As of October 2026, painting a typical single-storey Sydney roof costs about $2,875 to $6,900, with a typical job around $4,600, according to What’s The Damage. That is roughly $15 to $35 per square metre for a tile roof and $20 to $40 for a Colorbond or other metal roof. A national guide published on Top4 gives higher figures of $35 to $80 per square metre, so the price depends a lot on how much preparation and repair is included. All figures are indicative only.
How much does roof painting cost in Sydney?
As of October 2026, painting a typical single-storey Sydney roof costs about $2,875 to $6,900, and a typical job is around $4,600. That is the range in What’s The Damage’s Sydney roofing guide, which says its prices were verified in October 2026. Its roof painting page breaks the job down like this:
- Tile roof recoat (clean, preparation and two to three coats): about $15 to $35 per square metre, or about $2,875 to $6,900 for a standard three-bedroom home
- Colorbond or other metal roof repaint: about $20 to $40 per square metre, or about $2,500 to $5,500, because metal needs rust treatment and an etch primer first
- Pressure clean only: about $300 to $800
- Repairs such as broken tiles or rusted sheets: priced as separate items
A national guide published on Top4 in February 2026 gives higher figures: about $35 to $80 per square metre depending on the roof material, or about $4,500 to $12,000 for a single-storey home. Its figures include minor repairs and sealing, which partly explains the gap. The What’s The Damage figures are more recent and Sydney-specific. Treat the two together as a guide to the likely spread, not as a quote.
Tile and Colorbond roofs: what changes the job
Tile and metal roofs are painted in different ways, and the preparation is where most of the money goes.
- Concrete and terracotta tiles: the roof is pressure cleaned, treated with a biocide wash to kill moss and lichen, sealed or primed, then given two to three coats of roof membrane.
- Colorbond and other pre-painted steel: the roof is washed, surface rust is treated, and an etch primer goes on before the top coats. BlueScope, which makes Colorbond, says its coated steel can be successfully overpainted and that a water-based acrylic is generally the most suitable paint.
- Warranty: BlueScope’s technical bulletin states that overpainting Colorbond, Zincalume or zinc-coated steel will void any warranties issued by BlueScope. If your roof is still under a BlueScope warranty, weigh that up before you repaint.
- Colour change: going from a dark colour to a light one, or the other way, can need an extra coat.
What drives the price
- Roof size: the roof area is usually bigger than the floor area once the pitch and eaves are counted. Ask how many square metres the quote is based on.
- Pitch and height: steep roofs and two-storey homes need edge protection or scaffolding and take longer.
- Condition: heavy lichen, surface rust, a peeling old coating or lots of broken tiles add preparation time or separate repair items.
- Coating system: premium membranes with longer warranties cost more per litre, and the number of coats matters too.
- Solar panels, antennas and skylights: these need to be worked around, or removed and refitted, which adds time.
What a roof painting quote usually includes, and what it leaves out
Ask for an itemised written scope so you can compare quotes like with like. Usually included:
- A high-pressure clean
- A biocide or anti-mould wash on tile roofs
- Rust treatment and etch primer on metal roofs
- Sealer or primer where the surface needs it
- Two or three coats of roof membrane
Often left out, or priced separately:
- Replacing cracked or broken tiles, or rusted sheets
- Rebedding and repointing ridge caps, which is restoration work rather than painting
- Gutter cleaning or repairs
- Scaffolding or edge protection on tall or steep roofs
- Removing and refitting solar panels
- Asbestos testing on older roofs
When painting isn’t enough
Paint is a coating, not a waterproofing layer. It will not fix a leak, a cracked or slipped tile, or ridge pointing that has crumbled. What’s The Damage puts it simply: if the pointing has failed or the ridge caps are loose, the roof needs restoration, not just paint.
Painting suits a roof that is sound and watertight but faded, chalky, stained or covered in lichen. If you have water stains on ceilings, broken or slipped tiles, crumbling ridge mortar or rust holes in a metal roof, get the fault fixed first. Our roof restoration cost guide covers that work.
Asbestos: homes built or renovated before 1990 may have asbestos cement roofing. Asbestos NSW warns not to water-blast, sand, cut or drill suspected asbestos, so a standard pressure clean is not safe on these roofs. If you are not sure what your roof is made of, have it tested before anyone starts work.
Colorbond roof painting: repaint or replace?
Repainting a sound Colorbond roof costs far less than a new one. What’s The Damage (October 2026) puts a Sydney Colorbond or metal roof repaint at about $20 to $40 per square metre, and a Colorbond re-roof at about $92 to $205 per square metre.
| Job | Per m² | Typical whole job | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repaint (wash, rust treatment, etch primer, top coats) | $20 to $40 | $2,500 to $5,500 | Suits a sound roof that is faded or chalky |
| Colorbond re-roof | $92 to $205 | $16,100 to $34,500 (full single-storey roof replacement) | For rusted-through sheets, failed fixings or ongoing leaks |
Source: What’s The Damage, Sydney roof painting and roofing guides (verified October 2026, prices include GST). Whole-job figures are for a typical single-storey house.
Painting suits a Colorbond roof that is watertight but faded, chalky or showing light surface rust. If sheets are rusted through, screws have failed across the roof, or leaks keep coming back, get a roofer’s view on replacement before paying for paint. Remember that BlueScope says overpainting voids any BlueScope warranty on the steel.
Does the colour matter?
Yes, for comfort as well as looks. The NSW Planning Portal’s BASIX guidance says a lighter colour roof has higher heat reflection, or lower solar absorptance, than a darker roof, and keeps the roof space and the home cooler on hot days. It groups roof colours by solar absorptance: light is below 0.475, medium is 0.475 to 0.7 and dark is above 0.7. If summer heat upstairs is a problem, ask the painter for the solar absorptance value of the colour you are considering.
NSW rules that apply to roof painting
Licences: in NSW, a contractor licence is needed for residential building or trade work worth more than $5,000 in labour and materials, including GST. Roof painting can fall under more than one licence class. The painting licence covers protective or decorative coatings, and the roof tiling and roof plumbing licences also cover protective coatings on tile and metal roofs.
Licence check: look up the person or company on the NSW Government’s online licence check (verify.licence.nsw.gov.au). It shows the licence holder’s name, licence classes, expiry date and current status. Make sure the name matches the business on your quote and contract.
Written contract: your tradie must give you a written contract if the job is worth more than $5,000 including GST. Jobs over $20,000 need a more detailed contract, and you get a cooling-off period of five clear business days.
Deposit: the most you can be asked to pay as a deposit is 10 per cent of the contract price.
Home Building Compensation insurance: for work worth more than $20,000, the contractor must take out this insurance before asking you for any deposit or payment. Many roof painting jobs come in under this amount, but ask for the certificate if yours does not.
Warranties: NSW law gives you statutory warranties on residential building work, 6 years for major defects and 2 years for other defects. The coating manufacturer’s warranty is separate.
Safety at height: SafeWork NSW says businesses must protect workers from falls whatever the height, and that a safe work method statement is required where a person could fall more than two metres. Guardrails, scaffolds and other fall-prevention devices must be used where reasonably practicable, ahead of harnesses. Ask your painter how they will manage fall risks, and do not go up on the roof yourself.
Strata: in an apartment or townhouse scheme the roof is usually common property, so talk to your strata manager or owners corporation first.
Questions to ask your tradie
- What is your licence number, and which licence class does it cover?
- What did you find on the roof, and can you show me photos?
- Does the price include the pressure clean, biocide wash, primer and all coats?
- Which coating product will you use, how many coats, and what is its warranty?
- Are any repairs needed first, and are they in this quote or separate?
- How will you work safely at height, and is edge protection or scaffolding included?
- Could my roof contain asbestos, and how will you check?
Get matched with local roof painters
Thinking about repainting your roof? Describe your job to MyTradeCrew. Tell us whether the roof is tile or metal, how many storeys the house has and whether you have noticed any leaks or damage. We will match you with vetted, licensed and insured local trades who can inspect the roof and give you a written quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint a roof per square metre in Sydney?
As of October 2026, What’s The Damage puts a tile roof recoat at about $15 to $35 per square metre in Sydney and a Colorbond or metal roof at about $20 to $40. A national guide on Top4 gives $35 to $80, which includes minor repairs. These are indicative only.
Can you paint a Colorbond roof?
Yes. BlueScope says Colorbond can be successfully overpainted, usually with a water-based acrylic after the surface is washed and lightly keyed. Overpainting voids any BlueScope warranty on the steel, so check your warranty position first.
Does roof painting stop leaks?
No. Paint is a coating, not waterproofing. Fix the leaking tile, flashing or ridge pointing first. If the pointing has failed or the ridge caps are loose, the roof needs a restoration rather than just paint.
How long does roof paint last?
What’s The Damage says a quality membrane recoat lasts about 10 to 15 years, and Top4 gives 8 to 15 years for a well-applied coating. A cheap single coat over poor preparation can fail within two to three years, especially near the coast.
Does a roof painter need a licence in NSW?
Yes, if the work is worth more than $5,000 including GST. Roof coatings can be done under a painting, roof tiling or roof plumbing contractor licence. Check the licence on the NSW Government’s online licence check before you sign or pay a deposit.
How much does Colorbond roof painting cost in Sydney?
As of October 2026, What’s The Damage puts a Colorbond or other metal roof repaint in Sydney at about $20 to $40 per square metre, or about $2,500 to $5,500 for a typical home. Metal roofs cost a little more per square metre than tiles because rust treatment and an etch primer go on first. Rusted sheets and two-storey access are usually priced on top.
Is it cheaper to paint or replace a Colorbond roof?
Painting is much cheaper if the roof is sound. What’s The Damage (October 2026) puts a Sydney Colorbond repaint at about $20 to $40 per square metre, against about $92 to $205 per square metre for a Colorbond re-roof. Paint will not fix sheets that are rusted through or leaking, so ask the roofer to check the condition of the sheets and screws first.
How much does tile roof painting cost in Sydney?
What’s The Damage (October 2026) puts a Sydney tile roof recoat, including the clean, preparation and two to three coats, at about $15 to $35 per square metre, or about $2,875 to $6,900 for a standard three-bedroom home. Broken tiles and ridge repointing are restoration work and are usually priced separately, so check what each quote includes before you compare.
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