What's Included
A standard roof restoration quote covers:
- High-pressure wash to remove dirt, moss, lichen, and loose material
- Replacement of cracked or broken tiles (tiled roofs)
- Rust treatment and spot-priming (metal roofs)
- Ridge cap re-bedding and re-pointing where mortar has cracked (tiled roofs)
- Primer/sealer coat over the clean, repaired surface
- Two coats of roof membrane or acrylic roof paint, applied per AS/NZS 2311:2017 (three coats on bare surfaces)
- Height safety compliance per AS/NZS 1576 and Safe Work Australia requirements (edge protection required at 2m+ fall risk)
Materials (paint, primer, ridge cap compound) typically make up 25–35% of the total. The rest is labour, access equipment, and safety compliance. A proper restoration includes all steps above. Quotes that skip the pressure wash or primer coat are not offering a genuine restoration.
Roof Coating Types and What They Cost
Choosing the right coating system is the single biggest decision after repair scope. The three main categories are standard acrylic, roof membrane, and heat reflective coatings.
| Coating Type | Price/Litre | Coverage | Lifespan | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard acrylic (e.g. Nutech NuFlex) | $7–$15/L | 4–5 m2/L per coat | 7–10 years | Budget tile roofs in good condition |
| Premium acrylic (e.g. Nutech TileFlex) | $12–$20/L | 4–5 m2/L per coat | 10–12 years | Tile roofs needing longer durability |
| Roof membrane (e.g. Dulux AcraTex, Shieldcoat Roofbond) | $15–$25/L | 1.5–4 m2/L per coat | 12–15 years | Cracked tiles, hairline gaps, waterproofing |
| Heat reflective (e.g. Nutech NXT CoolZone, Shieldcoat Thermobond HRC) | $18–$30/L | 4–6 m2/L per coat | 10–15 years | Hot climates, reducing cooling costs |
| Metal roof paint (Colorbond-compatible) | $15–$25/L | 10–16 m2/L per coat | 10–15 years | Colorbond, corrugated iron, Zincalume |
Coverage rates vary significantly between product types. A high-build roof membrane at 2 m2/L per coat uses far more product than a standard acrylic at 5 m2/L. Per-litre price alone is misleading. Cost per square metre of roof covered is the meaningful comparison.
The three specialist roof coating brands in Australia are Dulux AcraTex (market leader, trade-only), Nutech (mid-range, popular with sole traders), and Shieldcoat (mid-premium, Australian-made). Wattyl Solagard is available through Bunnings but is a general exterior paint, not a purpose-built roof restoration system.
What Affects the Cost
| Component | Typical Cost | |---|---|---| | Pressure washing | $3–$7/m2 ($250–$500 for a typical home) | | Ridge cap re-bedding and re-pointing | $40–$80 per linear metre ($1,500–$4,500 total) | | Tile replacement | $80–$150/m2 (larger areas) or $150–$300 per visit for a few tiles | | Rust treatment (localised spots) | $200–$500 | | Rust treatment (widespread) | $40–$70/m2 | | Edge protection/scaffolding | $1,000–$5,000 depending on access | | Solar panel removal and reinstallation | $800–$1,700 (by a licensed CEC-accredited electrician) |
Per-square-metre rates for the full restoration (wash, repair, prime, two coats) vary by roof type:
| Roof Type | Per m2 Rate |
|---|---|
| Metal (Colorbond, corrugated iron) | $20–$40/m2 |
| Concrete tile | $25–$50/m2 |
| Terracotta tile | $30–$55/m2 |
Other factors that push the price up: steep pitch (slower work, more safety gear), two-storey homes (access cost), complex rooflines with multiple hips and valleys, and colour changes requiring additional coats.
Signs Your Roof Needs Restoration
- Faded or chalky surface. Run a finger across a tile. If it comes away dusty or chalky, the coating has broken down and the tile is absorbing moisture.
- Cracked or lifting ridge caps. The mortar along the ridge line cracks with age and thermal movement. On tile roofs over 20 years old, failing ridge caps are almost universal.
- Moss, lichen, or dark staining. Biological growth holds moisture against the roof surface, accelerating tile porosity and coating breakdown. South-facing slopes are worst.
- Rust spots on metal roofs. Surface rust at screw points and overlaps is the early warning. Left untreated, it spreads and eventually perforates the sheeting.
- Visible colour difference between slopes. North and west-facing slopes degrade faster due to UV exposure. If one side looks noticeably worse, the coating is past its service life.
- Selling the property. A fresh roof is one of the highest-impact street appeal improvements. A restoration typically costs a fraction of a roof replacement and delivers a noticeable visual uplift.
Asbestos Cement Roofs
Homes built before 1990 may have asbestos cement roofing (fibro sheets). These roofs can be painted but must not be high-pressure washed, sanded, or drilled. Any surface preparation that abrades the material releases asbestos fibres.
A licensed roof painter can coat bonded asbestos using brush, roller, or low-pressure airless sprayer without disturbing the surface. If the asbestos sheets are damaged, cracked, or deteriorating, they need removal by a licensed asbestos removalist before any painting work. Encapsulation (overcoating) is possible but postpones the underlying issue.
City and Regional Price Comparison
Prices vary across Australia based on labour rates, dominant roof types, and climate impacts.
Sydney serves as the baseline at $3,500–$15,000 per job. Melbourne pricing is comparable, though Melbourne roofs accumulate more moss and lichen due to damper winters, adding prep time. Brisbane labour rates sit slightly below, but intense UV means roofs degrade faster, so they are painted more frequently. Perth and Adelaide typically run 10–15% above eastern capitals due to smaller trade pools.
Within any city, roof type and condition create the main variance. Established suburbs with 30+ year old concrete tile roofs (Canterbury in Melbourne, Epping in Sydney, Camp Hill in Brisbane) consistently need more repair work than newer Colorbond roofs in outer suburbs. Coastal suburbs face salt degradation that shortens coating life by 3–5 years.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on surveyed trade rates for licensed roof painters and restoration specialists, adjusted for each state and property type. All prices include GST. Figures cover standard residential roof restoration including wash, repair, and paint. If you are also planning to repaint the house exterior, combining exterior painting with the roof job can reduce total scaffolding and access costs. Structural roof repairs, full re-roofing, solar panel removal, and asbestos removal are not included.