Find the right help for your Melbourne roof
In short
Choose a roofer who services your Melbourne suburb and has experience with your roof type. For metal roofing, flashing and roof drainage, check the practitioner's Victorian roofing stormwater credentials through the Building and Plumbing Commission. Compare written repair scopes, including access equipment and weather protection. If a storm has damaged your roof or caused significant leaking and you need emergency help, call VICSES on 132 500.
Step 1
Match the problem to the roof material
Take photos from the ground or a safe place inside. Do not climb onto the roof to inspect damage. Describe where water appears, when it happens and any earlier repairs. A ceiling stain helps locate the symptom, but the contractor needs to investigate where water is entering.
Who to contact first
| Roof or problem | What to ask for |
|---|---|
| Cracked tiles, loose ridge tiles or a slate roof | A roofer experienced in that covering and repair method. Ask how any associated flashing or drainage work will be handled. |
| Metal roofing, flashing, gutters or downpipes | A practitioner with the relevant Victorian roofing stormwater credentials. Flashing seals roof joins and edges. |
| Storm damage or significant leaking needing emergency help | Call VICSES on 132 500. Call Triple Zero (000) for a life-threatening emergency. |
Step 2
Check credentials for the actual work
Victoria regulates roofing stormwater work as a plumbing class. It includes metal roof coverings, flashing and roof drainage. The class excludes coverings such as non-metallic tiles and slate, and work on roof membranes. Ask which parts of your proposed repair fall into regulated plumbing work rather than assuming one roofing credential covers everything.
Ask for the plumber's photo ID and use the directory linked from the Building and Plumbing Commission's engaging-a-plumber page to check their status and classes of work. Registered plumbers and trainees work under licensed supervision. Confirm who holds the relevant licence and who will issue a compliance certificate if one is required; only licensed plumbers can issue it.
For tile or slate work, ask for examples of comparable repairs and recent references. For a roof replacement or structural changes, ask the contractor and your council what building registration and permits the full scope requires before agreeing to proceed. Record the business details on the quote and ask for evidence of relevant insurance.
Step 3
Include the access details in your job brief
Give your suburb, number of storeys, roof material if known and the history of the leak. Mention solar panels, skylights and any shared roof areas. Confirm the inspection fee before booking and ask whether the written findings will include photos and a proposed repair method.
For a terrace in Carlton or Fitzroy, include narrow side access, rear laneways and parking restrictions where they apply. For an apartment or townhouse with a shared roof, identify who will arrange owners corporation approval and access. If your property is near the bay, ask whether the specified metal materials and fixings suit the site's exposure. These are questions for the particular property, not assumptions about every roof in the suburb.
Step 4
Compare the diagnosis as well as the price
For planned work, Consumer Affairs Victoria recommends comparing at least three written quotes for the same plans and specifications. Ask each contractor to identify the defect, explain the proposed remedy and record any uncertainty. If one proposes a small repair and another a replacement, ask what evidence supports each recommendation.
Check the roof areas, material specifications, labour, call-out fees and GST. Request explicit inclusions for scaffolding or other safe access, waste disposal and any solar-panel removal. Ask how the roof will be protected while open and how rain or wind will affect the schedule.
Before accepting, agree how hidden damage, extra costs and delays will be handled. Record changes to the scope and price in writing before authorising them. Keep the payment schedule, warranty terms and responsibility for any required certificates with the accepted quote.
Step 5
Arrange permanent repairs and collect the records
VICSES may carry out temporary emergency repairs. Minor leaks and superficial damage should go to a professional tradesperson. After the immediate danger is managed, contact your insurer if claiming and ask what assessment or approval it needs before you authorise permanent repairs.
At completion, request photos of the repaired areas, the invoice, warranty information and any required plumbing compliance certificate. Ask the contractor to identify defects left outside the agreed scope and any maintenance needed. If water returns, record the rainfall conditions and new symptoms safely, then contact the contractor with the original repair records.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- Building and Plumbing Commission: roofing stormwater work
Current regulator guidance on metal roof, flashing and drainage work, including exclusions for tile, slate and membrane work.
- Building and Plumbing Commission: engaging a plumber
Practitioner checks, photo ID, licensed supervision and who can issue compliance certificates. Former VBA pages redirect to the current regulator site.
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: getting quotes
Written quote comparison, business and insurance checks, costs and handling changes or delays.
- VICSES: when to call 132 500
Emergency roof damage assistance, temporary repairs, minor leaks and arranging permanent repairs.
