Roofing
A roof made from COLORBOND® steel makes perfect sense
Strong, beautiful and durable, COLORBOND® steel is tried and tested in Australian conditions to look great and deliver outstanding, long life performance. With 22 core colours in the range, including 6 in a premium Matt finish, you can choose a roof colour that sets the theme for your whole home, or complements your other building material choices. In particular, you can 'mix and match' colours with your gutter, fascia and downpipes made from COLORBOND® steel. Furthermore, the range of thermally efficient light colours can help to keep your home cooler on hot, sunny days.
Adapting to the demands of the building industry, COLORBOND® steel has changed a great deal since it was first manufactured in Port Kembla, Australia in 1966. Not only has the colour range evolved, so too has the technology involved in COLORBOND® steel’s production. Activate® technology was introduced in 2013 and BlueScope holds numerous patents on the technology, both in Australia and around the world. No wonder we’re now seeing COLORBOND® steel being used on roofs for anything from homes all around Australia, to large commercial buildings like the Adelaide Velodrome and the Margaret Court Arena. To be sure you are getting genuine COLORBOND® steel from BlueScope, make sure you ask for it by name, and check for the brand mark on the material.
With five layers of protection, COLORBOND® steel has been designed to endure our harsh Australian environment and provide long-lasting durability you can trust. Our high quality steel is coated in our industry leading enhanced corrosion-resistant Activate® technology*, then further enhanced with pre-treatment, primer and a baked-on topcoat.
Learn more about our testing and five layers of protection
*Activate® technology is not available for COLORBOND® steel products with a galvanised steel substrate.
COLORBOND® steel’s core colour range in the Classic and Matt finish features our specially designed Thermatech® solar reflectance technology. Thermatech® reflects more of the sun’s heat on hot, sunny days which may help increase your comfort while reducing your dependence on air conditioning*. Thermatech® is available in all core colours except Night Sky®.
*Results will depend on roof colour, level and location of insulation, type and location of building shape and function.
To help create a more sustainable ‘circular economy’, every COLORBOND® steel product incorporates recycled material and the steel itself is 100% recyclable.
Moreover, COLORBOND® steel’s proven longevity keeps resources in use for longer, minimising its impact on the environment.
Over sixty years of Australian research and development has created a range of technologies that give genuine COLORBOND® steel its long lasting performance when subjected to some of the harshest Australian conditions. You can make sure you’re getting the genuine article by looking out for the COLORBOND® steel branding on the product, or its packaging.
Here in Australia, our buildings certainly face some pretty challenging weather conditions from extremes of heat and cold, to dust, rain, wind and hail. And it’s for this reason that COLORBOND® steel is assessed at outdoor sites around Australia, as well as in accelerated laboratory testing. COLORBOND® steel undergoes corrosion testing, durability testing, application testing (to ensure it can be used in a wide range of building and manufacturing applications, and with all the common building products used across the industry) and outdoor exposure testing.
Roofing, walling, gutters and downpipes made from COLORBOND® steel may be used as part of a compliant system in bushfire prone areas, including in the most extreme, BAL-FZ (Bushfire Attack Level – Flame Zone) as defined in AS 3959:2018. In BAL-FZ “there is an extremely high risk of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers, and a likelihood of exposure to an extreme level of radiant heat and direct exposure to flames from the fire front.” (AS 3959:2018).
Simple maintenance of COLORBOND® steel by regular washing with clean, fresh water will not only prolong its life but also maintain its attractiveness for longer periods thus protecting your asset.
When you choose COLORBOND® steel, you’re also getting the support of BlueScope, one of Australia’s largest manufacturers. That’s why COLORBOND® steel’s renowned durability is backed up by some of the most robust building product warranties for eligible applicants.
Roofing FAQ's
Can roof sheeting be installed with the coloured side down?
No. The coating on the underside of the sheet has different properties which are not designed for prolonged exposure to weather. Roofing profiles are also designed to be used top side up and may leak if installed the wrong way. However, there are roofing profiles available with a coloured finish on both sides of the sheet for specific applications, such as patios and pergolas, where the reverse side of the sheet will be visible. However, colour combinations and styles may be limited and you should confirm availability with your supplier.
What is the recommended roof pitch for roofing made from COLORBOND® steel?
Roofing made from COLORBOND® steel comes in a wide variety of profiles, and it is the profile of your roofing material that determines the minimum pitch that it can be placed at. For example, a corrugated profile typically has a minimum pitch of 5 degrees however some profiles can have a minimum pitch as low as 1 degree. We recommend speaking to your builder, designer or roofing supplier to determine the appropriate pitch for your desired roofing profile.
Can hail damage affect the life of my roof?
Generally, hail indentations do not typically affect the lifespan of a roof made from COLORBOND® steel. However, potential issues can arise on low-pitched roofs where significant indentations lead to water ponding and dirt accumulation, which may promote corrosion. Similarly, if roof sheet overlaps are deformed enough to lose their anti-capillary effect, water can be drawn into the lap and cause damage. While the impact may cause some loss of the paint topcoat, this is primarily an aesthetic issue and generally does not impact the corrosion performance of the steel. For more information, please refer to Technical Bulletin TB-32 - Impact of hail damage to exterior BlueScope coated steel products.
I am installing a chimney. How can I make sure any fallout doesn't affect my roof made from COLORBOND® steel?
The fallout from chimneys and wood fired burners can be unsightly and, if neglected, can damage the surface on which it falls. For information, please refer to Corrosion Technical Bulletin CTB-14 - Exhaust from wood and oil fire burners.
Can I mix sheets from different suppliers or different batches for my roof or wall?
COLORBOND® steel has stringent appearance specifications but to be confident of consistent aesthetic in a roof or wall with a large single plane (i.e. very large roofs and walls) it is best that your builder or roofing installer sources material from a single supplier, and that your supplier has manufactured all roofing and walling material for your project from a single BlueScope paint production run. Your builder or roofing installer should check with the rollforming supplier who can arrange this through the BlueScope Sales Office. For more information, please refer to Technical Bulletin, TB-19 - COLORBOND steel – visual considerations in large single planes.
I'm worried about glare from the roof affecting my backyard and neighbours, is there any way to avoid this?
Good building design requires some planning in the selection and use of materials. All building materials reflect sunlight and can benefit occupants and the environment by reflecting the sun's heat away from the building, however under certain conditions, this may cause annoyance to immediate neighbours. For more information, please refer to Technical Bulletin, TB-28 - Building materials and reflectivity.
My roof, fence or gutter has small rust like spots on it. What are these and how can I remove them?
Swarf is the term given to steel debris that is created during cutting or drilling operations when your roof is being installed. Swarf particles can corrode rapidly and cause unsightly stains that will detract from the appearance of the roof. Prevention of swarf staining is the responsibility of the installer and following trades. Care should always be taken to properly clean up any swarf created during the installation process by blowing, vacuuming, sweeping or rinsing the roof to remove loose particles. For more information, please refer to Technical Bulletin TB-05 - Swarf Staining.
My house is close to the ocean, when should I select COLORBOND® Ultra steel over COLORBOND® steel for my roof?
As a simple guide, if your project is greater than 200m from breaking surf, COLORBOND® steel is recommended for your roof, between 100-200m from breaking surf, COLORBOND® Ultra steel is the recommended material for your roof. For other distances and other marine conditions, please refer to Technical Bulletin TB-01A - Steel roofing products – selection guide
- Absolute performance is subject to local conditions including, but not limited to, prevailing winds, and presence of unwashed areas.
- Distance is as measured from the high water/tide mark
- Applies to salt marine influences only. For installations subject to severe or heavy industrial conditions or internal humidity, it is essential to contact Steel Direct for advice on suitable products.
- Definitions and examples of surf, exposed and calm marine are outlined in Technical Bulletin TB-35 - Australian Salt Marine Classifications
What is the best way to maintain my roof / wall / fence made from COLORBOND® steel?
COLORBOND® steel requires minimal maintenance – the wash of natural rain water will help keep it looking good for many years. Areas not regularly washed by rain water, such as wall cladding under eaves, garage doors and the underside of eave gutters, should be hosed down at least every six months and more frequently in coastal areas. In cases where regular hosing does not remove all the dirt we recommend washing COLORBOND® steel with a mild solution of pure soap or non-abrasive dishwashing detergent in warm water. Washing should be done with a sponge, soft cloth or soft bristel nylon brush (no abrasive scourers, steel wool etc) and be performed gently to avoid scuffing. Thoroughly rinse the surface with fresh water immediately after to remove traces of detergent. For more information please refer to Technical Bulletin TB-04- Maintenance of exterior BlueScope coated steel products.