What shapes a new Wollongong roof
Surf the whole way down
There are 17 patrolled beaches between Stanwell Park and Windang. BlueScope treats breaking surf and ocean spray as its harshest category, measured from the high water mark, so close to that line both the steel grade and the fixings need choosing with salt in mind.
Tiles shrug off salt
Monier says its concrete and terracotta tiles are salt safe and won't corrode, which makes tile a fair choice close to the beach. The metal parts, such as flashings, valleys and fixings, still have to suit the salt.
The northern bush
The Black Christmas fires of 2001 to 2002 destroyed five cottages and damaged scores of houses across an area taking in Helensburgh, Otford and Stanwell Tops. Monier says roof spaces are highly vulnerable to ember entry, and that non-combustible tiles with ember protection and fire-rated sarking can form part of a roof that complies with AS 3959.
Which map, which council
Wollongong City Council and Shellharbour City Council each prepare a bush fire prone land map. Look up your block before quoting starts, because it changes what a sensible new roof should include.
Your rights on a job this size in NSW
For residential work over $20,000, the contractor needs Home Building Compensation Fund cover and must give you the certificate before taking any money. HBCF is a last resort, for when a builder dies, disappears, becomes insolvent, or has their licence suspended for ignoring an order to pay you. It isn't a day-to-day warranty.
Statutory warranties apply whether or not they're written into the contract: six years for major defects and two years for everything else, counted from completion. Any change to the job (a variation) has to be in writing and signed by both of you.
If the old roof dates from before 1990, it may be asbestos cement. More than 10 square metres has to be removed by a licensed removalist, and you're responsible for lawful disposal even when you pay someone else to take it away, so ask for the receipt from the licensed landfill.
Questions to put to every roofer quoting
- Which BlueScope product or tile have you priced for my distance from the surf, and why?
- Have you checked the council's bush fire prone map for my address?
- What sarking are you using, and does it help with ember protection?
- Will I have the HBCF certificate before you ask for a deposit?
- If there's asbestos, who removes it, under which licence, and will I get the disposal receipt?
- How will variations be priced if you find rotten battens once the old roof is off?
What we'd do
Pick the material with the coast and the bush in mind, then compare at least two quotes that name the same product. On a job this big, we wouldn't hand over a cent until we'd seen the HBCF certificate and looked the contractor up on Verify NSW.
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.