How much does a roof restoration cost in 2025?

What is a roof restoration?

The process of restoring a roof typically involves cleaning, repainting, and also repairing. This can extend the life of your roof, and is usually a cheaper option compared to a full roof replacement. A roof restoration is different to a repair, which involves just fixing a small problem with the roof—such as a leak.

How much does a roof restoration cost?

Based on estimates from multiple roof restoration companies, a full roof restoration for an average-sized Australian house will start from around $2,500, and can cost anywhere up to $20,000 and beyond. This depends on your house and the scale of the job. Roofing companies typically charge by the square metre (m²), with the price decreasing for larger areas in some cases. Some price estimates for different sized roofs, stated by trade jobs platform hipages.com.au, are:

• $28 to $38 per m² for smaller roofs

• $22 to $28 per m² for medium-sized roofs

• $17 to $22 per m² for larger roofs

Other roof repair and restoration price estimates provided by hipages are:

• $48 to $58 per m² for metal roof repairs

• $55 to $65 per m² for tile roof repairs

• $200 to $500 for spot repair, depending on the size of the problem

• $250 to $500 for roof cleaning, depending on the condition of the roof surface

• $2,500 for a full roof restoration of an average sized house

• $4,500 to $11,000 for a full restoration of a tiled roof, depending on size

There’s several factors that may impact the price of roof restoration including:

• The height of the roof

• Its pitch or steepness

• The amount of repairs required

• The types of coating required

• Accessibility of the roof, including if you have solar panels

It’s often a good idea to get a couple of quotes from different roof restoration companies or contractors and compare them. When doing so, make sure you outline what needs to be done and describe your roof in as much detail as possible.

While these figures above could be good to use as a ballpark estimation when researching roof restoration, there are often other factors which can influence the cost. These factors can be rising inflation, supply chain issues and the cost of building materials.

What research should you do before you choose a roof restoration company?

It could also be a good idea to thoroughly research the company you are considering to do your roof restoration. In some states or territories, roof restorers may need to be licenced to carry out certain work. It’s also a good idea to check if the company has adequate insurance, and if they offer warranties for their work (and what the warranty does and does not cover).

Due to a number of reported scams in the roofing restoration industry across Australia, authorities have warned consumers to be wary of ‘fake tradie’ scams. You can report any suspicious activity to your state or territory’s consumer protection agency, with a list available from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

What are the options to finance a roof restoration?

How you finance a roof restoration may depend on how much work is needed and how much it costs. There are several options available for home renovators, including: refinancing your home loan, taking out a personal loan or considering paying for the costs on a credit card. If you are considering financing a roof restoration with a personal loan or credit card, it’s a good idea to read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) that apply. If you want to refinance your home loan, you may like to contact your lender for a copy of their relevant product documents for you to read beforehand.

• Refinancing your home loan

If the job is big enough, or you are doing a range of jobs at the same time, one choice you may consider is refinancing or restructuring your home loan, or adding a ‘line of credit’. For example, depending on your lender, you may be able to add a redraw facility to your existing loan (although it’s wise to keep in mind that some fees could apply to any loan changes and there could be redraw limits). Or you could add an offset account, which could help reduce the interest paid on your loan while still allowing access to your money (although it’s wise to keep in mind there could be some fees involved here too, and higher interest rates could apply to these types of loans).

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• Taking out a personal loan

Depending on your personal circumstances and the cost of the job, you may consider using a personal loan to fund the work. This could be a secured loan, or an unsecured loan. It’s worth keeping in mind though, that interest rates are generally higher for personal loans than for home loans. It’s also a good idea to read the lender’s terms and conditions first.

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• Paying for costs on a credit card

It may also be possible, depending on the cost and your ability to repay the debt quickly, to pay for the job on a credit card. There could also be some fringe benefits like extra insurance cover in some cases. Keep in mind that credit card interest rates are typically much higher than home or personal loans, and interest can quickly accumulate on large balances. With this in mind it’s a good idea to weigh up your options and consider them carefully. If you don’t think you’ll be able to pay off the card’s balance in full each month, it may be worth re-considering whether a credit card is the right option for you.

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When do you need a roof restoration?

An obvious sign that a roof might need a restoration can be its cosmetic appearance. Other common signs are a leaky roof, a degrading ceiling (for example, if the plaster is starting to look exposed or if there are nails popping) and cracked bedding and pointing on tiled roofs.

Roofing and property maintenance company PorterVac says roof bedding holds the tiles in place and roof pointing helps create a stronger hold and seal around the tiles. Both protect your home against mould growth and water damage.

When do you need a roof replacement?

If you’re unsure whether your roof needs a restoration or a replacement, it can be a good idea to get a professional builder, building inspector or roof restorer to carry out an inspection and give their expert opinion. It can often be better to replace, rather than restore sheet metal roofs and some older tiled roofs, as sheet metal replacement can last up to 40 years and older tiled roofs sometimes are less sufficient in keeping moisture out.

The decision as to whether or not you need to get your roof restored may come down to a couple of factors, including if there are any structural or physical defects that need fixing, or if you just want to improve the look of the roof. Repairs may be unavoidable, while cosmetic alterations are a matter of personal choice. It could be a good idea, if you are in doubt, to get a few opinions (which will also help to avoid unnecessary work being done).

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What does a roof restoration involve?

Generally speaking, a roofing professional will start by cleaning the roof with a high pressure washer to remove any dirt, algae and mould.

Secondly, they will repair any damage. For tiled roofs, this can involve replacing any cracked or broken tiles. For sheet metal roofs, this generally involves sealing any leaks or replacing the metal sheeting. Tiled roofs may also require rebedding and repointing.

The final step is usually repainting or recoating the roof. This typically involves a general primer, then a filler if it is an older tiled roof, followed by a top coat.

How long does a roof restoration take?

You’ll need to allow around three to 10 working days for a roof restoration. The exact time it takes to restore your roof may vary depending on factors like what repairs are required, the size of the roof and the weather.

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How long does a roof restoration last?

You can expect a roof restoration to last for approximately 15 to 20 years, according to Homestyle Roof Painters. Additionally, paint manufacturers will typically give a warranty for the paint used, but this can vary. When seeking out roof restoration quotes, consider double-checking what warranties apply and what you will and won’t be covered for.

Want more renovation content? Explore Canstar’s Renovations Hub.

How do solar panels affect roof restorations?

Having solar panels on your roof can complicate roof renovations, and this is likely to increase the cost of the work. According to Vivify Roofing, solar panels are often removed prior to any roof renovation work, and replaced upon completion. The company states that this could add between $700 to $2,000 to the quote. It’s a good idea to keep in mind that any warranties or insurances you have for your solar panels might also be impacted by the roof restoration process. For example, Canstar’s exploration of a selection of solar panel warranties found warranties may state that the panels can only be removed and reinstalled by a certified installer. Also, it could be a wise idea to ask your roof renovation company if they have insurance, and what would happen if their workers were to damage your solar panels.

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