What changes a re-roof on the Sunshine Coast
Fibro under the old roof
Seaside shacks built from 1914 to 1946 often used recycled materials, fibro cement among them, and building boomed again in the 1960s and 1970s. In Queensland, removing more than 10 square metres of bonded asbestos takes a Class B or Class A licensed removalist.
A coastline under pressure
Sunshine Coast Council has prioritised Golden Beach and Bulcock Beach for coastal hazard work, and the Moffat Beach seawall at Caloundra was rebuilt larger from May 2025 after repeated storm damage. For homes within a kilometre of the shoreline, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority notes the code calls for heavily galvanised or stainless structural steel.
Steel for the surf zone
Within 100 m of breaking surf, the building code's corrosion table rules out standard coated and painted steel, and between 100 and 200 m it calls for heavier AZ200 or AM150 coatings. Lysaght points Sunshine Coast homes to COLORBOND Ultra and SUPERDURA stainless for those zones.
Fire country near Noosa
In 2019, fires at Peregian Beach, Cooroibah and Noosa North Shore forced more than 8,000 people to evacuate, and Peregian Springs was threatened twice in a few months. On bushland edges, ask how the new roof, sarking and gutters will suit your Bushfire Attack Level (BAL).
Choosing a roof for a humid coast
Tile and steel both work here. Monier says its concrete and terracotta tiles are salt safe and won't corrode. Steel is far lighter, and because a roof's structure was designed for a particular material, Monier says switching to lightweight roofing may need engineering advice.
Under the roof, CSR Bradford recommends non-permeable sarking in hot humid and warm humid climates. Ask your roofer which sarking they're using and why, especially under steel, where condensation can form. Our Colorbond vs tile guide compares the two.
Contracts for a big job
Queensland work worth more than $3,300 needs a written contract: Level 1 up to $19,999, Level 2 from $20,000. With a Level 2 contract, the roofer must give you the QBCC Consumer Building Guide to read before you sign. You then generally have 5 business days to cool off, counted from the day after you receive the signed contract and the guide.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is my current roof asbestos, and who's removing it?
- Is the removalist Class A or Class B licensed, and will they notify Workplace Health and Safety Queensland?
- What steel grade or tile suits my distance from the surf?
- Which sarking will you use, and why that one in this climate?
- What's my BAL rating, and does the roof design meet it?
- Is this a Level 2 contract, and when do I get the Consumer Building Guide?
How we'd handle it
We'd test the old roof for asbestos first, because it changes the cost and the crew. Then we'd let the site decide: distance to the surf for the steel, BAL rating on the bushland edge. And we'd want the steel grade, sarking and fixings named in writing before signing. Our national roof replacement page and the Sunshine Coast hub have more.
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.