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Bunbury, Western Australia

Roofing help in BunburyTornadoes, winter fronts and a lot of coastline.

Bunbury has had two tornadoes tear through its suburbs in under twenty years, and most of its rain lands in just three winter months. Add salt from the bay and inlet, bushfire mapping on the fringes and termite rules that cover all of WA, and roof work here has a few local wrinkles. If you send us the job, we'll look for a roofer who specialises in it and covers your part of Bunbury.

Find a specialist roofer in Bunbury

  1. Your postcode and three quick questions
  2. We match you with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in your job
  3. They call you to arrange a quote. No obligation to go ahead.

What's different about roofs in Bunbury

The 2024 tornado, then another storm

On 10 May 2024 a tornado inside a severe thunderstorm damaged 220 homes in South Bunbury, Withers and College Grove in less than ten minutes. Three weeks later, on 1 and 2 June, a second storm hit a further 221 properties in East Bunbury (Koombana Bay), Glen Iris and Picton. Between them, more than 440 properties were damaged.

It happened in 2005 too

On 16 May 2005 a tornado cut a track the Bureau put at about 10 km long and 100 m wide, from near Boulters Heights through Sandridge Road, Blair Street and Picton. The SES described damage from minor roof damage to homes left with no roof at all, and attended more than 70 callouts in Bunbury that day.

Cyclone Alby in 1978

When ex-tropical cyclone Alby passed on 4 April 1978, Bunbury's sea wall was breached, 100 homes were inundated and 130 residents were evacuated.

Lighter re-roofs need tying down

A Building and Energy investigation found replacement roofs were over-represented in storm and cyclone damage. In Perth, about half the roofs lost in storms were lightweight metal that had replaced heavy tile or asbestos roofing. A lighter roof may need extra tie-downs, which is why changing material usually needs a building permit.

Three wet months

Bunbury averages 728.6 mm of rain over 84 rain days a year, and July (145.5 mm), June (134.5 mm) and August (118.2 mm) carry most of it. Summers are dry and can be hot, with a record of 40.8 °C.

Bay, inlet and beach

Bunbury sits at the southern end of Leschenault Inlet, opening to Koombana Bay and Geographe Bay, with Back Beach on the other side. Those waters aren't all treated alike. BlueScope's TB-35 classes Geographe Bay as exposed, and Koombana Bay is part of it, so the bay gets the same strict rules as breaking surf. Leschenault Inlet is the one it lists as calm. Near the bay, Zincalume and standard Colorbond need more than 200 m, Colorbond Ultra more than 100 m, and SUPERDURA Stainless suits any distance. Beside the inlet, standard Colorbond can go any distance and Zincalume needs more than 100 m. Back Beach isn't in BlueScope's table, so get the roofer to confirm its class.

Bushfire maps and termites

In WA the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner designates bushfire-prone areas, which include bush plus a 100 m buffer, and if the map touches any part of your block, the whole property counts. All of WA is also treated as termite country, so timber roof framing needs termite management unless it's naturally resistant or treated.

The jobs that come up most in Bunbury

Storm repairs and winter leaks are the big two. Late-autumn fronts lift ridge caps and sheets, then June to August finds every gap. Start with roof repairs in Bunbury.

Gutters get a hard time from both the storms and the rain, so gutter cleaning before May and gutter replacement when they're rusted or torn loose both come up. Flashings, downpipes and box gutters sit with roof plumbing.

On older homes, a roof restoration in Bunbury is often the sensible middle ground. The City has 358 heritage-listed places, so check before changing the look of a listed one.

When a storm hits

Stay off the roof, during and after. If a storm has damaged your roof and it's an emergency, call the SES on 132 500. Keep out of rooms where the ceiling is sagging, and switch off power at the switchboard if water is near lights or power points.

Where we'd start in Bunbury

We'd have the roof and gutters checked in April, before the late-autumn storms that brought both tornadoes and before the winter rain. Near the bay, the inlet or the beach, we'd choose any new steel by its measured distance from the high water mark, remembering that the bay side counts as exposed. And if storm damage is involved, photograph it and call your insurer before anything is repaired.

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.

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How we work in Bunbury

We're a referral service. Tell us the job and your suburb, and we'll pass it to one licence-checked roofer who works in that part of Greater Bunbury, if we have one. If we don't, you'll hear that from us straight away, not after a week of waiting.

Before work starts, check their registration on the WA Online Licence Search, or call Building and Energy on 1300 489 099 if you're unsure.

Services

Roofing jobs in Bunbury

Roof repairs in BunburyStorm damage and winter leaks on Bunbury roofs: what to do first, and who to watch out for.Roof restoration in BunburyWhen a Bunbury roof is worth restoring, and why the dry months are the time to book it.Roof plumbing in BunburyFlashings, downpipes and coastal steel on Bunbury homes, and what to ask a roof plumber.Gutter replacement in BunburyWhen Bunbury gutters need replacing, how to size them, and which steel suits the coast.Gutter cleaning in BunburyWhy Bunbury gutters should be clear by April, and what a proper clean includes.
Questions

Straight answers.

Are tornadoes a real risk in Bunbury?
They're not an everyday event, but Bunbury has had two damaging ones in recent memory, in May 2005 and May 2024, and both came with late-autumn storms. A roof that's well fixed down and maintained copes far better with the wind that comes with storms like these.
Do I need a BAL for roof work in Greater Bunbury?
Bushfire building rules aren't retrospective for existing homes, but the Shire of Capel says extensions and renovations may have to meet AS 3959. On lots under 1,110 m2, a BAL is needed at building permit if the work is worth more than $20,000 or increases the bushfire ignition risk. Ask your council, as Bunbury, Capel, Dardanup and Harvey each handle their own permits.
Does my roof framing need termite protection?
In WA, roof framing counts as a primary building element needing termite management unless it's metal, concrete, masonry, fibre cement, or naturally resistant or treated timber. Ask about it if any roof timbers are being replaced.

Ready for a roofer to look at it in Bunbury?

Your postcode and three quick questions. We match you with a local roofer who specialises in your job, and tell you straight away if we don't have one near you.

Related help

Helpful next

Roof repairs in BunburyStorm damage and winter leaks on Bunbury roofs: what to do first, and who to watch out for.Roof restoration in BunburyWhen a Bunbury roof is worth restoring, and why the dry months are the time to book it.Roofers in Western AustraliaPermits, builder and painter registration, deposits and cyclone rules for WA roof jobs.Storm damage roof claimsHow a storm damage roof claim works, from the first call and photos to timeframes and complaints.Colorbond and metal roofingProfiles, coastal grades, colour and heat, and upkeep for Colorbond and metal roofs.How to check a roofer's licenceWho licenses roofers in each state, the dollar thresholds, and the register to search.

Where this information comes from

Every fact and rule on this page comes from the sources above, checked on the dates shown. How we write and check these pages.

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