Tile Roofing Nowra
Tile suits a lot of homes around here: it looks right in established streets, it handles the weather and it lasts decades. Choosing it well is about more than picking a colour, and we will walk you through what actually matters.
New Build, Addition or Replacement?
Tile works well on new homes, additions and replacements, but the starting point changes completely depending on which you are doing. Knowing which one you are in is the first thing we establish.
That avoids the most common mistake, which is choosing a profile that looks right in the brochure and then finding it does not suit the pitch, the structure or how the roof meets the rest of the building.
New build
We work from the drawings, coordinating the structure, the drainage and the trade sequence before anyone is on site.
Addition
The join between new and existing is the detail that matters most. It drives the removal, the flashing and the drainage, so we resolve it first.
Replacement
We start with what is already there: the existing covering, the junctions and whatever is concealed underneath until the tiles come off.
Comparing materials
If you are weighing tile against metal, we will compare them honestly on the same project rather than steering you toward one.
Concrete and Terracotta Are Starting Points, Not Answers
Concrete is the workhorse and the more affordable option, available in a wide range of profiles and finishes. Terracotta costs more, holds its colour far better over decades and suits certain homes much better. Terracotta also should not be painted, which matters for the long-term picture.
Profile changes both how the roof looks and how it sheds water. Some profiles interlock, some overlap, and each has a minimum pitch below which it simply will not keep water out no matter how well it is laid.
What helps us advise you
- Whether you are leaning toward concrete or terracotta.
- The roof pitch, the hips and valleys, and how far the planes span.
- The profile, colour and finish you have in mind, and how you want the ridges to look.
- Any structural or manufacturer requirements that need coordinating.
- Any planning or design constraints that apply to the property.
Six Parts That Make a Tile Roof Work
The tiles are the visible layer. Whether the roof actually keeps water out depends just as much on everything underneath and around them.
Structure and weight
Tile is heavy, so what is holding it up has to suit the covering you choose. On a conversion from metal this is a genuine engineering question, not a formality.
Pitch and layout
The product requirements and the roof geometry decide the laps, the coursing and whether the profile is usable at all.
Battens and fixings
Spacing has to match the tile you have chosen, and every tile in exposed areas needs fixing properly rather than relying on gravity.
Underlay
The second line of defence when wind drives water under a tile. Its selection and detailing should match the design rather than being an afterthought.
Ridges and hips
Cappings, cut tiles, bedding and pointing. This is the most common thing to fail first on a tiled roof, so it is worth doing properly at the start.
Valleys and edges
Channels, flashings, eaves and gutters. Water concentrates here, and these are where most leaks on tiled roofs actually begin.
Sort the Questions Before Ordering the Tiles
- 1
Gather inputs
Plans, roof geometry, the existing details and what you want the project to achieve.
- 2
Shortlist
Compare the tile materials and profiles that genuinely suit your roof.
- 3
Resolve the junctions
Structure, drainage, penetrations and every edge, settled on paper first.
- 4
Sequence it
Plan access, delivery and how we work around the other trades.
- 5
Quote
We put the tile, the components and the job in writing.
A New Tile Roof Versus Replacing One
On a new build, the framing and geometry can be designed around the tile from the start. Pitch, structure and drainage all get set up to suit, everything is accessible, and nothing has to be worked around. A new tile roof on a new build typically runs $20,000 to $40,000.
A replacement starts with what is already there. Removal, working around an occupied house and whatever is hiding under the old tiles all shape the job. If your existing tiles are still sound, restoring them costs a fraction of replacing them, usually $4,000 to $9,500, and we will tell you when that is the better spend.
For a new build, send
- Current plans and any structural information.
- The tile options you are considering and their requirements.
- Penetrations, gutters and how the roof meets the walls.
- What the build programme depends on and when.
For a replacement, send
- Photos from the ground and any repair history you know about.
- The existing profile and what you want the result to be.
- Access details, and whether the house is occupied while we work.
- Solar, skylights, chimneys and anything else on the roof.
Roof Shape Matters More Than Roof Size
Area is one input, but geometry usually decides more. Every valley, hip and change of direction is more labour and more detailing than a simple gable, and access and pitch change the staging cost on top of that.
Send plans for a build or addition, or photos and a description for an existing roof. Either way we come and look before quoting, and the quote is free and in writing.
Tile roofing is not roof painting
Installing a tile roof and coating an existing one are completely different jobs. If you want both, we quote them as separate line items so you can see exactly what each one costs rather than being handed one number.
For the full range, see our roofing services.
Tile Roofing Questions
Straight answers about tile choices, pitch and cost. More general questions are on our roofing FAQ page.
What is the difference between concrete and terracotta?
Concrete is more affordable and the most common choice. Terracotta costs more but holds its colour far better over decades and suits certain homes much better. Terracotta is also more brittle to walk on and should never be painted, which matters for the long view.
Can tile go on any pitch?
No. Every tile profile has a minimum pitch, and below it water backs up under the overlaps no matter how well the roof is laid. If your pitch is low, metal is the sensible answer and we will tell you so rather than selling you tile.
What is underneath the tiles?
Battens holding the tiles, fixings securing them, and underlay as the second line of defence when wind drives water past a tile. On older roofs the underlay has often perished, which is why a small tile fault can become an active leak.
Are ridges, valleys and flashings included?
They are not optional extras, they are what makes the roof work. Our quote lists them explicitly as included or excluded so you can compare it properly against anyone else's.
Is a new build the same job as a replacement?
No. A new build is coordinated from plans with everything accessible. A replacement inherits the existing geometry and structure, involves removal, and has to work around a house someone is living in. Different jobs, different prices.
Does a new tile roof need painting?
No. New tiles come with their colour and finish already. Coating is something you might consider decades later when the surface has weathered, and it is a separate job with its own price.
Request a Free Tile Roofing Quote
Send the plans or describe the roof you have, tell us whether you are leaning toward concrete or terracotta, and what you want the result to be. We will come and look or work from the drawings, and put a free quote in writing.
- Photos from the ground are plenty.
- Send plans or previous work details if you have them.
- Please do not climb onto the roof to check.
Prefer to talk? Call (02) 4409 2597.