How to Hire a Licensed Roofer in Australia: A Homeowner's Practical Guide

A leaking roof in the middle of a Sydney winter. A dodgy re-roofing job that voids your home insurance. A roofer who takes half the money upfront and never comes back. These are real problems Australian homeowners face every year. Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities in construction, and roofing sits at the sharp end of that statistic.

Hiring the right licensed roofer is the difference between a watertight home and a costly disaster. With over 2,300 licensed roofers in Queensland alone listed on TradieVerify, finding a qualified professional starts with knowing what to look for. This guide explains how to hire a licensed roofer in Australia, from checking their credentials to understanding costs, materials, and your rights under Australian law.

Why You Should Only Hire a Licensed Roofer

Roofing is high-risk work. Every Australian state and territory regulates roofing through licensing systems because the consequences of poor workmanship are severe: water damage, structural compromise, and personal injury.

Legal requirement. A licensed roofer has completed formal trade qualifications, typically a Certificate III in Roof Plumbing (CPC32620) or Roof Tiling (CPC31420), and served an apprenticeship. Their work must comply with the National Construction Code and relevant Australian Standards.

Insurance protection. Licensed roofers carry public liability insurance and, where required, home warranty insurance. If an unlicensed operator damages your property or injures themselves on your roof, you could be left without cover.

Accountability. A licensed roofer is registered with a state building authority. If there is a dispute about workmanship, you have a formal complaints pathway. With an unlicensed worker, your only option is civil court, which is slow and expensive.

Australian Consumer Law. All roofing services come with automatic consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law: the work must be carried out with due care and skill, be fit for purpose, and be completed within a reasonable time. These protections are far easier to enforce against a licensed operator.

You can verify any roofer’s licence instantly on TradieVerify’s search page.

1. Understand the Different Types of Roofing Work

Before hiring a licensed roofer, know what type of work you need. Roofing in Australia falls into several categories, and different licence classes cover different scopes.

Roof plumbing. Covers metal roofing (Colorbond, Zincalume), guttering, downpipes, flashings, and roof drainage. In most states, this is a distinct licence category from general roofing.

Roof tiling. Covers installation and repair of concrete tiles, terracotta tiles, and slate. Roof tilers need separate qualifications from roof plumbers.

Roof restoration. Includes cleaning, repointing ridge caps, resealing, and recoating existing roofs. Some restoration work does not require a full roofing licence, but structural repairs always do.

Roof replacement (re-roofing). A full tear-off and replacement requiring a licensed roofer and, in most cases, a building permit from your local council.

Asbestos roof removal. If your home was built before 1990, there is a real chance it contains asbestos cement roofing (fibro). Removing asbestos requires a separate licence. A Class A asbestos removal licence is needed for friable asbestos, while a Class B licence covers non-friable asbestos (which includes most roof sheeting) over 10 square metres. Your roofer should either hold an asbestos licence or subcontract removal to a licensed asbestos removalist before new roofing goes on.

When discussing your project with a licensed roofer, confirm that their licence covers the specific type of work you need.

2. Check Their Licence Before You Pay a Cent

This is non-negotiable. Before signing a quote or paying a deposit, verify the roofer’s licence on the relevant state register or on TradieVerify.

Here is what to check:

• Licence status. Is it current and active? An expired or suspended licence means the roofer cannot legally perform the work.
• Licence class. Does it cover your specific roofing work? A roof tiling licence does not cover metal roof installation, and vice versa.
• Business details. Does the licence match the business name and ABN on the quote? Some operators trade under a different name to the licence holder.
• Disciplinary history. State registers often show past enforcement actions, licence conditions, or complaints upheld against the holder.

Ask for the licence number upfront. A legitimate licensed roofer will hand it over without hesitation. If someone dodges the question, find another roofer.

Browse licensed roofers in Queensland to see verified roofer listings.

3. Verify Insurance Coverage

A licensed roofer should carry, at minimum, two types of insurance:

Public liability insurance. This covers damage to your property and injury to third parties caused by the roofer’s work. Standard cover is $5 million to $20 million. Ask for a certificate of currency and check the expiry date.

Workers compensation insurance. If the roofer employs staff, workers compensation is mandatory in every state. Without it, you could be liable if a worker is injured on your property.

Home warranty insurance. For roofing work above your state’s threshold (e.g., $3,300 in QLD, $20,000 in WA), the roofer must provide home warranty insurance before accepting any payment. This protects you if they become insolvent or abandon the job.

Roofing is inherently dangerous work involving heights, power tools, and heavy materials. Insurance is not optional. Request certificates and verify them independently.

4. Get Three Written Quotes and Compare Properly

The standard advice in Australia is to get at least three written quotes. For roofing, this is especially important because pricing varies widely depending on materials, access difficulty, and roof pitch.

What a proper roofing quote should include:

• Full scope of work (what is being removed, installed, or repaired)
• Material specifications (Colorbond profile and colour, tile type and brand, underlay specification)
• Labour costs itemised separately from materials
• Whether scaffolding or elevated work platform hire is included
• Old roof disposal costs (especially if asbestos is involved)
• GST inclusion (mandatory for businesses turning over more than $75,000)
• Timeline for start and completion
• Payment terms and schedule
• Warranty details (manufacturer warranty on materials, workmanship guarantee period)

Compare like for like. If one roofer quotes Colorbond Trimdek and another quotes Colorbond Klip-Lok, those are different products at different price points. Make sure quotes specify the same materials before comparing bottom-line figures.

5. Choose Between Metal and Tile Roofing

When re-roofing or building new, you will need to decide between metal and tile. Each has pros and cons for Australian conditions.

Specialist qualifications matter. A licensed roofer who specialises in metal roofing (roof plumber) has different training from a tile specialist (roof tiler). For best results, hire someone whose primary trade matches your chosen material. If you are unsure, ask the roofer for their recommendation based on your roof pitch, local climate, and budget.

6. Understand Working at Heights Safety

Roofing is classified as high-risk construction work under the Work Health and Safety Act. Any licensed roofer working on your property must follow strict safety requirements.

What you should expect to see on site:

• Scaffolding or edge protection around the roof perimeter. Roofing work at any height requires fall prevention measures.
• Safety harness systems if edge protection is not practical. Workers must be trained in harness use and have current working-at-heights certification.
• A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for the job. This is a legal requirement for any high-risk construction work and must be prepared before work begins.
• Signage and barriers at ground level to keep people away from the fall zone.

A roofer who climbs onto your roof without any safety equipment is breaking the law and putting themselves and you at risk. If a worker falls on your property and the roofer has no workers compensation insurance, you could face a liability claim.

Ask about their safety procedures before work begins. A professional roofer will have safety systems as standard practice.

7. Know What a Roof Inspection Involves

Before committing to a major roofing project, consider getting an independent roof inspection. This is separate from the roofer’s own assessment and gives you an unbiased view of your roof’s condition.

A thorough roof inspection covers:

• Condition of roof covering (tiles, sheeting, or shingles)
• Ridge capping, pointing, and bedding condition
• Flashing around penetrations (vents, skylights, chimneys)
• Gutter and downpipe condition
• Roof framing and structural timbers (from inside the roof space)
• Evidence of leaks, water damage, or condensation
• Presence of asbestos-containing materials

Inspection vs replacement. An independent inspector might find that your roof needs repointing and flashing repairs rather than a full replacement, saving you thousands. A roof inspection typically costs $200 to $500 depending on property size and location. That is a small price for an informed decision on a project that could cost $15,000 to $40,000.

8. How Much Does Roofing Cost in Australia?

Roofing costs vary by material, roof area, pitch, access difficulty, and location. Here are indicative costs as of 2025-2026:

New roof installation or full replacement:

Roof repairs and maintenance:

Location matters. Roofing in Sydney typically costs 15-25% more than Brisbane or Adelaide. Regional areas may have higher material delivery costs but sometimes lower labour rates.

Factors that increase cost: steep pitch (above 25 degrees), multi-level homes, complex roof shapes with many hips and valleys, difficult access, and asbestos removal. Always ask your licensed roofer for a detailed breakdown.

9. State-by-State Roofer Licensing Guide

Each Australian state and territory has its own licensing system for roofers. Here is a summary with real licence counts from the TradieVerify database:

Key differences between states:

• Queensland has distinct licence categories for roof tiling and roof/wall cladding (metal roofing). The $3,300 threshold is the lowest in Australia, meaning almost all roofing jobs require a QBCC licence.
• Victoria requires registration as a building practitioner for roofing work over $10,000.
• New South Wales requires a contractor licence from Fair Trading for roofing work over $5,000, with roof plumbing as its own licence category.
• Western Australia requires a registered building contractor for work over $20,000.
• Tasmania and South Australia require a builder’s licence for roofing work at any value, with no minimum threshold.

10. Red Flags When Hiring a Roofer

Protect yourself by watching for these warning signs:

• No licence number on the quote. A licensed roofer displays their licence number on quotes, invoices, and often their vehicle.
• Door-knocking after a storm. Storm-chasing roofers target areas after severe weather, offering urgent repairs at inflated prices. Many are unlicensed or interstate operators without valid local licences.
• Large upfront deposit demands. A deposit of 10% is reasonable. Asking for 50% upfront is a red flag.
• Cash only, no invoice. This usually means no ABN, no GST registration, and no paper trail.
• No safety equipment. A roofer who climbs up without edge protection or harnesses is breaking WHS laws.
• Pressure to sign immediately. “This price is only good today” is a sales tactic, not how legitimate licensed roofers operate.
• No written scope or contract. Verbal agreements for roofing work are unenforceable.
• No insurance certificates. If a roofer cannot show current public liability and workers compensation certificates, walk away.

If you suspect someone is doing unlicensed roofing work, report them to your state’s building authority. In Queensland, you can report directly to the QBCC.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if a roofer is licensed in Australia?

You can search for any roofer’s licence on TradieVerify’s search page, which pulls licence data from state regulators across Australia. Each state also has its own register: QBCC Licence Search for Queensland, Service NSW for New South Wales, and VBA Practitioner Search for Victoria. Ask for the licence number and verify it before signing anything.

How much does it cost to replace a roof in Australia?

A full roof replacement on a standard 200 square metre home costs between $14,000 and $36,000 depending on the material. Colorbond steel is the most common choice at $80 to $150 per square metre installed. Concrete tiles cost $80 to $130 per square metre, while terracotta tiles run $120 to $180 per square metre. Add 20-40% more if asbestos removal is required.

Do I need council approval for roofing work?

For repairs and like-for-like replacements (same material), most councils do not require a building permit. However, if you are changing roofing material (e.g., tiles to metal), altering the roof structure, adding a skylight, or extending the roof, you will almost certainly need council approval. Your roofer should advise you on permit requirements for your specific project.

What is the difference between a roof plumber and a roof tiler?

A roof plumber specialises in metal roofing (Colorbond, Zincalume, steel sheeting), guttering, downpipes, and flashings. A roof tiler specialises in concrete tiles, terracotta tiles, and slate. These are separate licence categories in most states. When hiring a licensed roofer, make sure their licence class matches the type of roofing material on your project.

Can I remove an asbestos roof myself?

Homeowners can remove up to 10 square metres of non-friable (bonded) asbestos in most states, but the rules vary. In Queensland, you need a homeowner’s certificate from Workplace Health and Safety. Given the serious health risks of asbestos exposure and the complexity of safe removal, most roofing professionals strongly recommend hiring a licensed asbestos removalist. The cost difference between DIY and professional removal is small compared to the health risk.

How long does a roof replacement take?

A standard re-roofing job on a single-storey home (200 square metres) typically takes three to seven working days, depending on the material, weather conditions, and roof complexity. Metal roofing installs faster than tiles. Asbestos removal adds two to three days. Complex multi-level roofs or difficult access can extend the timeline further. Your licensed roofer should provide a realistic timeframe in their quote.

Summary

Hiring a licensed roofer in Australia comes down to these key steps:

• Verify their licence on TradieVerify or the relevant state register before signing any agreement
• Check their insurance by requesting current certificates for public liability and workers compensation
• Get three written quotes with detailed material specifications, labour costs, and disposal fees
• Choose the right specialist for your material: a roof plumber for metal roofing, a roof tiler for tiles
• Confirm safety compliance by asking about edge protection, harness systems, and their Safe Work Method Statement
• Check for asbestos if your home was built before 1990, and ensure removal is handled by a licensed asbestos removalist
• Understand your rights to consumer guarantees, home warranty insurance, and formal dispute resolution through your state regulator

With over 2,300 licensed roofers in Queensland listed on TradieVerify and more states being added regularly, finding a qualified roofing professional starts with a simple licence check. Search for a licensed roofer in your area on TradieVerify and start your roofing project with confidence.

Related Guides

• How Much Does Roof Replacement Cost? Full 2025–2026 Price Guide — Our roof replacement costs
• Storm Season Preparation Guide — Our storm season preparation guide
• Bushfire Season Home Preparation Checklist — Our bushfire preparation checklist

Sources

1. Queensland Building and Construction Commission: Roof and Wall Cladding Licence, https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/licences/apply-licence/available-licences/other-trade/roof-wall-cladding
2. Queensland Building and Construction Commission: Roof Tiling Licence, https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/licences/apply-licence/available-licences/other-trade/roof-tiling
3. Safe Work Australia: How to Safely Remove Asbestos Code of Practice, https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/
4. NSW Government: Roof Plumbing Work Licensing, https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-licences-and-registrations/roof-plumbing-work
5. Victorian Building Authority: Building Practitioner Registration, https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/
6. WorkSafe Queensland: Asbestos Licences, https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/licensing-and-registrations/asbestos-removal-and-licensing/asbestos
7. SafeWork NSW: Working as a Licensed Asbestos Removalist, https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/licences-and-registrations/licences/class-a-asbestos-removal-licence/working-as-a-licensed-asbestos-removalist
8. Housing Industry Association (HIA): Roofing and Cladding, https://hia.com.au/