What a Sunshine Coast roof has been through
Built in waves
Caloundra boomed from the early 1950s, and the wider coast went through a development boom in the 1960s and 1970s before rapid growth after the 1980s. Roofs from those booms are now decades old, which is when restoration questions start.
It started with fibro
Between 1914 and 1946 the north coast filled with cheap seaside shacks, often built from recycled materials including fibro cement. Queensland's asbestos authority says homes built before 1990 are likely to contain asbestos, so older and extended homes need checking before any clean.
Damp all year
Wikipedia describes the climate as humid subtropical with no dry season, and afternoon humidity at the airport averages 66%, rising to 71% in February. That keeps shaded slopes damp, which is how moss and lichen settle in.
Hail damage that was missed
The November 2019 hailstorm damaged roofs and solar panels across parts of the coast. A restoration is a good chance to find and replace any tiles that were cracked by hail and never picked up.
What's in a restoration
A roofer cleans the roof, replaces broken tiles, rebeds and repoints the ridge capping, then applies a coating if the roof needs one. Metal roofs get rust treatment, fresh screws and a primer and topcoat. Our national roof restoration page has the steps, and terracotta restoration covers clay tiles.
Book the coating for the driest window you can. At the airport, September is the driest month at 52.3 mm, while February averages 217.5 mm.
Warranty and contract rules
Queensland's Home Warranty Scheme covers roof restoration worth more than $3,300. Cover lasts 6 years and 6 months, and the contractor collects the premium, usually with the deposit. If the roofer finds extra work once they're up there, the change has to be put to you in writing, and you reply in writing to agree.
Questions for a Sunshine Coast restorer
- Is the roof sound enough to restore, and can you show me why?
- Has the roof material been checked for asbestos?
- Which coating, how many coats, and what's the warranty?
- When will the coating go on, and what happens if rain is forecast?
- Is the home warranty premium included in your price?
If we were restoring
We'd restore if the tiles are mostly sound, book the work for late winter or early spring, and get the asbestos question answered before anyone cleans the roof. We'd ask for photos from the roof with every quote, so we could see what we're paying for. The Sunshine Coast hub has more on local conditions.
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.