1. What impacts the cost of my roofing job?
A large project like roofing is often a costly job, so you should know how the cost is worked out. Major elements that impact the cost include the roofing material you choose, the size of your roof (in square metres), the pitch or angle of your roof and what the roofing contractor charges for labour. If access to your property is difficult then you are also likely to be charged accordingly. Look to get at least three quotes so you can compare apples with apples.
2. What will my new roof cost?
You are also going to want to ask how much your roofing job will cost. Based on the square metre area of your roof and the type of roofing you choose your roofer can give you a ballpark figure. The cheapest roofing material is concrete tiles, followed by steel and then clay/stone tiles with Colorbond at the top end of the scale. The cost of supply and installation can vary widely, but generally expect to pay around $50 to $70 per square metre for high quality metal roofing. The cost of tile roofs varies, but as a rule of thumb, tile roofs cost between $80 to $110 per square metre, with terracotta tiles at the upper end of the price scale. If you need to strip and replace your existing roofing, expect to pay in the region of $6,000 to $10,000 to replace an existing metal skillion roof with Colorbond or $15,000 to $20,000 to replace existing tiles with Colorbond.
3. What roofing should I choose?
If you are replacing your old roofing you should be asking your roofer what the best option is. There could be a cheaper, more energy efficient and attractive option available. Your choices will come down to metal or steel roofing, otherwise known as Colorbond. This option is extremely durable, fire resistant and it can be painted any number of colours. If you want a tiled roof your options will generally be terracotta, concrete or slate – which are all durable and should all last for at least 50+ years.
4. Are you licensed?
You should ask your roofer if they are licensed and if it is currently valid. Depending on where you live a roofing licence could be called a number of different things. These could include metal roofing & cladding, roof plumbing, roof tiling or roof slating. As you can see their are also different specialisations, which should be detailed on a licence. You can also do a licence check online in most states, either using the business name and/or the contractors name – or by checking the status of the current licence number.
5. What references do you have?
A tradie or business’s past record is a great way of working out if they are right for your job. One of the best ways to check this is to find out how they performed on previous jobs. You can do this by checking their website, hipages profile or by reading any Google reviews or other online review sites. Word of mouth is another powerful tool – especially if it comes from someone you know and trust like friends and family.
Armed with this knowledge you should be in a better position to hire a reputable local roofer for your project.
