What shapes a new roof in Sydney
Bushland on the doorstep
The Gospers Mountain fire destroyed 90 homes across the Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Singleton council areas in 2019 to 2020, and the Green Wattle Creek fire jumped Lake Burragorang and reached Yanderra. The NSW RFS says roofing on bush fire prone land should be non-combustible and properly sealed, and that box gutters and flat roofs are best avoided. A re-roof is the natural time to make those changes.
Sarking goes in when the roof comes off
The NSW RFS guide to upgrading existing homes recommends installing sarking (the membrane under the roofing) with a flammability index of no more than 5 when roofing is replaced. It's an older guide that references the 2009 edition of AS 3959, so ask your roofer what current standard they'll build to.
Close to the surf
Lysaght recommends COLORBOND Ultra steel 100 to 200 m from breaking surf and SUPERDURA stainless within 100 m. Waves over 5 m damaged Collaroy on the Northern Beaches in February 2020. Monier says its concrete and terracotta tiles are salt safe, so tiles stay an option right on the coast. Our Colorbond roofing in Sydney page covers the harbour and Botany Bay.
Heritage means like for like
In the Paddington Heritage Conservation Area, original roofing can only come off if it's replaced with the same or similar materials and details. In Haberfield, Inner West Council lists matching unglazed terracotta Marseilles tiles, terracotta shingle tiles or Welsh slate, and limits corrugated steel to the rear or skillion roofs.
Asbestos under the old roof
The NSW EPA says a home built before 1990 probably contains some asbestos. Removing more than 10 square metres of bonded asbestos needs a licensed removalist, who must notify SafeWork. You're responsible for lawful disposal as the waste owner, so ask for the tip receipt.
NSW paperwork for a job this size
Home Building Compensation Fund cover is needed for most residential work over $20,000, and the roofer must give you the certificate before taking any money. The deposit can't be more than 10 percent.
Check the licence on Verify NSW for the right category: roof tiling, roof slating or roof plumbing for metal. If a company signs the contract, the licence has to be in the company's name, not just the owner's.
What to ask before you sign for a Sydney re-roof
- Is my property on bush fire prone land, and what will you do differently because of it?
- Exactly which roofing product and steel grade are you quoting, and does it suit my distance from the water?
- Have you worked in a heritage conservation area, and will you deal with council?
- If there's asbestos, who removes it, which licence do they hold, and will I get the disposal receipt?
- Can I see the HBCF certificate before I pay the deposit?
Our take
We'd sort the local questions before collecting quotes: bush fire prone status from the planning certificate, distance from the surf or exposed water, any heritage controls and an asbestos check on an older roof. Then every roofer prices the same job. Don't hand over a cent until you've seen the HBCF certificate. Our national roof replacement page explains the job itself, and the Sydney roofing hub covers the rest of the local 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.