that system.
Tie-downs and permits
Building and Energy found that about half the Perth roofs lost in storms were lightweight metal that had replaced heavy tile or asbestos. A lighter roof may need extra tie-downs, so a switch from tiles will likely need a building permit. In 2025 an unregistered roofing company and its director were fined $22,500 over a $27,445 tile-to-steel job.
Which steel suits which spot?
| From breaking surf or exposed water | From calm water (like the Swan west of the Narrows) | |
|---|---|---|
| Colorbond, Classic or Matt finish | Over 200 m | Any distance |
| Zincalume, Colorbond Metallic or Coolmax | Over 200 m | Over 100 m |
| Colorbond Ultra | Over 100 m | Any distance |
| Superdura Stainless | Any distance | Any distance |
What closer to the beach means for you
BlueScope measures these distances from the high water mark, and says local winds and parts of the roof the rain doesn't wash also affect how steel lasts. Closer in, the choice narrows: Ultra comes in 7 colours and Superdura Stainless in 4, so a home a street back from Cottesloe Beach may not get every colour in the brochure.
Fixings, flashings and gutters should match the grade of the roof. BlueScope also warns that copper and lead cause corrosion, including copper-rich water from a hot water system overflow, so ask for that pipe to run down to the ground.
Near the coast, BlueScope suggests hosing down the spots rain doesn't reach, like the underside of eave gutters, every three months. That's a job you can do from the ground.
Ask a Perth roofer before you pick a colour
- How far is my roof from breaking surf, measured from the high water mark?
- Which BlueScope product are you quoting, and does it suit that distance?
- Are the screws, flashings and gutters the same coastal grade?
- Does this need a building permit, and are you a registered builder?
- Can I see a real sample sheet in my own light before you order?
Our take
If you're within a few hundred metres of the beach, settle the steel first and the colour second. We'd ask the roofer to write the BlueScope product name and the surf distance they've assumed on the quote. It costs nothing to add, and it's the line that matters most if the roof starts to corrode early.
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 where you are and what's on the roof now. Where we have a licence-checked roofer who does Colorbond in that part of Perth, the job goes to them only; if we don't, you'll know straight away. Colorbond roofing has the general picture, and our Perth page has the rest.