How your spot on the coast changes the steel
Facing the open beach
BlueScope's homeowner guide is simple. More than 200 m from breaking surf, standard COLORBOND. Between 100 and 200 m, COLORBOND Ultra. Closer still, SUPERDURA stainless. Lysaght gives Central Coast homes near the ocean the same advice, and the distances are measured from the high water or tide mark.
On sheltered water
BlueScope puts protected salt water, such as harbours, bays and river estuaries, in a 'calm' group where standard COLORBOND has no minimum distance at all. Open salt water that takes onshore wind without breaking surf is 'exposed' instead, and gets the same distances as surf. If your home looks over sheltered water rather than open surf, ask the roofer which group your street falls in before you pay for Ultra.
Exposure, not just distance
BlueScope says real performance depends on local conditions such as prevailing winds and spots the rain never washes. A house on a rise taking onshore wind deserves a closer look than its distance alone suggests.
The bush edge
COLORBOND roofing, walls, gutters and downpipes can be part of a compliant system right up to BAL-FZ, the top Bushfire Attack Level under AS 3959:2018. That matters around Somersby, Peats Ridge and Kariong, where homes were lost or evacuated in 1994.
Colours, metals and paperwork near the coast
Needing Ultra narrows your colour choice to seven core colours: Surfmist, Dune, Shale Grey, Windspray, Wallaby, Woodland Grey and Monument, with others possibly on request. SUPERDURA stainless comes in four: Surfmist, Dune, Deep Ocean and Windspray. Browse the Colorbond colours with that shorter list in mind.
Keep lead and copper away from the new roof. BlueScope says run-off from lead flashings, or copper-rich water from a hot water overflow, will corrode the steel, so old lead flashings need painting or separating, and overflow pipes should run to the ground.
BlueScope's warranties depend on how the steel is used and where the house is, so location matters on paper too. You can register for up to 12 months after installation, or activate a pre-approved warranty with a code from your installer.
Questions for a Central Coast roofer
- How far is my house from the high tide mark, and is that water surf, exposed or calm?
- Which product exactly: COLORBOND, COLORBOND Ultra or SUPERDURA stainless? Will it be named on the quote?
- Is my block bush fire prone, and how are you sealing gaps at the ridge and eaves against embers?
- Are there any lead flashings or copper pipes on the house that need dealing with?
- Who's registering the BlueScope warranty, you or me, and when?
- Do you hold a NSW roof plumbing licence for metal roofing?
Our take
Measure first, then pick a colour. Comfortably more than 200 m from breaking surf, standard COLORBOND is BlueScope's own recommendation and the whole colour range is open to you. Closer than that, pay for the grade BlueScope recommends rather than hoping for the best. Then get the warranty registered within the 12 months, so the paperwork is there if salt ever becomes an argument.
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.