What to weigh up on the Sunshine Coast
Distance from the surf, measured properly
BlueScope's TB-35 counts the Sunshine Coast beaches as surf, and the only calm water it names up here is the Twin Waters canal estates. It measures marine distances from the high water mark, and recommends standard COLORBOND beyond 200 m from breaking surf and COLORBOND Ultra from 100 m, while Lysaght points Sunshine Coast homes closer than 100 m to SUPERDURA stainless. Prevailing winds and spots that rain never washes can make a site harsher than its distance suggests.
Water levels shifting at Golden Beach
Since the Bribie Island breakthroughs, council says water level monitoring at Golden Beach has shown rises equal to the conditions predicted for 2041. If you're on the water there, ask your roofer how BlueScope would class your site.
Hail on steel
In the November 2019 storm, hail up to 7.7 cm damaged roofs across parts of the coast. BlueScope says hail dents don't usually shorten a COLORBOND roof's life, but on a low-pitched roof big dents can pond water, so pitch matters.
Embers on the bushland edge
After the 2019 Peregian and Cooroibah fires, ember-proofing is a real question in the north. Lysaght says closing off rib cavities with infill strips, turn-downs or stop-ends keeps out embers, birds and wind-driven rain, and COLORBOND can form part of a system rated up to BAL-FZ.
Hot days
Sunshine Coast Airport's record is 41.3 °C. Lighter colours reflect more of the sun, and BlueScope prints each colour's solar absorptance on the back of the swatch, so you can compare before you choose.
Solar, colours and fixings
If solar panels are going back on, BlueScope suggests mounting them more than about 75 mm above the ribs so the steel underneath can self-clean and dry, which counts in a humid climate. Ultra comes in 7 colours, including Windspray and Woodland Grey, and SUPERDURA in 4.
Ask for neutral cure sealant and no lead or copper anywhere on the roof, because both corrode coated steel. Our national Colorbond roofing page covers profiles like corrugated and KLIP-LOK.
Contract basics
For a job between $3,301 and $19,999, Queensland requires a Level 1 contract and caps the deposit at 10%. From $20,000, the cap drops to 5%. Metal roofing falls under the QBCC's roof and wall cladding licence, so check that class on the register.
Questions for a Sunshine Coast metal roofer
- Which grade are you quoting, and how did you work out my distance from the surf?
- Will you fit infill strips or stop-ends at the ridge and eaves?
- What pitch is my roof, and would hail dents pond on it?
- How will the solar panels be remounted, and how high above the ribs?
- Will you register the BlueScope warranty, and what do you need from me?
Our advice
We'd pick the grade from the distance to the surf first, then the colour from that grade's range. Near the bushland around Peregian or Noosa, we'd ask for every rib and gap to be sealed against embers. And we'd lean toward a lighter colour, given summer days that have reached 41.3 °C. See the Sunshine Coast hub for the wider picture.
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.