Pergola and Verandah Roof Replacement on the Central Coast: Choosing Colorbond, Polycarbonate or Both with AWS Roofing

If the roof over your pergola or verandah has started to rust, leak at the joins or turn the outdoor area dark and damp, the roof can be replaced. AWS Roofing replaces pergola and verandah roofs across the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, in Colorbond steel, in polycarbonate, or in a mix of both. This guide explains the choices you will be asked to make, what we have done on a recent Gosford pergola roof, and what to have ready when you ask for a quote.

Can You Replace Just the Pergola or Verandah Roof?

Yes. Not every roof replacement covers the whole house. We replace smaller roof sections on their own, such as a verandah roof or a pergola roof, and we also replace them as part of a full re-roof. When the main roof is being replaced at the same time, it is common to do the verandah or pergola section in the same visit so the flashings and the roof line tie in properly.

If your main roof is also getting old, it is worth asking for both prices so you can compare doing them together with doing them separately.

You can read more about full re-roofs on our roof replacement page.

Signs Your Pergola Roof or Verandah Roof Needs Replacing

If you have noticed any of the following, it is a good time to get the pergola or verandah roof looked at:

• Rust streaks or rusted-through spots on the metal sheets
• Water dripping through at the joins or along the edge where the roof meets the house
• Polycarbonate sheets that have gone cloudy, cracked or brittle
• An entertaining area that stays dark and damp through winter
• Dents or split sheets after a hail storm
• Old fibro-style sheeting that could contain asbestos

AWS Roofing does not do patch repairs. We focus on replacing the roof, so the outdoor area is sorted with new sheets, new flashings and new fixings rather than another visit next storm season.

Colorbond Steel or Polycarbonate for a Pergola Roof?

The choice comes down to how much light you want under the roof. Colorbond steel gives you a solid roof with full shade and a finish that matches the rest of the house. Polycarbonate lets light through, which is why verandah and pergola roofs often go back in polycarbonate where the owner wants the space to stay bright rather than shaded.

Here is how we would think about it for your outdoor area:

• A solid Colorbond roof suits an outdoor area you want fully shaded,.
• A polycarbonate roof suits a pergola or verandah where you want light coming through to the outdoor area or into the room behind it.
• A mix of both gives you a steel roof with a few clear or tinted sheets placed where the light is needed.

The mix can suit a pergola off a living area, where you want the shade and weather protection of a steel roof without the outdoor area staying dark in the cooler months.

A Pergola Roof Replacement in Gosford

A recent Gosford pergola roof shows how the mix works in practice. The existing roof was a low-pitched corrugated metal pergola roof. The owners wanted a roof that suited the pergola structure, and they wanted the entertaining area to stay light-filled. That mattered most in winter, when a solid roof would have left the area under it dark and damp.

We replaced the old roofing with 0.48 Trimdek in the Colorbond colour Ironstone. To keep natural light coming through, we installed two sheets of tinted 5 Rib polycarbonate roofing in the new roof. The result is a modern-looking steel roof that stays weather resistant, with a bright and inviting space underneath it. You can see the photos on our Gosford pergola roof project page.

Which Metal Roofing Profile Suits a Verandah or Pergola Roof?

We install Colorbond and Zincalume steel in three main profiles, and the right one depends on the pitch of the roof and the look you are after. These are the same profiles we use on full house roofs:

• Custom Orb: the classic corrugated profile, a familiar look for Central Coast homes and sheds.
• Trimdek: a strong, cost-effective profile with bold trapezoidal ribs. It comes in long lengths, so on most roofs one sheet can run from the ridge to the gutter without end laps.
• Klip-Lok: a concealed-fix profile with no exposed screws, suited to long spans and lower-pitched roofs.

When you get a quote, ask for the sheet profile and the Colorbond or Zincalume product by name. It is the easiest way to compare two quotes fairly, because two roofs that sound the same on paper can use quite different sheets.

Choosing a Colorbond Colour for Your Outdoor Roof

If you want the new pergola or verandah roof to match the house roof, the gutters or the fascia, it helps to see the colour in person. Colours on a screen are only approximate, so we recommend checking your choice against a real sample before you decide. We keep Colorbond colour samples at our showroom at 3/3 O’Hart Cl, Charmhaven, and you are welcome to come in and look at them.

If you want to narrow it down first, the full range is on our Colorbond colours page. The Gosford pergola roof above is in Ironstone, which is one of the colours in the premium range.

Old Verandah Roofs and Asbestos Sheeting

Plenty of older Central Coast homes, garages and sheds still have asbestos cement roof sheeting, and an old verandah roof can be one of them. If you think your verandah roof might be asbestos, do not drill, cut, sand or water blast it. Asbestos sheeting cannot simply be stripped off like a metal roof.

AWS Roofing is licensed for asbestos roof removal and does the work to SafeWork NSW requirements, so the sheeting comes off under controlled conditions and is disposed of properly before the new roof goes on. Our post on asbestos roof removal and replacement on the Central Coast explains what affects the cost.

Replacing a Pergola or Verandah Roof After Hail or Storm Damage

Hail dents and splits roof sheets, and strong wind can lift flashings. An outdoor roof damaged in a storm may be covered by your home insurance, so check your policy before any work is booked. It is up to you to contact your insurance company, lodge the claim and get written approval before the work begins.

We do insurance work. We do not negotiate with insurance companies, but we can advise you on documenting the damage for your claim, supply a detailed inspection report and quote for your insurer, and replace the roof once the claim is approved. The steps are set out on our storm and hail damage roofing page.

Questions to Ask Before You Book a Pergola Roof Replacement

If you are getting more than one quote for your pergola or verandah roof, these questions will tell you the most about what you are paying for:

• What is your roofing licence number, and are you insured and WorkCover accredited?
• Which sheet profile and which Colorbond, Zincalume or polycarbonate product is quoted, by name?
• Are new flashings and fixings included, or are any being reused?
• Who removes and disposes of the old roofing, and is that in the price?
• Is there a written warranty, and does it cover workmanship as well as materials?

AWS Roofing holds roofing licence 247575C, we are fully insured and WorkCover accredited, and every roof we install comes with a written warranty. The old sheeting, flashings and fixings leave with us, so nothing is left in a pile beside the house for you to deal with.

Getting a Quote for Pergola and Verandah Roof Replacement on the Central Coast

You can start by sending us photos. Our contact form lets you upload photos or plans of the pergola or verandah, and you can tell us what you have noticed and where, whether that is rust, leaking joins or a dark outdoor area. From there we can arrange a free, no-obligation estimate for your roof.

We replace pergola and verandah roofs across the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, including Gosford, Wyong, Toukley, Terrigal, Erina, Woy Woy and Charmhaven. If you are not sure whether your suburb is covered, call the office on 0407 133 435 and the receptionist will let you know.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pergola and Verandah Roof Replacement

Do you only replace full house roofs?

No. AWS Roofing replaces smaller roof sections on their own, such as a verandah roof or a pergola roof, as well as full house and commercial roofs. If your main roof is also due for replacement, doing the outdoor roof in the same visit lets the flashings and roof line tie in properly.

Can I keep some light coming through a new steel pergola roof?

Yes. On the Gosford pergola roof we installed two sheets of tinted 5 Rib polycarbonate within a new Trimdek roof in Colorbond Ironstone. The steel gives shade and weather protection, and the polycarbonate sheets let natural light into the entertaining area underneath.

Will you repair a leak in my verandah roof instead of replacing it?

AWS Roofing does not do patch repairs or leak repairs. When an outdoor roof is leaking at the joins, rusting through or brittle, we recommend replacing the roof section so the sheets, flashings and fixings are all new. We will explain what we recommend for your pergola or verandah and why.

Where can I see Colorbond colours in person?

We keep Colorbond colour samples at the AWS Roofing showroom at 3/3 O’Hart Cl, Charmhaven NSW 2263. Colours on a screen are only approximate, so checking a real sample is the best way to match a new pergola or verandah roof to your house.