4 min read
Metal roofs - Colorbond, Zincalume, and older corrugated iron - make up a significant portion of Perth’s roofing stock. They’re durable, lightweight, and excellent in our climate, but they’re not maintenance-free. After 15-25 years, even quality metal roofs start showing their age: fading, chalking, surface rust, and worn coatings.
The good news is that metal roof restoration is highly effective and can add another 15-20 years of life to your roof at a fraction of the cost of re-roofing.
When Does a Metal Roof Need Restoration?
Chalking and Fading
The most common issue. The factory-applied Colorbond coating slowly breaks down under Perth’s intense UV. The colour fades, and the surface becomes chalky - rub your hand across it and white or coloured powder comes off. This means the protective coating is failing and the steel underneath is increasingly exposed.
Surface Rust
Small rust spots, especially around screws, overlaps, cut edges, and scratches. This is surface corrosion that hasn’t yet penetrated the steel. Left unchecked, it spreads and eventually eats through the metal.
Screw Corrosion
The rubber washers under roofing screws deteriorate over time, losing their seal. Water gets in around the screw, causing localised rust and potential leaks. On a 20-year-old roof, most of the screw washers will be showing their age.
Scratches and Damage
Tradespeople walking on the roof (for solar installations, TV antennas, air conditioning) often leave scratches that cut through the protective coating. Each scratch is a future rust spot.
Leaking
Rust-through in valleys, around penetrations, or at sheet overlaps. A metal roof that’s leaking because the steel has corroded through has gone past a clean and repaint. Those sections need replacing, which is a re-roofing job rather than a restoration.
The Metal Roof Restoration Process
Step 1: Inspection and Assessment
We assess the roof - the coating condition, the extent of fading and chalking, and whether the steel underneath is still sound. A metal roof that’s weathered and faded but structurally sound is a good candidate for a clean and repaint. One that’s rusting through has reached the end of its life and needs replacing, not coating over. If that’s the case we’ll tell you upfront rather than paint over the problem.
Step 2: Cleaning
Metal roofs are pressure-cleaned to remove all dirt, chalking, moss, and loose material. This also reveals the true condition of the coating underneath the grime.
Step 3: Primer
A primer specifically formulated for metal roofs is applied. This provides:
- A sound, even base across the cleaned surface
- A bonding layer for the topcoats
Step 4: Two Topcoats
Two coats of acrylic roof membrane in your chosen colour. Metal roof coatings need to be:
- Flexible - metal expands and contracts more than tiles
- UV-resistant - direct sun hits metal roofs hard
- Adhesion-rated for metal - different formulation than tile coatings
How It Differs From Tile Restoration
| Metal Roof | Tile Roof | |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | Lower pressure (to avoid denting) | Higher pressure |
| Repairs | Clean and repaint only (no metal repairs) | Tile replacement, re-bedding |
| Pointing | Not applicable | Ridge cap re-pointing |
| Primer type | Metal roof primer | Tile sealer/primer |
| Topcoat | Flexible metal coating | Tile membrane |
| Typical time | 2-3 days | 2-3 days |
| Noise during work | Louder (walking on metal) | Quieter |
Colour Choices
One of the benefits of metal roof restoration is the opportunity to change colour. The full Colorbond colour range is available, plus additional options. Popular choices in Perth:
- Monument - dark charcoal, modern and popular
- Basalt - warm grey, suits most brick colours
- Woodland Grey - classic, safe choice
- Surfmist - light, heat-reflective, good for hot suburbs
- Ironstone - dark blue-grey, suits coastal homes
Lighter colours reflect more heat, which can reduce cooling costs in Perth’s summer. If energy efficiency matters to you, consider a lighter shade - the difference in roof surface temperature between dark and light colours can be 20-30°C.
Cost Guide
Metal roof restoration in Perth typically costs:
- Small roof (under 150m²): $3,500 - $5,500
- Average roof (150-250m²): $5,500 - $8,500
- Large roof (250m²+): $8,500 - $13,000
These are indicative ranges. Actual cost depends on:
- Roof area and pitch
- Condition of the existing coating
- Access difficulty (two-storey, steep pitch)
- Product choice
When Re-Roofing Is the Better Option
Metal roof restoration isn’t always the right answer. Consider re-roofing if:
- Sheets have rusted through - once the steel has corroded through, it’s past a clean and repaint and needs replacing, which we don’t do; widespread rust-through means the roof has reached end-of-life
- The roof is structurally compromised - significant denting, warping, or movement
- The roof is asbestos cement - this looks similar to metal but is a completely different material that can’t be restored
- You want to change from metal to tile (or vice versa) - that’s a re-roof, not a restoration
For most metal roofs that are faded, chalking, and cosmetically worn but still sound underneath, restoration is the clear winner - far cheaper than re-roofing and delivers a result that looks and performs like new.
Get a Quote
Our metal roof restoration service covers roofs across Perth, from 1970s corrugated iron to modern Colorbond. Remote satellite assessments, honest advice, and a fixed-price quote with no surprises. The satellite assessment and quote are free, and a paid on-site inspection can be arranged if you would prefer one. Get a free quote to get started.
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