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Replacing a roof in Queensland

Queensland adds its own layer to a re-roof: a low licence threshold, fixing detail for cyclonic areas, and asbestos rules that split homeowners from businesses.

Every figure verified on or after

State guide 4 min read Published

Material prices start from national guides: Colorbond at $120 to $170 per m² and concrete tile at $70 to $120 per m² per m², installed, with Roofing Calculator HQ putting Brisbane and the Gold Coast 5 to 14% above its national baseline. What Queensland changes most 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. The per m² ranges below are national industry figures, and the same guide adjusts them by market: it prices Brisbane and the Gold Coast 5 to 14% above its national baseline, and treats regional Queensland as the baseline itself. In far north Queensland it adds $15 to $25 per m² for cyclone tie-down detail, whatever the roof is made of.

Installed price per m², new roof $ per m², installed
Installed price per m², new roof National industry ranges for roof coverings and for removing the old roof. 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; Add for cyclone tie-downs, far north QLD: $15 to $25 ($ per m², installed). 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 Add for cyclone tie-downs, far north QLD $15 to $25 $0 $50 $100 $150 $200
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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)
Add for cyclone tie-downs, far north QLD $15 $25 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).

What do gutters cost in Brisbane?

A Brisbane and Gold Coast installer publishes $88 to $105 per metre for new gutters, including GST, supply and installation. If the fascia has to go too, the same business quotes $88 to $165 per metre, and converting an older house with a concealed fascia-gutter to a Nu-Line style system runs $215 to $325 per metre. Those Brisbane rates sit above the Victorian and Adelaide figures in our gutter guide, so compare within your own city.

Brisbane and Gold Coast gutter work, per metre $ per metre, incl. GST
Brisbane and Gold Coast gutter work, per metre New gutter, supply and install: $88 to $105; Fascia and gutter together: $88 to $165; Nu-Line style conversion: $215 to $325 ($ per metre, incl. GST). New gutter, supply and install $88 to $105 Fascia and gutter together $88 to $165 Nu-Line style conversion $215 to $325 $0 $100 $200 $300 $400
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New gutter, supply and install $88 $105 QLD Roof n Gutter, Brisbane and Gold Coast gutter replacement cost guide (22 July 2026)
Fascia and gutter together $88 $165 QLD Roof n Gutter, Brisbane and Gold Coast gutter replacement cost guide (22 July 2026)
Nu-Line style conversion $215 $325 QLD Roof n Gutter, Brisbane and Gold Coast gutter replacement cost guide (22 July 2026)

Industry figures. Source: QLD Roof n Gutter, Brisbane and Gold Coast gutter replacement cost guide (22 July 2026).

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. A whole-roof job passes that threshold almost every time, so a licence number belongs on the quote. Check it with the QBCC rather than taking the number on trust. Roofers can put the number on every page of their own site as well; that is part of how we build a website for roofers.

How much deposit can a roofer ask for?

Maximum deposit in Queensland % of the contract price
Maximum deposit in Queensland Work valued at $3,300 or less: 20%; Level 1 contract, $3,301 to $19,999: 10%; Level 2 contract, more than $20,000: 5% (% of the contract price). Work valued at $3,300 or less 20% Level 1 contract, $3,301 to $19,999 10% Level 2 contract, more than $20,000 5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
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ItemValueSource
Work valued at $3,300 or less 20% Queensland Building and Construction Commission, deposits and progress payments
Level 1 contract, $3,301 to $19,999 10% Queensland Building and Construction Commission, deposits and progress payments
Level 2 contract, more than $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% for work valued at $3,300 or less, 10% for a level 1 contract, $3,301 to $19,999, and 5% for a level 2 contract, more than $20,000. The QBCC also warns that paying more than the lawful deposit means you cannot recover the excess under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme, so an early payment to "lock in the price" can leave that money unprotected.

Does a cyclonic area change the job?

Queensland still builds to NCC 2022 until it adopts NCC 2025 on 1 May 2027. NCC 2022 treats wind regions C and D as cyclonic areas, and NCC 2025 widens that to wind regions B2, C and D. A good deal of coastal Queensland falls inside those regions.

The QBCC guide for repairing sheet metal roofs in cyclonic areas works to C2 (61 m/s) and runs through sheeting fixings, battens, roof framing and trusses, uplift on wall studs and washer sizes. It also says it must not be used where the class may exceed C2, such as an elevated or exposed block. 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?

Queensland treats your own home and a business differently. As a homeowner you can remove 10 m² or less of bonded asbestos without a certificate; removing more than 10 m² needs a certificate from a course Queensland Health has approved, and friable asbestos takes a class A asbestos removal licence. A roofer or removalist doing the work for you needs a class B asbestos removal licence for the larger bonded jobs, or a class A licence for friable material. A homeowner's certificate is not a substitute for either.

Not every older roof is a problem. Tile and steel are not asbestos cement, though fibro eaves or old flashings under them can be. If the roof itself is asbestos cement sheeting, a whole-roof job is far past 10 m². See the asbestos rules for all three states.

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 character areas, planning approval is likely. No Queensland page we found 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 the remover's Class A or Class B licence number.
  6. The approval question answered in writing by the council or a certifier.