How Much Does It Cost To Roof A House In South Africa?
New roof installation (material and labour)
- R400 – R800 / sqm
This is the price per square metre of roof for a new roof installation. The price includes both material and labour cost.
Usually the cost ratio between material and labour is 40%:60%. In addition to the roof area, the final cost largely depends on the type of selected roofing material. The most popular roofing material in South Africa is corrugated metal sheeting, but you can choose anything between slate, thatch, asphalt shingles, concrete and clay tiles. It all comes down to your budget and particular demands – whether you want something natural, beautiful, durable or maintenance-free. New roof installation costs range between R400 / sqm and R800 / sqm with an average of R600 / sqm.
Thatched roof
- R400 – R600 / sqm
This is the price per square metre for a thatched roof, including installation.
The final cost will depend on the size and complexity of your roof, the quality of the thatching material, and the experience and expertise of the chosen thatcher. As for material, for each square metre, you will need about 95 bundles. So, If you know what is your roof area, you can estimate what the material alone will cost.
Additional costs may apply if you opt for special netting, treatments, and sprays.
The cost of installing a brand new thatch roof usually costs approximately the same as replacing an existing one.
Thatch roofs are environmentally friendly and provide a high level of insulation. They will also give your home that true South African look and feel. For a thatched roof, expect to pay between R400 / sqm and R600 / sqm.
Roof inspection
- R800 – R1400
This is the price for a roofing inspection of a house with 70–100 square metres of roof area, without VAT.
The final price will depend on the size and complexity of the roof. It is required by law (specifically, the Building Standards Act Section 14(2A) and the National Building Regulations (Regulation A19)) for a new roof structure to be inspected and certified by a qualified roof inspector. For roof inspection, expect to pay between R800 and R1400.
Roof repair
- R70 – R100 / sqm
This is the price for roof repair services per square metre of roof area. Common roof-related problems that need repair are usual wear and tear, water leaks, and missing or damaged shingles or sheeting. The price of the repair will depend on the size of the roof to be repaired, the scope of the work, the urgency of the job, and the materials used. Sometimes the damage or wear and tear can be so substantial that it is wise to consider a roof replacement instead of repair.
On average, expect to be charged between R70 / sqm and R100 / sqm for roof repair.
What type of roof is cheapest in South Africa?
Flat-roofed houses are very popular in South Africa.
They are easy to build, require less material than pitched roofs and are therefore cheaper. You also have more freedom as far as the design of the house is concerned but remember – a flat roof still needs a slight pitch for water drainage.