When a Brisbane roof needs a closer look
After a big storm
After a storm like that, cracked tiles and dented laps often can't be seen from the ground, so an inspection with photos gives you, and your insurer, something to work from.
Buying a pre-1947 house
If the house predates 1947, council's character rules may shape what you can do to the roof later. Brisbane City Council's 1946 aerial imagery, taken between 31 May and 10 June 1946, is one way to check its age. An inspection before you buy tells you whether the corrugated roof, gutters and flashings will need work soon.
Asbestos isn't in a standard report
ASSEA says pre-purchase building inspections generally don't cover asbestos. For a Brisbane home built before 1990, arrange separate testing of any fibro roof, eaves or gutters by a NATA-accredited laboratory.
Low-pitched verandah roofs
Queenslanders have big verandahs, and some homes have skillion extensions. Where those roofs are low-pitched, take care: BlueScope says hail dents don't usually shorten a Colorbond roof's life, but on a low pitch big dents can hold water and bent laps can leak.
Who can inspect a roof in Queensland
In Queensland, completed residential building inspections need a QBCC licence whatever the fee. For a storm or maintenance check, a licensed roofer is usually the right person. For a pre-purchase report, a licensed building inspector covers the whole house, roof included, and you can add a roofer's opinion if the roof looks tired. Either way, look the licence up on the QBCC register.
What a useful Brisbane roof report includes
- Photos of each roof face, the ridges, the valleys and any damage
- The condition of tiles or sheets, fixings and flashings
- Gutters, downpipes and any box gutters, including overflow
- Signs of leaks or condensation in the roof space
- What's urgent, what can wait, and a rough priority order
- A note on any material that could contain asbestos
Questions to ask a Brisbane roof inspector
- Which licence do you hold, and can I check it on the QBCC register?
- Will I get a written report with photos, and how soon?
- Will you check the roof space as well as the outside?
- Do you flag possible asbestos, or should I arrange testing separately?
- Can I share the report with my insurer or the seller?
What we'd check first
After hail, we'd get an inspection before the next storm, even if nothing's leaking yet. Buying an older Brisbane house, we'd want a roofer's view on top of the building report, plus asbestos testing if it predates 1990. Read the national roof inspections page, our page on roof reports and the Brisbane hub.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.