Ricky Jenner Roofing prices every Colorbond roof in the Northern Rivers from an on-site measure, because the cost of a Colorbond roof depends on the roof in front of us: its size, pitch, height, access and what has to come off first.
How much does a Colorbond roof cost per m²?
The honest answer is that a square-metre rate is a starting point, not a price. Two houses with the same floor area can have very different roofs. One is a single-storey gable with a clear driveway. The other is a steep two-storey hip roof with three valleys, a chimney and a yard full of garden beds between the truck and the house. The second roof takes longer to strip, needs more scaffold and more flashings, and costs more.
That is why roofers quote per job. It is also why this page has no online calculator. A calculator can multiply an area by a rate, but it cannot see the pitch, the access or the state of the battens under your old roof.
When this guide was first published in March 2023, our broad indicative range was $50 to $100 per m², including installation. It is a 2023 figure, not a current price, so use it only as a rough way to sense-check a quote. What your roof costs today comes down to the factors below.
What affects the cost of a Colorbond roof?
These items move the price of a new Colorbond roof or roof replacement the most. A good quote shows each one as a line, so you can see where the money goes.
| Cost factor | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Roof size | More square metres means more sheet, more screws, more insulation blanket and more labour. |
| Shape and complexity | Hips, valleys and dormers each need extra cuts, cappings and flashings. A plain gable is the cheapest shape to cover. |
| Pitch | Steep roofs are slower and need more edge protection. Very low pitches need a profile rated for them. |
| Height and access | A second storey, a sloping block or no room for a truck or crane adds time and equipment. |
| Sheet profile | Corrugated, ribbed and concealed-fixed sheets are priced differently, and each has its own minimum pitch. |
| Grade and finish | BlueScope recommends standard Colorbond steel more than 200 m from breaking surf and the dearer Colorbond Ultra between 100 and 200 m. |
| Tear-off and disposal | Tiles are heavy and come off piece by piece, so they take longer to strip than old metal. Every load goes to the tip. |
| Battens and frame | Rotten battens or damaged timbers are fixed before the new sheets go on. On tile to metal jobs, battens are often refixed or replaced. |
| Insulation and sarking | A blanket under the sheets adds material cost, and it is what makes a metal roof quieter in rain and cooler in summer. |
| Flashings and penetrations | Chimneys, skylights, solar mounts, whirlybirds and vent pipes each need their own flashing. |
| Gutters and downpipes | Replacing them with the roof adds cost, but shares one scaffold setup instead of two. |
| Scaffold and safety | Edge protection goes up around the roof before anyone works on it. It is part of the job, not an extra. |
Changing the roof shape or pitch, or working on a heritage-listed home, can raise planning questions, so check with your council first. Our guide to choosing a profile covers the sheet options.
What should an itemised roofing quote include?
An itemised quote lets you compare two roofers line by line. Look for:
- the roof area and the profile, grade and colour of the sheets
- removal and disposal of the old roof, and whether tiles or metal are coming off
- battens: kept, refixed or replaced, and how any frame repairs will be priced
- insulation blanket or sarking, with the product named
- ridge and hip cappings, valley flashings, and a flashing for every penetration
- gutters, downpipes and fascia, if they are included
- scaffold and edge protection for the whole job
- the contractor licence number, and who will do the work
- what happens to the price if hidden damage turns up
- a start window and a rough length of the job
If a quote is one line with a total, ask for the breakdown before you sign.
How can you keep the cost of a new roof down?
Some costs are fixed by the house. Others you can control:
- Fix the real problem. A single leak around a flashing is usually a repair, not a new roof. Get the roof looked at before you price a replacement.
- Stay in the standard range. Standard Colorbond steel in a core colour is the usual choice away from the beach. Only pay for Ultra or stainless when the distance from the surf calls for it.
- Pick a profile that suits the pitch. Choosing a sheet the roof does not need can add cost without adding value.
- Bundle the gutters. If the gutters are near the end of their life, replacing them with the roof shares the scaffold and the call-out.
- Give us clear access. Room for the delivery truck, and a clear path around the house, saves time on the day.
- Plan ahead. Booking before a roof starts leaking gives you time to compare quotes and pick a start date that suits you.
Colorbond vs Zincalume vs tile: how do the costs compare?
Zincalume steel is the unpainted option. It uses the same kind of sheet as Colorbond without the paint layers, and it is popular on sheds and rural buildings. Our Zincalume vs Colorbond guide compares the two.
Tile is a different system. Tiles are heavy, they need a steeper pitch, and the roof frame is built to carry them. Replacing a tired tile roof with new tiles, or converting it to metal, each has its own costs. Removal, disposal and new battens are the big items on a tile to Colorbond conversion. The upside is a much lighter roof that suits rainwater tanks and needs less upkeep. For the full comparison of weight, heat, noise and upkeep, read Colorbond vs tile.
Getting a firm price for your roof
Ricky Jenner Roofing is based in Wollongbar and works across the Northern Rivers, from Ballina and Lennox Head to Lismore and the Byron hinterland. Our business licence is NSW contractor licence 389777C, and Ricky has been a licensed roof plumber since 2009. Every job starts with an on-site look at the roof, and you get a free itemised quote in writing, with every line above spelled out.
If you are still deciding what to put on the roof, start with our page on Colorbond roof installation.
Common questions
How much does a Colorbond roof cost for a 3 bedroom house?
There is no set price for a three bedroom house, because bedrooms do not decide the cost. Roof area, pitch, height, access, the number of hips and valleys, and what has to come off first do. A single-storey roof with easy access costs less than a steep two-storey roof of the same size. An on-site measure gives you a firm, itemised figure.
What are the prices of Colorbond roofing at Bunnings?
Hardware stores sell Colorbond sheets, flashings and screws by the metre or the pack, so the shelf price is for material only. An installed roof also covers removing the old roof, battens, insulation blanket, flashings, gutters, fixings, scaffold edge protection, disposal and licensed labour. Compare installed quotes with installed quotes, not with a sheet price.
Is it cheaper to paint or replace a metal roof?
Painting costs less up front, but it only makes sense on sheets that are still sound. Paint does not fix rust holes, loose or corroded screws, failed flashings or sheets that have thinned out, and BlueScope's material warranty for Colorbond roofing is void once a post-paint treatment is applied. If the roof is rusting through or leaking in several places, replacing it is usually the better spend.
Can I install a Colorbond roof myself?
It is not a DIY job. In NSW, work on roof coverings, gutters, downpipes and flashings is roof plumbing, and it needs a contractor licence when the job is worth more than $5,000 in labour and materials. Falls from roofs cause serious injuries, and mistakes with laps, fixings and flashings cause leaks and can put the BlueScope material warranty at risk.
Will a Colorbond roof fade?
Yes, slowly. Every paint finish weathers, so a Colorbond roof loses some gloss and shifts in colour over the years. BlueScope's warranty treats that as normal weathering and does not cover it. What the warranty does cover, for set periods, is the paint flaking or peeling and the steel rusting through. Hosing down the areas rain does not reach keeps the finish in better shape.
Why choose Colorbond roofing?
Colorbond steel is light, quick to install, made and backed by BlueScope, and comes in a wide colour range, most of it with Thermatech solar reflectance. The steel is 100% recyclable and a material warranty is available for eligible roofs. Ricky Jenner Roofing installs it on re-roofs, new builds and tile to metal conversions across the Northern Rivers.
