Find a roofer you can trust

When to call a roofer

Most people don’t think about the roof until something goes wrong, and that’s fair enough. But a small problem up top has a habit of turning into a big one inside.

Call a roofer when you spot water stains on a ceiling, damp patches after rain, or a steady drip in the roof cavity. Gutters that overflow, sag, or have rusted through are another one, because water spilling down the wall instead of away from the house causes no end of grief. Cracked or slipped tiles, loose ridge capping, and lichen-covered metal that’s gone chalky are all worth a look too.

And if your roof is just looking tired and you’re thinking about a freshen-up, a restoration (clean, repair, recoat) can give it years back without the cost of a full re-roof.

What to check and a word on licensing

Roofing is height work, so insurance and safety aren’t optional extras. Here’s what matters before you let anyone up your ladder:

• Public liability insurance. Ask to see the certificate. If a roofer slips or something goes wrong, you do not want to be carrying that.
• Safe working at heights. Harnesses, edge protection and proper access aren’t just red tape, they keep everyone safe and keep you out of trouble.
• A written scope and quote. It should say exactly what’s being done, the materials used, and what’s not included.
• Warranty in writing. Both on the workmanship and on any new product going on.

On licensing, the rules genuinely vary from state to state, and so do the dollar thresholds that decide when a licence is required. Depending on where you are, roofing can sit under building work or roof plumbing. In Victoria, for example, metal roofs and gutters count as plumbing work licensed by the Building and Plumbing Commission, while Building Commission NSW and the QBCC in Queensland license roof work above a set job value. Our licence checks page has the right lookup for your state, and our tradie licences guide walks through it in plain English.

One more thing. Be wary of door-knockers who tell you your roof “needs replacing” on the spot. Some are genuine, plenty are not. Never sign under pressure. Get a second, independent opinion and ask for photos of the actual problem.

What it costs

Most roofers quote a fixed price per job, with a minimum charge for small repairs, though hourly rates typically sit around $60–$110. As a guide for common jobs:

• Clean and repair gutters: around $200–$600 for a single storey
• Find and fix a roof leak: around $250–$1,000
• Roof restoration (clean, repair, re-point and recoat): around $3,000–$8,000
• Replace a metal roof on a single-storey home: around $8,000–$20,000

Two storeys, a steep pitch, a big roof and tricky access all push a job toward the top of the range or past it. These are a guide, not a quote. Our roofer cost guide has more jobs and how each city compares, then get a proper written quote for your roof so you’re comparing apples with apples.

How needatradie matches you

We’re not a directory and we don’t sell your details around. You tell us about the job, and we match you with one local roofer whose licence, insurance, ABN and reviews we’ve already checked. One good tradie. Not five sales calls.

It means no fielding a pile of calls, no chasing quotes, and no wondering whether the person on your roof is the real deal. Want a hand with something else around the place? Browse our guides or find a plumber while you’re here.

When you’re ready, get a free quote and we’ll line you up with a roofer who’ll do the job properly.