The layers of protection
A new roof typically sits under several overlapping forms of protection. They cover different things, have different conditions and are claimed through different people.
1. Manufacturer's warranty on materials
Roofing steel, tiles, sarking and some accessories come with warranties from the manufacturer. These generally cover the product against defects or premature failure, such as a coating peeling or a tile failing, under stated conditions. Those conditions often include:
- Installation to the manufacturer's published requirements and the relevant Australian Standards.
- The product being suitable for the site's environment, especially distance from breaking surf or industrial pollution.
- Avoiding incompatible materials such as copper or lead runoff onto coated steel.
- Reasonable maintenance, such as washing areas not cleaned by rain.
On the Sunshine Coast, the exposure condition is the one owners most often overlook. A product used too close to the sea for its grade may not be covered for corrosion at all. Ask the roofer which grade they are using and check it against the manufacturer's guidance for your location.
2. Contractor's workmanship warranty
Many roofing contractors offer their own warranty on the installation. It covers the work rather than the materials: leaks from a badly installed flashing, poorly fixed sheets, tiles that slip. Ask what the contractor offers, what it covers, how long it lasts and how claims are made, and get it in writing. Avoid relying on verbal promises.
3. Statutory protections in Queensland
Queensland's building laws imply certain warranties into residential building contracts, such as work being done in a proper and skilful way and with suitable materials. The Australian Consumer Law also provides guarantees on goods and services. These apply whether or not they are written into the contract.
4. QBCC Home Warranty Scheme
For eligible residential work done by a QBCC-licensed contractor above a set value, the QBCC Home Warranty Scheme may provide protection, for instance where work is defective or the contractor cannot complete or rectify it. The scheme has its own eligibility rules, limits and claim timeframes, so check the QBCC's current information for your job.
What warranties generally do not cover
- Storm, hail or wind damage beyond what the roof is designed for (that is an insurance matter).
- Damage from other trades walking on or altering the roof.
- Problems caused by lack of maintenance, such as blocked gutters overflowing.
- Corrosion where the product was used outside its recommended environment.
- Cosmetic changes such as gradual colour fading within normal limits.
Protecting your warranty
- Keep the quote, contract, invoices and product details together.
- Keep photos of hidden work, such as battens, sarking and flashings.
- Follow the manufacturer's maintenance guidance, especially near the coast.
- Do not let other trades alter the roof without considering the effect.
- Report problems in writing, early, with photos.
Red flags
Be cautious of anyone selling a warranty as the main reason to choose them, offering lifetime cover on coatings, or unable to tell you which manufacturer and product they are installing. A warranty from a business that may not be around later is worth less than good workmanship in the first place.
Testimonials and warranties
A warranty does not tell you about a contractor's track record. See our guide on judging testimonials and before-and-after photos for how to check that side.
Questions to ask about warranties before signing
- Which manufacturer and exact product are you supplying, and what does its warranty cover at my address?
- Is my site within the exposure conditions for that product, given my distance from the sea?
- Do you offer a workmanship warranty, for how long, and what does it exclude?
- Will you give me the warranty documents and any installer certificate at handover?
- What maintenance do the warranties require of me?
- If a defect appears, how do I report it and how quickly will you respond?
Written answers to these questions are worth more than a long number printed in a brochure. They also make it much easier to sort out responsibility if something goes wrong years later, when memories have faded and staff may have changed.
Related reading
For rules that apply to roof work, see roofing regulations and compliance in QLD. To make sure warranty information is in your quote, use the roof replacement checklist.
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.