# Tile vs metal roofs for Perth homes URL: https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/tile-vs-metal-roof/ Updated: 2026-10-17 > Neither tile nor steel suits every Perth home. Tiles are heavy, quiet in rain and can be replaced one at a time. Steel sheeting is much lighter, has fewer joints and can be laid at lower pitches, but needs a grade suited to its distance from the coast. Comfort depends heavily on insulation, sarking, ventilation and colour, so compare whole roof systems. People usually weigh up tile against steel at one of three moments: when an old roof needs replacing, when they are building or extending, or when they are buying a house and wondering what they are taking on. In everyday speech "Colorbond" often stands for any steel roof. Strictly, COLORBOND steel is BlueScope's pre-painted steel, and other steel roofing products exist. The fairest comparison is between whole roof systems rather than coverings. A steel roof with a good insulation blanket and a tile roof with sarking and a well-insulated ceiling can both be comfortable; either can be noisy, hot or leaky if the layers underneath are poor. ## How do tile and metal roofs compare at a glance? Tile and steel each have strengths, and most differences depend on how the roof is built rather than the covering alone. The table summarises the main points; the sections below explain them. | Consideration | Concrete or terracotta tile | Pre-painted steel | |---|---|---| | Weight | Heavy; the frame is designed to carry it | Much lighter; may need extra tie-downs against wind uplift | | Heat | Absorbs heat slowly and gives it off into the evening | Heats and cools quickly | | Rain noise | Generally quiet | Louder unless an insulation blanket sits hard against the sheets | | Other noise | Little | Can click or creak as it expands and contracts | | Typical upkeep | Ridge pointing, broken tiles, valleys, lichen | Screws, flashings, paint condition, corrosion at laps and edges | | Storm and hail damage | Individual tiles crack or slip | Sheets can dent; fixings can loosen | | Repairs | Single tiles can be swapped if a match is found | Damaged sheets are usually replaced in full length | | Coastal salt | Tiles do not rust, but metal valleys, flashings and fixings can | Needs a product grade suited to the distance from breaking surf | | Low-pitched roofs | Tiles need a steeper minimum pitch set by the manufacturer | Many profiles can be laid at lower pitches | | Look | Traditional texture; common in established streets | Clean lines; wide colour range | ## Which roof is heavier, and why does it matter? Tile roofs are far heavier than steel, and the roof frame under them is built to carry that load. Weight on its own is neither good nor bad. It matters most when you change from one to the other. Building and Energy WA's Industry Bulletin 53 explains that swapping to a different material can affect a building's structure. Going lighter can mean the roof needs more tie-downs to resist wind lifting it, while going heavier can mean the frame needs strengthening. That is why a change of material usually needs a building permit; see our guide to [converting a tile roof to metal](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/converting-tile-roof-to-metal/). ## Is a tile or metal roof hotter in a Perth summer? Neither covering decides it on its own. How warm the rooms below get depends on the whole system: ceiling insulation, sarking or a roof blanket, roof space ventilation and the roof colour. Thin steel heats up fast in the sun and cools quickly once the sun goes. Tiles take longer to warm and keep releasing heat into the evening. Colour matters for both. Manufacturers publish solar absorptance figures for each steel colour, and lighter colours typically absorb less of the sun's heat. Our guides to [roof colours and heat](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/roof-colours-and-heat/) and [sarking and insulation](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/roof-sarking-and-insulation/) cover the options. Steel also needs condensation management. Lysaght notes that when the air inside is warmer than the cladding, moisture can condense on the underside of the sheets. A correctly installed vapour barrier or foil laminate and good roof space ventilation help control it. ## Are metal roofs noisy in the rain? A steel roof is louder than tiles in heavy rain if nothing dampens it. Lysaght recommends an insulation blanket laid over the foil laminate before the sheets go on, held firmly against the underside of the roofing; if the blanket is not hard against the sheets, the reduction is smaller. Steel can also make clicking or creaking sounds as it expands and contracts with temperature, for example when cloud passes over on a hot day. Lysaght says this comes from movement at fasteners and does not damage the roof, and that insulation, ventilation and lighter colours can reduce it. ## Which needs more maintenance, tile or steel? They need different maintenance rather than simply more or less. On a tile roof, the usual jobs are ridge and hip capping, broken or slipped tiles, valley irons and lichen. On a steel roof, attention goes to screws working loose or rusting, flashings, sealants and the paint finish. Both need clear gutters and valleys. For the work involved, see [tile roof repairs](https://perthroofquotes.com/tile-roof-repairs-perth/), [roof repointing](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-repointing-perth/) and [metal roof repairs](https://perthroofquotes.com/metal-roof-repairs-perth/). *Image: A light-coloured corrugated steel roof with matching ridge capping and gutters on a suburban home.* ## How do tile and steel cope near Perth's coast? Tiles themselves do not rust, but the metal parts of a tile roof do: valley irons, flashings, gutters and fixings. On a steel roof, the sheets are exposed as well. BlueScope grades its steel products by distance from breaking surf, with premium marine-grade options for the most exposed sites. Sheltered areas that rain does not wash, such as under eaves and at overlaps, collect salt and often corrode first. Mixing incompatible metals, such as copper or lead runoff onto coated steel, speeds corrosion too. Ask the supplier or contractor which product and warranty suit your exact site; our [coastal corrosion guide](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/coastal-roofs-and-salt-corrosion/) explains what to ask. ## What about bushfire prone areas? Both tile and steel coverings can be used in bushfire prone areas, but the detail around them matters. Embers are a major risk: gaps under roofing, vents, gutters full of leaves and roof-mounted evaporative coolers can let them in. AS 3959 sets construction measures, such as sealing gaps and ember screens, according to the site's Bushfire Attack Level (BAL). If your property is in a mapped bushfire prone area, ask your local government whether a new or replacement roof must meet BAL requirements. See [bushfire and your roof](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/bushfire-and-your-roof/). ## How do repairs differ after storm damage? Damage looks different on each roof. A fallen branch or hail can crack a group of tiles, which a contractor can usually replace one by one if matching tiles are available. On steel, the same impact may dent a sheet, and a damaged sheet is normally replaced as a full length; on an older faded roof, a new sheet may not match the colour exactly. High winds test fixings on both. Tiles can lift or slip, and steel sheets or flashings can loosen. For urgent problems, see [storm damage roof repairs](https://perthroofquotes.com/storm-damage-roof-repairs-perth/). ## What should you weigh if you are replacing the roof anyway? If the roof is being replaced, the choice is open, but a change of material brings extra steps. Weigh these before you decide: - Whether a building permit is needed and who will apply for it. - Tie-down or structural upgrades if the roof gets lighter or heavier. - The sarking, insulation blanket and ventilation you want under the new covering. - The product grade for your distance from the coast, and its warranty conditions. - Heritage listing or local planning requirements that may limit materials or colours. - Gutters, flashings and solar panels that will need replacing or refitting. Our [roof replacement](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-replacement-perth/) page covers the wider job, and [roof replacement costs](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-replacement-cost-perth/) explains what changes the price. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does a metal roof make a house hotter than tiles? Not necessarily. Steel heats and cools faster than tile, but indoor comfort depends a great deal on ceiling insulation, sarking or a roof blanket, ventilation and colour. A lighter roof colour typically absorbs less heat. ### Is a steel roof louder than tiles when it rains? It can be if nothing dampens the sheets. An insulation blanket installed hard against the underside of the roofing reduces rain noise, so ask what will go under the sheets. ### Can a metal roof be replaced with tiles? It can, but tiles are much heavier and the frame may need extra structural support. A change of material usually needs a building permit, so check with your local government before committing. ### Is every metal roof COLORBOND steel? No. COLORBOND is a BlueScope trademark for its pre-painted steel. A metal roof might be unpainted ZINCALUME steel, older galvanised steel or another product, so a quote should name the exact product and profile. ### Which lasts better near the beach, tile or steel? Tiles do not rust, but the metal valleys, flashings and fixings on a tile roof still corrode. A steel roof needs a product grade suited to its distance from breaking surf, so ask the supplier or contractor which product suits your site.