Roofing in Brisbane

Two separate ones: a manufacturer warranty on materials (often 20-50 years, sometimes conditional on certified installation) and the contractor's own workmanship warranty (5-10 years is respectable). Get both in writing and understand what voids them — foot traffic, unventilated attics and pressure washing are common exclusions.

Typical service lives: asphalt shingles 15-30 years, concrete tile 40-60, clay tile and slate 60-100+, metal 40-70, flat membranes (felt, EPDM, TPO) 15-30. Underlayment and flashings usually fail before the covering itself, which is why old roofs leak even with intact tiles.

Yes, over time — moss holds moisture against the surface, lifts tile and shingle edges, and accelerates frost damage. Have it removed by soft washing or manual scraping, never high-pressure washing, which strips granules and forces water under the covering. Zinc or copper strips slow regrowth.

Sometimes — an overlay saves tear-off cost but hides deck problems, adds weight, and often shortens the new roof's life and warranty. Many codes and manufacturers limit roofs to two layers. Tear-off costs more upfront and is usually the better long-term decision; get both options priced.

A full replacement runs roughly AUD $10,000 for a small single-storey home to $40,000+ for a large two-storey, with metal (Colorbond) and concrete tile the mainstream options. Roof restoration — clean, rebed, repoint and repaint — is the cheaper alternative at about $2,500-$7,000 when the roof is structurally sound.

Restoration keeps the existing tiles or sheets: high-pressure clean, replace broken tiles, rebed and repoint ridges, then seal and paint. It costs a fraction of replacement and adds 10-15 years to a sound roof, but it cannot fix widespread corrosion, cracked battens or failed sarking.