How Long Does Colorbond Roofing Last?

Metal roofs, and Colorbond in particular, are quickly becoming the preferred roofing material for homes in Australia. Why? Because Colorbond is stylish, lightweight, sturdy, thermally insulated, and highly resilient under the testing of Australian weather conditions.

It’s an option definitely worth exploring if you’re thinking about building or modifying your home, as using our material has a variety of benefits.

Colorbond has a 30-year warranty from BlueScope Steel for corrosion and weathering due to the natural elements. In addition, it has a warranty against paint flaking and chipping for up to 20 years after the date of installation.

This means that you can expect your roof to last 30 years at a minimum, and you can have faulty sections replaced for no charge if there is an issue. But, in fact, Colorbond roofing can last a lot longer than 30 years. Metal roofs can usually last anywhere from 40-70 years.

In contrast, asphalt shingle roofs usually last a maximum of 20 years before requiring major repairs or roof replacement. Colorbond roofing is a great long-term investment.

Colorbond roofing is a type of metal roof manufactured by BlueScope Steel, and it’s one of the most popular metal roofing materials in Australia and New Zealand. It’s made out of high-quality steel, which is treated with a unique, permanent powder coating.

This coating is what protects the steel from corrosion and wear & tear, and also provides it with its colour. Colorbond materials are available in a wide variety of styles and colours depending on your budget and your taste.

Colorbond has become so popular in Australia that its products are often synonymous with “metal roofing.” But while all Colorbond products are metal roofing materials, not all metal roofs are made from Colorbond! That’s an important distinction to make. Take a look at our range of roof repairs Melbourne.

Benefits of Using Colorbond Roofs

Longevity isn’t the only reason to choose a Colorbond roof. There are a few other benefits, too. If you choose a professionally-installed Colorbond metal roof from City2Surf Roofing, you’ll get a few other benefits.

Colorbond roofs are steel-coated roofing material manufactured by Bluescope Steel. With over 50 years since the first production, Colorbond is a proven provider of roofing material in Australia.

Colorbond boasts over five decades of testing and improvement in Australia’s harshest conditions, making it more than just your basic corrugated metal roof!.

Colorbond roofing has gained popularity and risen to be the top roofing option for most Australian homes because it not only offers long-lasting protection from the elements but also helps raise the value of the home.

Colorbond Roofing is Lightweight

One of the most distinctive features of Colorbond is its weight (or lack thereof). Colorbond roofs weigh a mere fraction of other roofing materials. It’s only 1/10th the weight of roofing tiles!

This super lightweight feature makes Colorbond installation faster and more cost-effective!. Unlike other roofing materials, Colorbond does not change weight in wet conditions. While other materials might absorb some rainwater and become heavier, water runs right off Colorbond roofs.

This feature ensures a lot less stress on the roof framing, walls, foundations, and your wallet.

Colorbond Roofs are Weather Resistant

Colorbond roofing is specially made to withstand even the harshest Australian climate. It’s not only tested in labs, but also in outdoor facilities across Australia to ensure the best performance no matter the weather.

Rest easy with Colorbond because no matter the climate, Colorbond is designed and built to hang tough.

Colorbond Roofs are Corrosion-Resistant

Acid rain and torrential downpours might cause heavy corrosion in other metal roofs. But Colorbond’s unique five-layer design keeps it looking good as new for much longer.

Colorbond’s five-layer protection system includes:

• A steel base manufactured to Australian standards
• A Bluescope metallic coating layer for enhancing corrosion resistance
• A pre-treatment layer for better adhesion of further coatings
• A corrosion-inhibiting primer
• A topcoat of exterior paint with reflective technology

These layers ensure deep and long-lasting protection against corrosive agents. They also keep your Colorbond roof colourfast for longer.

Colorbond Offers Up to 36 Years Warranty

When you choose Colorbond roofing materials, you make a wise investment decision on your home, and also secure that investment.

As of writing, Bluescope Steel offers a wide range of warranty options for Colorbond steel valid for up to 36 years. Colorbond roofs are clearly built to last.

With Colorbond as your choice in roofing material, you’ll have peace of mind for decades to come. Apply for your Colorbond roofing steel warranty here. Looking for a roof replacement? Check out Top Glaze for a wide range of roof services. 

Colorbond Provides High Design Flexibility

Colorbond roofs come in a wide range of different shades and colours.

With 22 colours to pick from, you’re sure to find one that perfectly matches your home. On top of this, you also have a rich selection of profiles to choose from to suit the design of your home.

You can curve, shape, or even use straightened sheets to suit your home’s aesthetic, whether it’s contemporary, traditional or heritage. Colorbond roofs have something for every style of home.

Colorbond Offers Great Value for Money

Colorbond roofs are easy to maintain. In most cases, all you need to do is a little washing, at least every six months, with fresh water. Something a bit of rain provides for free!. Ensure that there is no debris on the roof, and the gutters are clean, and you’re all set.

Colorbond roofs also don’t need painting as often as other metal roofs. As the name suggests, the colour is bonded directly to the metal itself. This union prevents any peeling, chipping and cracking, and therefore less frequent roof painting. To keep your roof in tip-top shape, schedule an annual inspection from a professional.

Get ahead of any issues before they turn into problems and save yourself money.

Colorbond Roofs are Energy-Efficient

The colour of a building’s roof can directly affect the cooling and heating bills of a household.

Lighter-coloured roofs (with lower solar absorbance) reflect more heat off your home compared to darker-coloured roofs (high solar absorbance) during those blistering summer days and help cool your home.

Colorbond roofing sheets take advantage of this through a technology called Thermatech. Thermatech technology helps insulate your home and reduce heat radiation from the roof.

The thermal efficient Colorbond roofs with lower solar absorbance reduce strain on your air conditioner, which helps save you money by reducing heating and cooling bills.

Here are a couple of fast facts about Colorbond roofs:

• 21 of the 22 Colorbond roofing colours feature Thermatech solar reflectance technology.
• 5 out of the 22 colours available for Colorbond roofs qualify as solar reflective roofing under the Green Star Communities tool.

Colorbond Roofs are Suitable for ALL roof pitches

Colorbond roofs are great for all homes regardless of the roof pitch.

They are an ideal choice for houses with little or no pitch because, unlike other roofing material, water will not pool on Colorbond roofs. The metal bonded paint finish seals it from moisture meaning water runs right off.

The lightweight and sturdy material of Colorbond roofs also mean reduced structural-weight strain – a quality that allows for greater spanning, and fewer columns in your home to hold up the roof – great for more versatile and open floor spaces.

Colorbond Roofs are Fireproof

Colorbond roofs are the most advanced roofing material available and provide excellent protection against bush fires.

Colorbond roofing and related material are compliant for use in the most extreme bushfire zones. Being incombustible, they will not catch fire, even when struck by lightning during severe electrical storms.

Colorbond helps secures your home from the worst nature throws at you, and by doing so protects your home and everything inside.

Colorbond Roofs are Environmentally Friendly

Colorbond roofs are 100% recyclable. Steel, the critical component of Colorbond roofs, is one of the most recycled products on the planet.

Colorbond roofs are highly efficient to transport and contribute less on-site waste, reducing the impact on the building site. When you choose Colorbond, you are contributing to a sustainable home and a greener planet. The many benefits offered by Colorbond roofing material makes it a stylish addition any discerning buyer or homeowner would look for. Looking for roof repairs? Look no further! Top Glaze has you covered. 

Colorbond roofs remain colourfast and look brighter for longer. A feature that makes your home look more appealing to potential buyers.

Upgrade your roof to Colorbond to elevate your home and perhaps even land your next buyer. Colorbond roofs promise decades of service and protection from the elements.

Can You Repaint Colorbond Roofs?

Can I paint my Colorbond roof? You might have a Colorbond roof that has faded over the years or moved into a new home and the current colour just isn’t doing it for you. Colorbond Roofing, it’s an Australian icon despite the name being the way the United States spells ‘Color’ as opposed to the Australian / UK ‘Colour’.

Unlike the spelling of the word which will likely never change, the colour of your metal roof, on the other hand, can be improved. Repainting a colorbond roof requires a particular process and experience. A Colorbond roof restoration is a large job, so you want to make sure it is done right. Before you begin your search for Colorbond roof painting Melbourne, it’s a good idea to learn the facts about painting Colorbond, below you will learn the best practices for a successful and long-lasting colorbond roof repaint.

How Do You Repaint a Colorbond Roof?

First off it’s not as easy as painting a concrete tile roof, the process is entirely different. The best comparison for painting a Colorbond roof would be painting a vehicle, it’s a multilayer coating system, and the prep work is integral to a long-lasting and radiant finish. Thankfully, it’s not as expensive as painting a car.

Colorbond Roof Restoration & Painting Process:

Inspection of the Roofs Condition

The first step is always to understand exactly what your dealing with. What looks like a degraded Colorbond roof could turn out to just be contaminated that require pressure cleaning. What looks like flaking paint could have rust hiding underneath it.

Usually, this is not the case and most roofs will likely be faded or just weathered. Having an experienced Colorbond roofing professional inspect the roofs condition

Preparation and Pressure Cleaning

Once it’s been determined that your roof does, in fact, need a repaint or you are just changing colour. The roof is then pressure cleaned with specialised detergents at 3000psi.

This part of the preparation is crucial, the flow of an industrial pressure cleaner will break down the oxidised paint leaving a surface that will provide maximum binding with the new paint. If the roof contained mild or surface rust then specific rust treatment such as Rust Shield may need to be applied before priming.

Failure to correctly clean and prepare the roof can result in poor adhesion and lead to flaking paint.

Priming The Roof

Some Colorbond roof paints are self-priming and do not require a primer. In saying that if the roof is showing areas of bare metal or previous rust it’s beneficial to apply a specially designed primer such as Roofbond Shield Seal that will provide maximum binding to the bare metal surface.

All colorbond primers are designed to be spray-painted on the roof with an airless spray gun such as a Wagner Professional Sprayer or equivalent. Airless Sprayers apply the paint at a pressure of up to 3500psi, this makes them ideal for ensuring the paint/primer has maximum adhesion to the roof.

Painting The Roof

Colorbond roof paints are specialised water-based acrylic membranes designed for metal roofs. Just like the primer it is applied using an airless spray gun. What about painting colorbond roof with a roller? It’s a bad idea as the paint will not have maximum adhesion. Not to mention it will take several hours longer and when the paint overlaps the previous roll could be dried and demote adhesion. Colorbond paints are applied using a method called ‘wet on wet’. This would be very hard to achieve with a roller.

Scenarios When a Colorbond Roof Is Repainted:

• Fading or Chalky appearance – If your roof is starting to fade and not look its2 personal best it’s time to consider repainting it.
• Stubborn Staining – This can happen from time to time and it has a terrible look for your home’s curb appeal. The only way to “remove” the stain is to cover it up.
• Flaking or Bubbling paint – Overtime with exposure to the elements, this can happen. This will require some prep work to get good adhesion with the new paint.
• Seawater Exposure – Living withing close to the sea