Boral Roofing

Here's a practical breakdown for someone in Australia looking to get a roof done — split into materials/brands (which are pretty consistent nationally) and installation companies (which is much more location-dependent).

Top Roofing Materials & Brands Used in Australia

Metal Roofing (most common choice, especially for new builds/replacements):

• Colorbond® steel (BlueScope) – by far the most widely used roofing material in Australia. It's the default choice for most new homes and re-roofs due to its durability, colour range, and Australian climate-testing.
• Lysaght, Stratco, Fielders, Metroll – these are the major manufacturers/suppliers who produce Colorbond and Zincalume profiles (Custom Orb corrugated, trimdek, etc.) that installers use.

Roof Tiles:

• Monier – Australia's biggest tile manufacturer (concrete and terracotta).
• Boral Roofing – another major player, especially for concrete tiles.
• Bristile Roofing – terracotta and concrete tiles, common in older-style builds.

Membrane/Flat Roofing (for extensions, commercial, low-pitch):

• Bituthene, Ardex, Dincel for waterproofing membranes
• Sika products are also widely used by roofing contractors for waterproofing and sealants.

Roofing Companies / Installers

This is where it gets tricky to give a single "best" answer, because roofing installation is a highly localised trade — the best company for you really depends on your suburb/state. That said, here's how to approach it based on what's out there:

National franchise networks (useful if you want consistency/backing):

• Jim's Roofing – large franchise network across most states, though reviews are mixed depending on the local franchisee.

What review platforms show: Sites like ProductReview.com.au list hundreds of local roofing companies with customer reviews, but results vary enormously by region and even by individual reviewer experience — for example, some reviewers described a $350 charge to replace two roof tiles that left the roof still leaking, with no follow-up, requiring an insurance claim, and said they would not recommend it for the same franchise that other customers have praised elsewhere. This tells you brand name alone isn't a reliable signal for roofing contractors — local reputation matters more than the company's national profile.

My actual recommendation:

1. Pick your material brand first (almost certainly Colorbond steel for a standard Aussie home — it's the industry standard for good reason: cost, longevity, low maintenance, huge colour range, and easy insurance/resale acceptance).
2. Then find a local installer via:
   • ProductReview.com.au or Google Reviews — filter to your specific suburb/region, not just the state.
   • HIA (Housing Industry Association) or Master Builders Association member directories — these require licensing/insurance compliance.
   • Ask for 3 quotes minimum, check they're licensed roof plumbers (