Not one identical package
“Roof restoration” is not one identical package. Neither material is automatically cheaper to restore, and a coating is not a universal answer to leaks or deterioration. Use this guide to compare proposals. It is not an instruction to access, clean, coat or repair a roof yourself. Maroochydore notes make the same material distinction without a postcode price.
Questions for a tiled-roof assessment
Ask the contractor to explain the condition of the tiles, ridges, pointing, valleys, flashings and related components, and what needs attention before any finish. Request the reason for each proposed repair and the evidence that the existing material is suitable for the treatment.
Ask which tile type is involved. Do not assume all tile surfaces accept the same coating system. Ask for the manufacturer’s requirements for the proposed products and a written explanation of preparation, compatibility and warranty exclusions. What a restoration can include is one supplier’s tiled-roof example, not a specification for your roof.
Questions for a metal-roof assessment
Ask about sheet condition, fasteners, seals, flashings, drainage details and any corrosion or staining. Ask what can be repaired and what needs replacement, and whether the proposed products are compatible with the actual roof material and its existing finish.
COLORBOND steel’s manufacturer says its products require minimal maintenance and that natural rain washing helps maintain them. That is not a promise that every metal roof needs a repaint — or that a badly damaged one can be restored by painting it. Request advice appropriate to your existing product and condition.
Compare written scopes
| Topic | Tile proposal | Metal proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Which tile and ridge defects were found? | Which sheets, fasteners or details need attention? |
| Repairs | Which components are included and excluded? | Which components are repaired or replaced? |
| Preparation | Why is it suitable for the existing tile and finish? | Why is it suitable for the existing material and finish? |
| Products | Named compatible system and requirements | Named compatible system and requirements |
| Outcome | What is the expected remedy and what is not covered? | What is the expected remedy and what is not covered? |
| Cost | Total payable and written variation process | Total payable and written variation process |
Local contractor descriptions distinguish tile and metal scope and the importance of existing roof condition. These descriptions are evidence of questions to ask, not independent proof of a universal best method or expected lifetime. What a written quote should cover explains why this site still has no local price.
What matters in coastal locations?
Tell the contractor about the property’s actual location and exposure, rather than assuming every Sunshine Coast home has identical conditions. The COLORBOND manufacturer recommends more frequent cleaning of relevant non-rain-washed areas in coastal settings; follow advice suitable for your product and use professionals where access is unsafe. This guide deliberately does not provide roof-access or cleaning instructions.
Is replacement a better option?
Ask for a written rationale if a contractor recommends replacement rather than restoration, or the reverse. If underlying condition or structural questions are uncertain, seek appropriate independent advice. Do not accept guaranteed decades of extra life, a fixed resale-value uplift or universal energy-bill savings without evidence specific to the claim. Signs worth recording are prompts, not an expiry date.
Contractor checks still matter
Use the QBCC register to check the actual contracting entity and licence classes relevant to the work. Ask about insurance, product and workmanship warranties, weather delays, rainwater systems and existing solar equipment. Never move panels or disturb suspect asbestos yourself.
Sources
Sources checked 8 November 2026 (Australia/Brisbane).
About RoofMatch
RoofMatch is a roof-quote referral service, not the contractor carrying out roofing work. Quote matching is not open yet; no quote request is collected or sent to a roofer. Use this guide to prepare questions for a suitably licensed contractor. Once matching opens, participating businesses may pay RoofMatch for accepted introductions; RoofMatch will not represent the whole market. Do not treat this article as an inspection, a binding quote or emergency assistance.