Replacing a roof in Queensland

Queensland adds its own layer to a re-roof: a low licence threshold, fixing detail for cyclonic areas, and a homeowner asbestos certificate.

Figures checked

State guide 3 min read Published

Material prices come from the same national guides: Colorbond at $120 to $170 per m² and concrete tile at $70 to $120 per m² per m², installed. What Queensland changes is the paperwork. Building work over $3,300 needs an appropriately licensed contractor and a contract, and deposits are capped by contract value.

The tie-down chain on a sheet metal roof in a cyclonic area A section through a metal roof with upward uplift arrows above it. The sheet is fixed with screws through to battens, the battens sit on rafters and trusses, and a strap ties the framing down into the wall frame below. uplift roof sheeting fixings battens rafters and trusses tie-down into the wall frame
The QBCC guide for cyclonic areas works down this chain: the fixings into the sheet, the battens, the framing and trusses, and the uplift carried into the wall studs.

What does a new roof cost in Queensland?

No Queensland government body publishes roof prices, and we did not find a Queensland-only price guide solid enough to quote. The national figures below are the sensible starting point, and they are industry figures, not official ones.

Installed price per m², new roof $ per m², installed
Installed price per m², new roof Range bars for roof coverings and removal. Old roof removal runs $20 to $50 per square metre, concrete tile $70 to $120, terracotta $110 to $180, Colorbond classic $120 to $170 and Colorbond Ultra for coastal sites $140 to $200. Remove the old roof $20 to $50 Concrete tile $70 to $120 Terracotta tile $110 to $180 Colorbond, classic $120 to $170 Colorbond Ultra, coastal $140 to $200 $0 $50 $100 $150 $200
Show the numbers
ItemLowHighSource
Remove the old roof $20 $50 Yellow Pages, How much does roof replacement cost? [2026]
Concrete tile $70 $120 Roofing Calculator HQ, roof replacement cost (updated 28 April 2026)
Terracotta tile $110 $180 Roofing Calculator HQ, roof replacement cost (updated 28 April 2026)
Colorbond, classic $120 $170 Roofing Calculator HQ, roof replacement cost (updated 28 April 2026)
Colorbond Ultra, coastal $140 $200 Roofing Calculator HQ, roof replacement cost (updated 28 April 2026)

Industry figures. Source: Yellow Pages, How much does roof replacement cost? [2026]; Roofing Calculator HQ, roof replacement cost (updated 28 April 2026).

For gutters, a Brisbane and Gold Coast installer publishes $88 to $105 per metre, including GST, supply and installation. That sits above the Victorian and Adelaide rates in our gutter guide, which is a useful reminder that city rates travel badly.

Who is allowed to do the work?

In Queensland, building work over $3,300 must be performed by an appropriately licensed person and must come with a contract. Roofing passes that threshold on almost any whole-roof job, so a licence number belongs on the quote. Check it with the QBCC rather than taking the number on trust.

How much deposit can a roofer ask for?

Maximum deposit in Queensland % of the contract price
Maximum deposit in Queensland Maximum deposits set by contract value: 20 percent for work valued at $3,300 or less, 10 percent for level 1 contracts from $3,301 to $19,999, and 5 percent for level 2 contracts over $20,000. Work at $3,300 or less 20% Level 1, $3,301 to $19,999 10% Level 2, over $20,000 5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Show the numbers
ItemValueSource
Work at $3,300 or less 20% Queensland Building and Construction Commission, deposits and progress payments
Level 1, $3,301 to $19,999 10% Queensland Building and Construction Commission, deposits and progress payments
Level 2, over $20,000 5% Queensland Building and Construction Commission, deposits and progress payments

Official figures. Source: Queensland Building and Construction Commission, deposits and progress payments.

The cap falls as the job gets bigger: 20% on work at $3,300 or less, 10% on a level 1 contract and 5% on a level 2 contract. The QBCC also warns that paying more than the lawful deposit reduces your cover under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme, so an early payment to "lock in the price" can cost you the protection you were counting on.

Does a cyclonic area change the job?

Cyclonic areas are wind regions C and D, which takes in a good deal of coastal Queensland. The QBCC guide for repairing sheet metal roofs in those areas works to C2 (61 m/s) and runs through sheeting fixings, battens, roof framing and trusses, uplift on wall studs and washer sizes. Ask which wind class the quote is fixed for. Our wind classification guide explains how a site gets its class.

What if the old roof contains asbestos?

A Queensland homeowner or owner-builder can remove 10 m² or less of non-friable asbestos without a certificate, taking safety precautions. To remove more than 10 m², home renovators and owner-builders need a certificate obtained under arrangements approved by Queensland Health, or a contractor who holds one. Any whole-roof job on an older house is well past that line. See the asbestos rules.

Do you need building approval to re-roof?

Under the Building Regulation 2021 some work is accepted development, needing no building approval while still having to comply with the codes and, possibly, the local planning scheme. For houses in a character areas, planning approval is likely. We could not find a Queensland page that says plainly where a re-roof lands, so get your council or a building certifier to answer it in writing. More in the approval guide.

A Queensland checklist before you sign

  1. Licence number on the quote, checked with the QBCC.
  2. A written contract, because the work is over the threshold.
  3. Deposit inside the cap for the contract level.
  4. The wind class named, with fixings to match.
  5. Asbestos answered: tested, measured, and who removes it.
  6. The approval question answered in writing by the council or a certifier.