Every patio, carport and deck roof we build uses genuine COLORBOND® and BlueScope steel. It is one of the first things we tell people at a quote, and we are proud of it. But we want to explain the reasons properly, because the honest version is more useful than a slogan.
First, the honest part
Other pre-painted steels are sold in Australia, and some publish specifications that look much like COLORBOND® steel on paper: similar coating masses, similar paint thicknesses, and claims to meet the same Australian standards. Some advertise long warranties. We are not going to tell you those products are bad, because that is not ours to say.
What we can tell you is why we chose COLORBOND® steel for our customers, and what you can check for yourself on any quote.
Made in Australia by BlueScope
COLORBOND® steel is made in Australia by BlueScope, to AS 1397 for the steel and AS/NZS 2728 for the paint. We know who makes it, where, and who answers the phone if there is ever a question. For a roof that will sit over your family for decades, that matters to us.
Decades of outdoor testing
BlueScope runs a long outdoor test programme. It says it has more than 12,000 panels on exposure across Australia, from inland sites to severe coastal ones, and it publishes results from panels left outside for ten years, including colour change and whether the paint flaked or peeled.
Lab tests are quick and useful. But we build in South East Queensland, with hard sun, summer storms and salt air on the bay. We would rather rely on steel that has been watched outdoors in those conditions for years.
The coating BlueScope developed
Since 2013 COLORBOND® steel has used an AM100 coating of aluminium, zinc and magnesium with Activate® technology, which BlueScope developed and says protects cut edges and scratches better than its earlier ZINCALUME® coating. Most colours also carry Thermatech® solar reflectance in the paint, which can help reduce roof temperature. Every patio has cut edges and every patio sits in the sun, so both are things we care about.
Clear rules for the coast
BlueScope publishes exactly how far from breaking surf and calm salt water each of its products suits, and how the distance is measured. When we quote a home near Moreton Bay or the Broadwater, we check the address against that guidance and step up to COLORBOND® Ultra steel where it calls for it. Clear rules mean no guessing, for us or for you.
A warranty from the steel maker
BlueScope issues warranties for COLORBOND® steel itself, and a homeowner can register one in their own name. That means the company that made the steel stands behind it. We explain how the warranty works for your site at the quote and help you get it registered.
Colours that match
Many South East Queensland homes already have a COLORBOND® steel roof, fence, garage door or gutters. Building the patio in the same steel and the same colour range means the colours match properly, now and as they weather together over the years. We bring real samples to the quote and hold them against your house roof in daylight.
The partners we build with
- COLORBOND® and BlueScope steel for roofing, gutters, flashings, beams and posts.
- LYSAGHT® roofing and rainwater products, made by BlueScope’s LYSAGHT® business.
- Superior Panel insulated panels for our insulated roofs.
What we would tell you if we did not
If we ever built with a different steel, we would put the brand and product name on your quote, give you its datasheet and warranty terms, and tell you who you would claim against. That is what we think every builder should do, and it is what we would want from anyone working on our own homes. Our post on the seven questions to ask your builder lists exactly what to look for.
Come and see it
At every on-site quote we bring COLORBOND® samples, show you the difference between single skin and insulated, and answer any question about the steel in writing. When the materials arrive, ask us to show you the BlueScope branding on the sheets. We are happy to.
COLORBOND®, ZINCALUME®, Activate® and Thermatech® are registered trade marks of BlueScope Steel Limited.