How much is the cost of roof leak repair in Australia? [2024]

If you have a leaking roof, you shouldn't put off having it repaired. The cost of roof leak repair can be considerably less than it costs to replace a damaged roof and to make other repairs on your home if a leak is allowed to get worse.

Roof repair cost depends on the number of leaks, the condition of the roof and other factors. Read this guide to find out:

1. What does a roof repair service do?
2. How much does roof repair cost?
3. How much does roof renovation cost?
4. How much does roof replacement cost?
5. Getting quotes for roof leak repair

What does a roof repair service do?

Roof repairs may sound like a small job, but most roof repairers can do anything from minor roof leak repair to renovating or replacing an entire roof.

Besides fixing a leaking roof, other jobs they can do include:

• Rebedding ridges and gables
• Repointing
• Pressure cleaning
• Removing fungus or mould
• Applying a waterproof sealer
• Gutter repair
• Applying a roof membrane
• Replacing flashing
• Emergency roof repairs

In other words, a good roof repair specialist knows how to do everything that has to do with a roof and can handle any problem that comes up.

How much does roof repair cost?

Roof repair cost depends on the type of repair and the type and height of the roof. A gently sloping roof on a single storey house will cost less than a steep roof on a single storey house, and if you have a two storey house, the cost can be even more.

These are some of the roof repair costs you may expect to pay for major repairs on a 10-metre roof at a height of 3 metres:

• A normal slope will cost around $4500
• A steep slope will cost $5400 for a moderate slope or $6300 for an extremely steep slope
• Zincalume or Colorbond roofing will cost around $6300
• Terracotta tiles will cost around $7200

These are approximate costs only and will depend on the amount of damage that has to be repaired.

For minor damage, such as roof leaking repair, a roof repairer will usually charge by the hour, plus a possible fee for travel and other expenses. A roof repairer can charge anywhere from $45 to $100 per hour, and these charges may depend on the roof, because they will charge more if they have to take more safety precautions on steep or high roofs.

They also have to look into access problems and whether they have to hire equipment to access a leak. Other cost issues can include replacing tiles, flashing or other jobs they may have to do. For example, roof leak repair may also involve cleaning the roof and removing fungus or mould. Each of these jobs will have a different cost, for example:

• Roof maintenance cost is between $38 and $50 an hour
• Removing fungus and algae and gutter cleaning may cost around $1300
• Cleaning a terracotta roof and doing some repointing, rebedding and capping may cost $1500
• Cleaning the roof of a three-bedroom house might cost $1200

These roof repair costs are approximate prices only and will depend on the factors listed above and the size of the roof. You won't have a clear idea of your roof repair cost until you get quotes from roof repairers. When you get online quotes, list the:

• Size of the roof
• Materials
• Height of the roof
• Steepness
• Access issues
• Number of leaks

Roof repairers can give more accurate quotes if they have more details to go on, but they may have to come to your site to give an accurate quote. The more details you can give them, the more accurate your online quote will be. You may also want to send a photograph of your roof to give them a better idea of its size and complexity.

How much does roof renovation cost?

Roof renovations can be expensive, because not only does the roof repairer have to clean the roof, they may need to replace tiles, do repointing or rebedding, and even replace flashing.

Minor renovations can cost as little as $300 to $600, depending on the size of the roof, but major renovations can cost anywhere from $2500 for an average sized house to $11,000 for a large house with a complex roof structure.

As with roof leak repair, if you get online quotes for a roof restoration, list everything the roof repair service needs to know about the roof. You might not know how many jobs need doing, so the online quotes may not be accurate, but a reputable company will come to your home, inspect the roof and give an obligation-free quote for their services.

How much does roof replacement cost?

In some cases, a roof may be too old and worn to be renovated. That's when you need to have the roof replaced. How much it costs to replace a roof depends on the type of roof the service is replacing, with both the cost of the materials and labour factoring into the roof replacement cost.

As a rough guide, roofing materials might cost:

• $35 per square metre (m2) for concrete tiles
• Slate tiles cost between $125 to $200 per m2
• Terracotta tiles cost around $150 per m2 and go up to $200 per m2 for the best quality

Prices vary for Colorbond roofing materials. At the low end of the scale, Colorbond can cost $18 per m2, but that is for basic roofing more suited to a shed than a house. Powder coated Colorbond roofing costs around $22 per m2 and if saltwater is an issue in your area, Colorbond Ultra will protect against saltwater corrosion and costs around $37 per m2.

On average, roof replacement of a Colorbond roof costs between $10,185 and $22,874 with an average cost being about $14,600. The range of costs depends on the materials used, the size of the roof and the other factors listed above.

On the low end of the scale, roof replacement can be as little as $5000 and on the high end of the scale can be as much as $35,500. Tiled roofs will cost more and you have to take the materials into consideration, too.

Roof replacement may be a wiser choice than roof restoration, because the new roof will look better and can last longer than a restoration job. However, it will cost more because the materials will have to be replaced. A roofing contractor can tell you whether a roof is worth restoring or if it should be replaced. If you're in doubt, get three quotes and if two or three agree the roof must be replaced, you should probably replace it.

Getting quotes for roof leak repair

When you get quotes for roof leaking repair, general maintenance or replacement, don't always settle for the lowest quote. Look for a roofer who:

• Offers a warranty for their workmanship and materials
• Is insured
• Has a good reputation in your area

All of these are important considerations. A warranty will give you the peace of mind of knowing the roofing specialist will return to your home to fix anything that goes wrong.

Roofing can be a dangerous job, so the roofer must be insured and a good roofer will be able to give you references who can vouch for their work.