# Roofing in the Perth Hills

URL: https://perthroofquotes.com/service-area/perth-hills/
Updated: 2026-10-17

> Roof work in the Perth Hills is shaped by bushfire risk, trees and terrain. Much of the Hills is mapped as bushfire prone, so embers, leaf-filled gutters and gaps under roofing matter, and a roof replacement may raise Bushfire Attack Level questions for the council. Steep blocks affect access and price, and homes that drink roof water need extra care during work.

The Hills run along the Darling Scarp from Gidgegannup in the City of Swan, through the City of Kalamunda and the Shire of Mundaring, to Roleystone and Bedfordale in the City of Armadale and Jarrahdale in the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale. Homes sit among jarrah and marri on sloping blocks, often well back from the road.

Bush, trees and slope change roof work more than any particular suburb does: they affect what the roof must resist, how a contractor reaches it and, for many households, the water they drink.

## What roofs are common here?

Steel roofing is common on Hills homes, verandahs, carports and the large sheds many properties have. Established hills suburbs such as Kalamunda, Lesmurdie, Gooseberry Hill and Glen Forrest also have many concrete and terracotta tile roofs. Homes and outbuildings built before about 1990 may have asbestos cement roofing.

Split-level homes on sloping land often have several roof levels, skillion sections and long verandahs, each adding valleys, junctions and flashings.

*Image: A rusted valley iron between concrete roof tiles, with gum-leaf debris collected along it. Leaf litter that stays wet against metal can speed up rust.*
## Local conditions that affect roofs

### Bushfire prone mapping and BAL

WA's Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas covers bushfire prone vegetation plus a 100 metre buffer, and much of the Perth Hills is mapped. A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment under AS 3959 rates a site from BAL-LOW to BAL-FZ (flame zone) based on vegetation type, distance and slope, and construction requirements for new building work, including roofs, depend on the BAL. DFES also notes that land not mapped as bushfire prone may still be subject to bushfire. See [bushfire and your roof](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/bushfire-and-your-roof/).

### Embers, gaps and gutters

DFES says most homes lost in bushfires are set alight by burning embers. Embers can enter through gaps under roofing, vents, gutters full of leaves and roof-mounted evaporative coolers, and AS 3959 includes measures such as ember mesh and sealed gaps. DFES lists clearing gutters among the jobs to do before the fire season.

### Leaf litter, bark and blocked valleys

Gum leaves, bark and gumnuts collect in valleys, gutters and behind chimneys and coolers. When the first heavy winter rain arrives, a blocked valley can overflow under the tiles or sheets, and debris that stays wet against steel speeds up rust. See [roof valley repairs](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-valley-repairs-perth/), [gutter repairs](https://perthroofquotes.com/gutter-repairs-perth/) and [rusty roofs and gutters](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/rusty-roofs-and-gutters/).

### Trees and storm damage

Tall trees close to the house can drop branches in storms and on hot, windy days, and a heavy limb can break tiles, dent sheets or crush gutters. The FAQ below covers the first steps; see [storm damage roof repairs](https://perthroofquotes.com/storm-damage-roof-repairs-perth/) for the repair process.

### Steep blocks and access

Steep or long driveways, retaining walls, steps and sloping yards affect where scaffolding, a skip and materials can go and how long the job takes, and a split-level home can be single storey at the front and two storeys at the back. Ask for access to be itemised; see [roof repair costs](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-repair-cost-perth/) for other price factors.

### Rainwater tanks fed by the roof

Where roof water is collected, the roof and gutters are part of the household's water supply. HealthyWA describes scheme water as the safest and most reliable drinking water in urban areas, and says rural rainwater is usually safe unless contaminated or stored improperly. It advises against collecting rain from roofs coated with lead-based paints or bituminous products, or from areas near a wood heater chimney or discharge pipes from roof-mounted appliances, and recommends clear gutters, no overhanging branches and letting the first good rains run to waste. After a bushfire, it says not to reconnect downpipes until the roof and gutters are cleaned or the first rains have run to waste.

## Permits and local rules

Permit and planning questions go to the City of Kalamunda, Shire of Mundaring, City of Swan, City of Armadale or Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale. Before a roof replacement in a mapped area, ask the council whether it triggers BAL requirements and needs a BAL assessment by an accredited assessor. Changing the roof material can also need a building permit; see [building permits for roof work](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/building-permits-for-roof-work-wa/).

## Common jobs and what to ask

- **Gutter and valley work.** Ask whether rusted sections will be replaced, and if you are considering gutter guards, what they are made of and whether they suit a bushfire prone property.
- **Roof replacement in a mapped area.** Ask how the new roof will address the site's BAL and ember gaps.
- **Roof cleaning on a tank-fed home.** Ask how runoff will be kept out of the tank. See [roof cleaning](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-cleaning-perth/).


- Is my property mapped as bushfire prone, and does this work trigger any BAL requirement?
- Will gaps at the ridges, eaves and penetrations be sealed or meshed?
- How will you get equipment and materials onto a sloping site, and is that priced separately?
- Will the tank be disconnected during the work, and when is it safe to reconnect?

## Getting a quote in the Perth Hills

Hills properties can request a quote like anywhere else in Perth. Access matters more here, so in the [quote form](https://perthroofquotes.com/quote/) mention:

- whether the property is mapped as bushfire prone, and its BAL if you know it;
- the slope, driveway and any steps between the street and the house;
- whether the roof feeds a tank used for drinking water;
- trees overhanging the roof and any outbuildings that need work.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can sealing gaps in the roof help protect a Hills home from embers?
It can help. DFES identifies embers as the cause of most house losses in bushfires, and AS 3959 measures include ember mesh and sealed gaps. When roof work is planned, ask whether gaps at the ridges, eaves and around penetrations can be sealed or meshed as part of the job.

### Can we keep drinking our tank water while the roof is cleaned, repaired or coated?
Talk to the contractor before work starts about disconnecting the downpipes to the tank, whether the products suit a roof that supplies drinking water, and when it is safe to reconnect. If in doubt, use another drinking water source until the roof is clean and the first good rain has run to waste.

### A gum tree branch has fallen on the roof during a storm. What should we do?
Keep everyone away from the damaged area and any fallen power lines, and do not climb onto the roof. Call the SES on 132 500 if you cannot make the house safe, or 000 if anyone is in danger, then photograph the damage and contact your insurer.