A roof replacement checklist you can take to every quote

Part 1: Before the inspection

• Note the age of the house and what the roof is made of (concrete tile, terracotta, steel, fibro or unsure).
• List the symptoms: where leaks appear, when (heavy rain, wind direction), any stains, rust or sagging.
• Find any old paperwork about the roof, previous repairs or asbestos tests.
• Check whether a body corporate, estate covenant or heritage listing affects materials or colours.
• Decide if you want gutters, fascia, whirlybirds or skylights considered in the same job.
• If you have solar panels, note the system details for the roofer and electrician.

Part 2: During the inspection

• Did the contractor get on the roof (where safe) and look in the roof space?
• Did they take photos and show you the problems?
• Did they explain whether repair, restoration or replacement fits your roof, and why?
• Did they mention the site's wind classification and coastal exposure?
• Did they raise asbestos if the house is old enough for it?
• Did they ask about access, parking, pets and storage?

Part 3: What the written quote must list

• Contractor's legal name, ABN and QBCC licence number.
• Removal and disposal of the old roof, with asbestos handled separately if present.
• Condition of battens and frame, and how repairs will be priced.
• Batten type and spacing for the new covering.
• Sarking or roof blanket, by product type.
• Roofing material: tile range, or steel profile, colour and coating grade.
• Fixings suited to the site's exposure.
• Ridges, hips, valleys, barges, wall flashings and penetrations.
• Gutters, fascia and downpipes, if included.
• Ventilation such as whirlybirds or ridge vents, if included.
• Scaffold or edge protection.
• Building approval and certifier, if needed, and who arranges it.
• Solar removal and reinstatement by a licensed electrician, if relevant.
• Start date estimate, working days on site and weather allowance.
• Payment schedule and how variations are priced.
• Warranty: what the manufacturer covers and what the contractor covers.

Part 4: Before you sign

• Search the contractor on the QBCC licence register and check the licence class and status.
• Ask for a certificate of currency for public liability insurance.
• Confirm the deposit is within what Queensland rules allow for your contract.
• Read the contract's variation clause and the process for approving extra work.
• Check what happens if weather delays the job.
• Confirm who your day-to-day contact is.

Part 5: During the job

• The house is never left open overnight.
• You are told promptly about hidden damage, with photos and a price before extra work starts.
• Photos are taken of battens, sarking and flashings before they are covered.
• Waste is removed regularly and the site is kept tidy.

Part 6: At handover

• Walk around the finished roof with the contractor (from the ground is fine).
• Gutters and roof are clear of offcuts, screws and swarf.
• Downpipes run freely.
• You have product names and colours for the roof, sarking and flashings.
• You have warranty documents from the manufacturer and the contractor.
• Any approval paperwork and final inspection certificates are with you.
• Solar, aerials and air-conditioning have been reconnected and tested.

Part 7: After the first big rain

• Check the roof space for any water.
• Check ceilings, especially around skylights and walls.
• Report any problem to the contractor in writing, with photos.

Why the checklist matters on the coast

Sunshine Coast roofs face a particular mix of humidity, salt and heavy summer rain. Items on this list that seem minor elsewhere, such as fixings grade, sarking type and gutter capacity, decide whether a new roof here lasts or starts to fail early. A contractor who addresses each one in writing is far more likely to deliver a roof that suits the conditions.

Use it with

Pair this checklist with the step-by-step process, the cost guide and our explainer on roof warranties.

General information for Sunshine Coast property owners, not advice about your particular roof. Rules, products and programs change; confirm with the authority named, or with Sunshine Coast Council or Noosa Shire Council, before acting.