Colorbond and tile roofs are both popular across Australia, but many homeowners find Colorbond excels in key areas such as durability, modern aesthetics, and energy efficiency. To help you decide which option suits your home best, our handy comparison guide breaks down the essentials, from materials and costs to long-term performance, so you can make a well-informed choice.
What are the key differences between Colorbond roofing and tiled roofing?
- Colorbond is pre-painted steel, while roof tiles come in a variety of materials, including slate, concrete, terracotta, or clay
- Colorbond is available in a wider variety of colours than roof tiles
- Colorbond can be more expensive than tiled roofing, but the cost varies depending on the type of tiles chosen
- Colorbond is easier to clean than tiled roof and typically requires less maintenance
- Colorbond comes with a longer warranty, offering years of peace of mind
- Colorbond is better equipped to handle harsh weather conditions, making it a perfect option for Australian homeowners
Overview of Colorbond Roofing
Colorbond is a coated steel roofing material used across Australia. The durable and weather-resistant material helps you keep the heat in your home without worrying about any water leaking. It is easy to clean and maintain and can last for around seventy years, providing that you maintain it.
Colorbond roofing materials & composition
Colorbond is pre-painted steel, developed by BlueScope Steel. The roof material is made from high-quality steel, coated with a layer of specially designed paint. The paint is baked onto the steel at high temperatures, making it weather-resistant and durable. It’s no wonder that it’s the material of choice for many homes and commercial buildings!
Colorbond roofing colours & profiles
Colorbond roofing is available in a variety of classic and contemporary colours, which we have listed below.
Classic colours
- Classic cream
- Cottage green
- Deep ocean
- Manor red
- Night sky
- Pale eucalypt
- Woodland grey
- Paperbark
Contemporary colours
- Surfmist
- Evening haze
- Shale grey
- Dune
- Windspray
- Gully
- Wallaby
- Jasper
- Basalt
- Monument
- Ironstone
Colorbond roofing durability & longevity
Colorbond roofing has undergone rigorous tests to ensure that it can last as long as possible in Australian weather. It has been tested against outdoor exposure and corrosion, adhering to Australian standards (AS1397 and AS/NZ 2728), lasting up to seventy years.
Colorbond roofing can even survive adjacent fire, corrosion, and outdoor exposure and is a compliment for use in bushfire zones. It is very durable and can last your home for years.
Overview of Tiled roofing
Tiles are a traditional way to roof a building. They are available in materials like terracotta, concrete, clay, and slate. They are laid in an overlapping design, stopping rain from entering the building and keeping you dry. Roof tiles are also fire resistant, making them a good choice in areas prone to wildfires.
Tiled roofing materials & composition
Terracotta, clay, concrete, and slate tiles can be used for tiled roofs. All of these are very durable, but slate is considered the superior tile. Roofs are fire resistant and designed to withstand heavy rain and high wind. The cost of the materials varies, but you can find a durable tile for any budget.
Tiled roofing colours & profiles
There are plenty of options for tile roofing colours and profiles. Our favourites are outlined below:
Terracotta tiles
Terracotta tiles come in various earthy colours, including oranges, warm reds, and deep browns and work well in Spanish and Mediterranean-style homes.
Clay tiles
Clay tiles are typically used in historical and traditional homes in various colours like greys, browns, and reds.
Concrete tiles
Concrete tiles are considered low maintenance and durable and can mimic other materials’ appearance, like wood or slate. You can choose these in various colours, including blue, green, beige, grey, and other neutral shades.
Slate tiles
Slate roof tiles are considered a premium, offering a sophisticated and natural look. You can find slate titles in green, grey, black, and purple.
Flat or curved profiles
Roof tiles can be purchased with flat or curved profiles. Flat roof tiles tend to look more modern and sleek, with clay and concrete being the most popular options. You can usually purchase flat roof tiles in neutral colours.
Curved roof tiles tend to be more decorative and available in various styles, like shingles and interlocking designs. You usually find these in warm colours like orange and red.
Tiled roofing durability & longevity
Tiled roofs are incredibly durable and can withstand harsh weather, lasting up to one hundred years, providing you care for them properly. Tiles are not impacted by rust or rot, and if you make good repairs, you shouldn’t need to replace the roof.
How do colorbond roofing costs compare to tiled roofing costs?
Colorbond roofing is more expensive than tile roof materials, costing between $18 and $39 per sheet. The high cost means replacing an entire roof can be around $15,000 to $25,000. Roof tiles are considerably cheaper, depending on the type of tile you buy, with slate being the most expensive. Roof tiles can cost between $45 and $500 per square meter, with concrete and terracotta being the cheapest.
While replacing a roof is expensive, regardless of the materials, you should consider how long the roof will last and the durability of both colorbond and roof tiles.
Learn more about the cost of Colorbond roofing in Brisbane & South East QLD.
How energy efficient are both options?
Colorbond and tiled roofing are very energy efficient, helping trap warm air in your home to reduce overall energy bills. However, Colorbond can also help cool your home, making it more energy efficient.
Colorbond Roofing energy efficiency
How energy efficient your colorbond roof is depends on the colour of colorbond that you choose. The five light colours are classed as solar reflective, with all colours except Night Sky having solar reflectance technology. The technology makes them excellent thermal insulators, keeping the temperature more comfortable in your home.
Colorbond can also help to cool your home, so you don’t need to turn on your air conditioning or heating as often, helping to lower your energy bills.
Tiled roofing energy efficiency
Tile roofs are also very energy efficient, thanks to their heavy thermal mass. They can store energy as heat, helping to regulate indoor temperatures. In colder climates, like the UK, tile roofing is used for this reason, so why not take advantage of it in Australia, too? By keeping your home warmer, you don’t need to turn on the heating as often during the winter, saving you money on your energy bills.
How much maintenance is required?
Tile roofs require more regular maintenance than colorbond roofs, especially after bad weather. Older tile roofs, in particular, will need more care and attention and possibly costly repairs when tiles start to move or break after years of harsh Australian weather conditions.
Colorbond roofing maintenance requirements
Colorbond roofs require very little maintenance, making them the perfect option for anyone who doesn’t want to spend their weekends on the roof! All you need to do is hose it down every six months to clean any areas that rainwater can’t reach. You can do this with clean and fresh water, ensuring that every part of your roof is clean.
Tiled roofing maintenance requirements
Tiled roofs do require more maintenance than colorbond roofs. You will need to inspect your roof, which you can do yourself regularly or by hiring a professional. You will need to use a ladder to access your roof and look for any damaged or missing tiles. Should there be tiles that have slipped, cracked, or moved and are exposing the felt and rafters, you are more likely to have a leak, which could cause extensive damage to your home.
More repairs might also be involved, especially if you need to replace tiles or any of the felt linings. You can have your roof regularly inspected by a professional if you aren’t sure what you are looking for, and keep an eye out in your home for any signs of water damage or leaks.
Pros & cons for each option
Below, we have outlined the pros and cons for each roofing option to help you decide if a colorbond or a tile roof is better for your home.
Benefits of Colorbond Roofing
- They can last for seventy years and are tested against corrosion and outdoor exposure
- They offer thermal efficiency and insulation, helping to save on your electricity bills in the long term
- They require little maintenance; simply wash them every six months
- They come with a long warranty that reassures you won’t need to pay any surprise repair costs
- They are environmentally friendly and are 100% recyclable
Drawbacks of colorbond roofing
- The noise can be quite loud, especially when you hear rainfall on the metal roof. Insulation can be used to reduce this but at an additional cost
- Part of your roof might need to be cut out if you want to add solar panels or an air conditioner to your roof after it has been installed, increasing installation costs
Benefits of tiled roofing
- They are durable and can last for up to 100 years, providing you care for and maintenance them properly
- They are not impacted by insect damage, rust, or rot
- They are thick and dense enough to offer soundproofing, blocking out heavy rain sounds
- They store heat to regulate indoor room temperatures, making your house more efficient and saving money on your energy bills
Drawbacks of tiled roofing
- Tiles can become damaged if heavy objects fall on them, leaving you with repairs
- Can be very complex to repair – making ongoing maintenance difficult and potentially expensive
- Tiles can shift during extreme weather, causing leaks
Talk with a Colorbond roofing expert about installation options
Want to learn more about different roofing options? Get in touch with our team of metal roofing experts in Brisbane to request a free quote.
