New Roofs & Re-Roofing in Cairns
There is a point where repairing a Cairns roof stops making sense. When the sheeting has thinned right through, when the fixing holes have been re-drilled twice already, or when every wet season brings a new leak in a different place, the honest answer is a replacement rather than another patch. Re-roofing also lets us fix the things a repair never touches: undersized drainage, missing sarking, tired battens and tie-downs that were adequate decades ago but are not what you want in a cyclone zone.
Dry season now
Dry season is the time to fix a roof properly
Fixings, valleys and gutters can be renewed without racing the rain — and cyclone-season preparation is far cheaper than cyclone-season repair.
- Free On-Site Roof Inspection
- Storm & Cyclone Priority Response
- Written Fixed-Price Quotes
- No Call-Out Fees
- Locally Focused Roofing Team
A re-roof in the wet tropics is a different job to the same work down south. Material selection matters more, fixings matter more, and the detailing at flashings, valleys and roof-to-wall junctions has to assume wind-driven rain rather than gentle vertical rainfall. We specify accordingly, and we explain the choices instead of handing you a single line item.
The inspection is free and photographed, and you receive a written fixed-price quote. Where a repair would genuinely still serve you well, we say so — a replacement you did not need is not a good outcome for either of us.
What this service covers in Cairns
Full roof replacement
Removal and disposal of the old roof, inspection of the exposed structure, batten replacement where needed, new sarking, and new sheeting or tiles installed with correctly rated fixings. Flashings, valleys, capping and drainage are all renewed as part of the job rather than reused.
New roof installs on extensions and additions
New builds, extensions, patios, carports and reroofed verandas. We match profile and colour to the existing roof where you want continuity, and detail the junction between old and new so it does not become the next leak.
Batten, structure and tie-down upgrades
With the sheeting off, the structure is finally visible. We report on rotted or split battens, insufficient tie-down and previous repairs done badly, and quote the remedial work before it gets covered up again.
Sarking, insulation and ventilation
Sarking is a genuine upgrade in a humid climate — it manages condensation, adds a secondary barrier against wind-driven rain and improves thermal performance. We also address roof-space ventilation, which is what stops a hot, humid roof cavity turning into a mould problem.
Drainage renewal
A new roof on old, undersized guttering is a wasted opportunity. We size gutters and downpipes for Cairns rainfall intensity and renew fascia and rainwater heads where the existing system cannot cope.
Quick checklist: warning signs to look for
- Leaks appearing in a different spot every wet season
- Rust holes or thinning sheets at laps and the gutter line
- Fixing holes enlarged from repeated screw replacement
- Storm damage extensive enough to rival replacement cost
- A roof already past its expected life in a tropical climate
When re-roofing beats another repair
Repairs are the right call when failures are localised and the sheeting or tiles are fundamentally sound. Replacement becomes the better value when the failures are distributed across the whole roof, because each individual repair is cheap but you will be paying for them indefinitely.
In Cairns the common trigger is corrosion that has moved past the fixings into the sheet itself, particularly on the leeward laps and at the gutter line where moisture sits. Once you can see light through a sheet or the metal flexes and flakes underfoot, patching is a holding action, not a fix.
- Multiple leaks in different areas each wet season.
- Rust holes, thinning sheets or flaking metal at laps and gutter lines.
- Fixing holes enlarged from repeated screw replacement.
- Widespread cracked bedding and pointing across a tile roof.
- Storm damage extensive enough that repair costs approach replacement.
- A roof already at or past its expected life in a tropical climate.
How a Cairns re-roof runs
We inspect, photograph and measure, then quote a fixed price with the material specification written down. On the day, work is staged so the roof is never left open to weather overnight during the wet season — we strip and re-sheet in sections and weatherproof at the end of each day.
Old material is removed from site, gutters are cleaned out on completion, and the finished roof is water-tested at valleys and junctions. You receive photographs of the structure before it was covered, which is worth keeping for future reference and for insurers.
What happens on the day
- 1
You book a free inspection
Tell us what you are seeing and whether water is entering the house right now. Urgent water entry is prioritised.
- 2
We inspect and photograph
Roof surface, fixings, flashings, valleys, drainage and the roof space. Every finding is photographed so you see what we saw.
- 3
You get a written fixed-price quote
Itemised, in writing, with the failure explained in plain terms. No obligation to proceed and no call-out fee.
- 4
We complete the repair
Work is scheduled around the weather, materials are matched to your roof type, and the finished repair is photographed again.
How this differs by roof type
Metal and Colorbond
Re-sheeting is staged so the roof is weatherproofed at the end of every day during the wet season.
Tile
Tile roofs can be replaced like for like or converted to metal — we quote both where both make sense.
Queenslander tin
Elevated homes need access planning, and the exposed frame gets photographed before it is covered again.
- Cairns Owned & OperatedLocal team, local roofs
- Fully Insured Roofing WorkCover in place for every job
- Written Fixed-Price QuotesItemised, in writing, before work
- Photographed FindingsYou see what we see on the roof
- No Call-Out FeesFree inspection across the region
Related guides worth reading first
Repair or replace your roof?
How to tell localised failures from a roof at the end of its life.
Read the guideMetal vs tile roofing in Cairns
How each behaves under monsoonal rain, humidity and cyclone wind.
Read the guideWhat roof repair involves in Cairns
How repairs are scoped and quoted here, and what changes the scope.
Read the guideWhat a roof inspection includes
The full checklist and what you receive in writing afterwards.
Read the guideNew Roofs & Re-Roofing — Questions Cairns Homeowners Ask
How long does a full re-roof take in Cairns?
Most standard homes are a multi-day job, and the wet season stretches the schedule because we work around rain bands rather than through them. The roof is weatherproofed at the end of every working day, so an unexpected downpour does not put water inside the house.
Can you re-roof over the existing roof to save time?
We do not recommend it. Covering old sheeting hides corrosion, traps moisture in a humid climate and prevents proper inspection of battens and tie-downs — which is the part of a Cairns roof that matters most in cyclone season.
Which roofing material suits Cairns best?
Coated steel sheeting in an appropriate grade dominates for good reason: it is light, it sheds monsoonal rain fast and it performs well under wind uplift. Coastal properties should step up to a higher corrosion-resistance grade with marine-grade fixings. We explain the options for your specific location during the inspection.
Will insurance contribute to a replacement roof?
Insurers generally cover sudden damage rather than age or wear. If a storm or cyclone caused damage extensive enough that replacement is the reasonable remedy, our photographed report and itemised quote provide the documentation insurers ask for. We do not lodge the claim for you.
Free Inspection, Written Fixed-Price Quote
Send the form and we'll arrange a time to get on the roof. You get photos of what we find, a plain-English explanation of the cause, and a written fixed price before any work starts. No call-out fee, no obligation.
- Inspection and quote are free across Cairns and the Northern Beaches.
- Photographed findings you can forward to your insurer if relevant.
- Storm and cyclone damage is triaged ahead of routine work.
Book Your Free Cairns Roof Inspection
We climb the roof, photograph what we find, and give you a written fixed-price quote. No call-out fee anywhere in Cairns or the Northern Beaches.