Have you noticed your roof fading, rusting, or leaking during the scorching summers or windy winter storms? Maybe the heat now seeps into your living spaces, or water stains are appearing on ceilings. These are clear signs it’s time to think about replacing your old roof. But with so many options, it’s easy to feel lost.
We’ve seen firsthand how confusing it gets when researching to know the type of roof that works best for your part of Adelaide. Coastal suburbs like Glenelg and Marino need corrosion-resistant materials, while inland areas like Gawler demand roofs that handle heatwaves exceeding 40°C.
Most Adelaide homeowners want a roof that’s tough enough to last 30–50 years, fire-rated for bushfire-prone areas, and visually modern without ongoing maintenance. In addition, they want clear guidance on which materials suit their home and climate. That’s exactly what this guide delivers.
Here, you’ll get a detailed look at the modern roofing types tailored for Adelaide homes, townhouses, unit groups, and some commercial properties.
Look around you and you’ll see there are various types of roofs in Adelaide. But what makes a roof really “modern”?
Modern roofs combine design, durability, and energy efficiency. In Adelaide, trends lean towards clean lines, minimalist rooflines, and materials that last under harsh sun, wind, and coastal conditions.
Key features include:
• Minimalist, straight lines that match contemporary architecture
• Reflective or thermally efficient coatings that reduce heat gain
• Durable, lightweight materials that lower structural load
• Sustainable or recycled content for an eco-conscious build.
Modern design roofing types also focus on thermal efficiency. A well-planned roof keeps your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter without spiking electricity bills. That’s particularly important in Adelaide, where summertime heat can reach 40°C eight times a year on average, according to the Australian Institute’s HeatWatch study.
Adelaide homeowners don’t just pick a roof for looks anymore. Between 40°C summers, coastal salt exposure, rising energy bills, bushfire zones, and our gusty winter storms, the choice comes down to what actually lasts and performs here in South Australia.
Below is a no-nonsense rundown of the modern roofing types you’ll still see around Adelaide, with their strengths, but also the very real downsides that have made each less popular over the last decade.
Colorbond® is a type of metal roof built for Australian conditions, and Adelaide in particular. It’s manufactured with a steel core, corrosion-resistant coating, and a baked-on colour system that handles our harsh UV levels far better than older metal finishes or tiles.
Nearly half of all new homes built in Australia have roofs made from Colorbond® steel. More than 9 out of 10 new homes feature products made from Colorbond® steel for various applications like gutters, fascias, and fencing.
This roofing material is everywhere, and for good reasons. Some of the benefits of Colorbond® include:
• Corrosion Resistant: Specifically engineered to resist salt-air damage, making it perfect for Adelaide’s coastal suburbs.
• Modern Colour Palette: Features a wide variety of contemporary colours to perfectly match any modern home design.
• Lightweight Durability: Lessens the structural load on your home while offering a long-term lifespan of 30–50 years.
• Proven for Adelaide Climate: Tested and proven to withstand South Australia’s extreme conditions, from scorching heatwaves to winter storms.
• Superior Fire Safety: Non-combustible and meets the stringent BAL-40 requirements for bushfire-prone areas, giving you peace of mind.
• Eco-Conscious Option: Some products include up to 30% recycled steel, supporting a more sustainable build.
In short, it’s practical, modern, widely supported with parts and installers, and proven under South Australian conditions. That’s why Colorbond® is considered the default choice today.
At Roof & Render SA, we install commercial and residential Colorbond® roofing types with expertise built over four generations. We make sure every sheet is fitted right and insulated properly, so you get quiet, comfortable living and long-lasting protection.
The following materials still exist, but their popularity has dropped sharply, mainly because they don’t align with how people want their homes to perform today.
While Zincalume is still used in some residential and commercial applications, it is an inferior roofing material compared to Colorbond®. Composed of aluminium, zinc, and silicon, most builders now use it primarily for sheds, carports, and more budget-focused builds rather than for main residential homes.
Here’s why:
• Too reflective and too bright: Zincalume has a shiny silver look that many Adelaide homeowners feel looks “unfinished.” It reflects a lot of glare, which makes it unpopular in dense neighbourhoods. No one wants their neighbour complaining that the roof is bouncing light into their windows.
• Far fewer colour options: Colorbond® offers 20+ architectural colours. Zincalume offers… silver.
• Corrosion resistance isn’t as forgiving near the coast: Colorbond® Ultra is designed for salty coastal zones. But Zincalume’s protection doesn’t perform as well over long periods in suburbs near the sea.
• Appearance fades quicker: Without the baked-on colour system, Zincalume weathers faster and loses its bright appearance, leaving a dull grey finish.
Current trend
Most homeowners now prefer Colorbond® because the cost difference doesn’t justify the trade-offs in look and longevity.
These roof panels are brilliant for energy efficiency on paper, but here’s why they remain niche in Adelaide:
• Expensive upfront: You’re paying for roofing, insulation, and structural strength in one panel. For many homeowners, the upgrade cost doesn’t match their budget.
• Limited roof design flexibility: They work best with simple roof shapes. Many Adelaide homes, especially older ones, have hips, valleys, parapets, and chimneys that make ISP installation fiddly and sometimes not worth the price.
• Repairs are challenging: If one panel gets damaged, you can’t just replace a small section. You often need to swap an entire panel, which is time-consuming and costly.
• Aesthetics can look “commercial”: Some people feel they resemble office or facility roofing more than home roofing. Some people feel they resemble office or facility roofing more than home roofing.
Current trend
Insulated Sandwich Panels (ISP) are great for extensions, granny flats, and commercial-style builds. But homeowners still overwhelmingly choose Colorbond® for main roofs.
Concrete tiles used to be everywhere in SA, especially on homes built pre-2000. But in the last decade, their popularity has dropped dramatically. Concrete tiles are increasingly being replaced for metal roofs like Colorbond®.
Here’s why:
• Too heavy for older timber frames: Tiles weigh around 40–60 kg/m², which stresses older South Australian roof frames. Many homeowners switching from tile to Colorbond® are shocked at how much lighter the house feels structurally.
• High maintenance: Cracked tiles after hail. Moss growth in shaded suburbs like Belair or Blackwood. Ridge capping that needs repointing every decade. The list goes on. Poor heat performance: Tiles hold heat all day and release it into the house at night. In suburbs that stay warm after dark, this becomes unbearable.
• Breakage during roof access: Techs servicing evaporative coolers or antennas often end up cracking tiles while walking across them. Takes longer to install or replace: Tile roofing is physically slower, which adds labour cost.
Current trend
Tile roofing is now mostly chosen for heritage looks or older homes being kept original. Otherwise, Colorbond® wins for weight, maintenance, and energy efficiency.
Slate has its perks, but it’s generally not chosen anymore unless someone is restoring a character home. Some of the main drawbacks include:
• Very expensive: Material and installation costs are the highest of almost any roofing system.
• Heavy load: Slate is even heavier than concrete tile. Most Adelaide homes simply aren’t engineered to carry that kind of weight.
• Specialist skills required; Not many slaters operate in SA, so repairs can take longer and cost more.
• Overkill for most families: Most homeowners don’t want to spend this much when modern steel roofs outperform slate in heat, corrosion resistance, and cost.
Current trend
Slate roofs are reserved for prestige homes in suburbs like North Adelaide, Walkerville, and Unley Park.
Choosing the right modern roofing type for your Adelaide home is a long-term investment. To get a roof that truly lasts and performs, you need to consider the practical realities of South Australian weather and architecture.
Your suburb’s postcode tells us what kind of punishment your roof will take.
• The Coast vs. Inland: Live somewhere like Glenelg or Marino right on the coast? You’re fighting salt-air corrosion 24/7. Standard Zincalume or cheap steel won’t hack it for you; they’ll start getting rusty spots quicker than you may have thought. Colorbond® is purpose-built to resist that salty stink. We use the highly resistant Colorbond® Ultra in those coastal spots, which gives you a 30-to-50-year lifespan. Besides, for inland areas like Gawler, the focus shifts entirely to handling the extreme heat. Colorbond®’s baked-on finish and ThermCote® technology handle those 40°C heatwaves, which is a massive win over old tiles.
• Bushfire Zones: If your place is near one of the hills or a scrubby bit of land, fire safety is non-negotiable. Colorbond® is non-combustible and meets the strict BAL-40 bushfire requirements. Equally important, it gives you real peace of mind where an old, mossy tile roof might be a serious liability.
• Colorbond®’s Heat-Smart: Choosing a lighter shade of Colorbond® is an actionable step you can take right now. Plus, the colour you pick has ThermCote® built in to reflect heaps of radiant heat away. It’s a world away from those heavy concrete tiles that soak up the sun all day and then chuck that heat back into your house all night.
• The Ultimate Heat Buster: If you want your house to feel like a ripper fridge inside, Insulated Sandwich Panels (ISP) are worth a look. In addition, they knock out most of the noise when it’s pelting down rain. They’re more expensive up front, but their superior thermal efficiency pays you back in lower power bills over their 50+ year lifespan.
Another question to ask: what are you putting the roof on? A main home or a shed?
• Main Residential Home Weight: If we’re yanking off a heavy concrete tile roof (those things weigh a whopping 40–60 kg/m²!), the relief when we put up lightweight Colorbond® steel is huge. Not just that, it takes a massive structural load off your older timber framing, which is a real bonus for many classic Adelaide homes.
• Extensions: ISP is a great option for new additions like granny flats or big outdoor entertaining areas because it’s a quick install and gives instant insulation.
Modern Aussie homes demand clean, sleek lines. People no longer want fussy, high-maintenance materials. And you, do you?
Colorbond® naturally gives you those sleek, straight rooflines that look mint on contemporary houses. Besides, with over 20 architectural colours on offer, you can match your gutters, fascia, and shed to the roof. You avoid the “unfinished” or dull grey look you get with plain Zincalume.
Also, a key part of modern roofing is not having to worry about it. Colorbond®’s durable finish means no more cracked tiles after a hail storm, no moss growth in shaded areas like Belair, and no expensive repointing of ridge capping every ten years.
Don’t be fooled by the cheapest quote. A good roof is a long-term investment.
While Colorbond® costs more than generic steel, its proven 30–50 year lifespan and minimal upkeep make it a much better financial move over time. Another thing to consider is that cheaper materials often need full replacement in under 20 years, wiping out any initial savings. So think long-term value, not short-term price tag.
Even the most expensive, top-shelf steel will leak if a dodgy or inexperienced tradie puts it on.
You need a team that knows what they’re doing. We’re talking about four generations of expertise here at Roof & Render SA. On top of that, we back our work with a 20-year watertight guarantee and 45-year Bluescope® warranty because we stand by every sheet and every seal. Make sure your chosen installer has proper warranties and a reputation you can trust.
Book a free consultation with Roof & Render SA. We’ll come out, check your place, weigh up the pros and cons for your specific suburb, and outline the cost versus benefit so you get the perfect roof for your Adelaide home.
Across metropolitan Adelaide, from Munno Para down to Seaford, reroofing trends show the same pattern:
Most homeowners are moving toward Colorbond® and away from other roofing types like tiles, slate, exotic metals, and plain steel.
Not because those materials are bad, but because:
• Colorbond® handles heat better
• It’s lighter
• It’s more corrosion-resistant (especially coastal)
• It comes in modern colours
• It requires the least maintenance
• It installs quicker
• Replacement sheets and parts are easy to source
• It works for both renovation and new builds
Choosing wisely depends on climate, style, and budget. But it also depends on experience, and with Roof & Render SA, our 100 years of expertise mean your roof is in safe hands.
Visit our interactive showroom at Lonsdale to see all ColourBond® steel colours in person. Our team helps you pick the right modern roofing type backed by experience, warranties, and performance. Or just call us on 08 8451 6116 for a Colorbond® roofing quote.
Fill in the form below to book a free consultation at our Colorbond Showroom in Lonsdale.
We will give you a call within 24 hours to organise a time that suits you.
Fill in the form below to book a free consultation at our Colorbond Showroom in Lonsdale.
We will give you a call within 24 hours to organise a time that suits you.
