Tile roof replacement removes the existing concrete or terracotta tiles and lays a new covering, either fresh tiles or, if you prefer, steel sheeting. It is for homeowners in metropolitan Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills whose tile roofs have reached the end of their working life rather than just needing a touch-up. Roof Replacements Adelaide puts you in touch with independent local roofing contractors who do the work, and the quote is free after an inspection of the roof and roof space.
Signs a tile roof is finished
Tiles age differently depending on what they are made of. Concrete tiles lose their surface coating, go chalky and start to absorb water, which adds weight and lets moss and lichen take hold. Terracotta lasts well but can crack from impact, frost in the Hills, or movement in the frame. Across both, look for widespread cracking, tiles that flake or break at the nibs, crumbling ridge bedding, rusted valley irons, and ceiling stains after winter rain. When those faults show up all over the roof rather than in one corner, piecemeal repair stops being good value. Our guide on repairing or replacing a leaking roof helps you weigh it up.
What happens during a re-tile
The crew sets up edge protection, then lifts the old tiles and lowers them to bins. With the battens exposed, they replace anything rotten or split and check spacing for the new tile. Sarking is laid if it has been included. New valley irons go in before the tiles, which are hung course by course and fixed as the relevant standard requires. Ridges and hips are bedded and pointed with flexible pointing, and flashings at walls and penetrations are renewed. A tidy finish includes clearing gutters of broken pieces and grit.
The Adelaide housing angle
Tile is everywhere in the suburbs built after the war: brick and double-brick homes and brick veneer houses from the 1950s through the 1980s carry concrete or terracotta almost by default. That means a lot of tile roofs across the city are reaching a similar age at the same time. Seasonal movement in the reactive clay soils of the Adelaide Plains can shift walls and roof frames, cracking bedding and loosening tiles along ridges. Long hot summers and strong UV break down the surface of concrete tiles, while the wet months from about May to September expose any weakness. In the Hills, homes inside bushfire hazard overlays may face AS 3959 requirements, such as ember protection at gaps, so check with the contractor and council.
Re-tile or change to steel?
This is the biggest choice. Staying with tile keeps the look of the street and suits character homes; heritage areas may expect it, so check with your council before work starts. Changing to steel takes a large weight off the frame, reduces the number of joints and is usually faster to install. The guide to Colorbond vs tile sets out both sides, and our Colorbond roofing page covers the steel route.
What shapes the cost
The price of replacing a tile roof depends on the roof area and pitch, the number of hips, valleys and penetrations, which tile or sheet you pick, how much batten work is needed, whether sarking is added, and access for scaffold and bins. Heavier tile waste also takes more handling. The roof replacement cost guide for Adelaide explains each item, so you can read quotes with a clear head.
Before work begins
We ask the contractors we work with to hold the licences and insurance the job needs; ask to see them, and check the licence on the CBS public register. Clear the roof space of anything delicate and let neighbours know scaffold is coming.
If you would like to keep a few of the old terracotta tiles for garden edging or a shed, say so before strip-off starts, because the crew will otherwise send everything to the bin.