When a Joburger on MyBroadband moaned about a “R500 k–R800 k” quote to swap 220 m² of tiles for IBR Chromadek, the forum roasted the roofer harder than a Sunday shisa nyama. Truth is, most Highveld homes can bag a brand-new Chromadek roof for a fraction of that—if you know the numbers (and the sneaky extras) up front.
Below is your no-nonsense, SA-flavoured guide to Chromadek pricing in 2025—complete with a quick-glance calculator, hidden-cost checklist, and a few jokes at the expense of loan-shark builders.
2025 Price Snapshot (Supply-and-Fit)
Roof Option | Typical Gauteng range (per m²) | Notes & Sources |
---|---|---|
Chromadek IBR / Corrugated (0.4–0.5 mm) | R150 – R350 (supply + fit) | Basic corrugated from R150–R350/m² in Joburg FAQ |
Premium Standing-Seam / Concealed-Fix | R450 – R800 | Corrugated R450–R600; standing seam R600–R800 |
Full Metal Re-roof (remove tiles, new timber, insulation) | R500 – R1 000 | Metal install “ranges from R700–R1 000” when extras pile up |
Concrete / Clay Tile Install | R90 – R180 (labour) + ±R100 per tile | Tile installation R90–R180/m²; tile cost R10–R14 each |
Reality check: When you see per-square-metre rates north of R1 000 for a simple suburban roof, you’re either looking at (a) serious timber & pitch correction, (b) high-end concealed-fix + insulation + solar brackets, or (c) daylight robbery.
2. DIY “Back-of-the-Serviette” Cost Calculator
- Measure roof area (plans or Google Earth):
Example: single-storey 3-bed house ≈ 180 m² roof area. - Pick your sheet price (use the table above).
Say Chromadek IBR at R280/m². - Add 10 % off-cut & overlap allowance.
180 m² × 1.10 = 198 m² of sheeting. - Multiply: 198 m² × R280 = R55 440 (materials + labour).
- Bolt on common extras (see next section).
House Size | Base Chromadek (R280/m²) | Add 10 % waste | Base Cost |
---|---|---|---|
150 m² | 165 m² | R46 200 | |
220 m² | 242 m² | R67 760 | |
350 m² | 385 m² | R107 800 |
Now, before you pop the champagne…
7 Hidden Costs That Ambush Gauteng Roof Budgets
Sneaky Extra | Typical Rand Damage | Why It Matters |
---|---|---|
Strip & dump old tiles / asbestos | R50 – R100/m² for tiles; double for asbestos | Disposal fees + haz-mat PPE |
Timber repairs / new trusses | R240 – R450/m² | Rotten rafters? Budget balloons fast |
Pitch correction | R200 – R400/m² | Reg code says 17° min for some profiles—miss it & insurance bails |
Foil blanket / bulk insulation | R45 – R120/m² | Cuts rain noise & summer heat |
Flashings, ridges, valleys | 5–10 % of sheet cost | Cheap to skip, pricey to fix leaks later |
Safety & scaffolding | R5 k–R25 k lump sum | Steeper roofs = bigger scaffold |
Project creep (skylights, solar brackets) | R3 k–R20 k each | Cool upgrades—just cost them in upfront |
Add these and that R67 k Chromadek job on a 220 m² roof can land closer to R120 k–R160 k—still miles below the R500 k horror quote.
4. Chromadek vs Tiles: Rand-for-Rand (and Decibel-for-Decibel)
Factor | Chromadek | Concrete Tile |
---|---|---|
Weight | ±5 kg/m² – gentle on trusses | ±45 kg/m² – beefy beams needed |
Min pitch | 5° (IBR) – great for flat, modern designs | 17°+ – limits architecture |
Hail resistance | Steel flexes; few breakages | Tiles crack like stale rusks |
Noise | Quiet with foil blanket (adds ±R45/m²) | Quiet by default |
Maintenance | Re-paint in 10–15 yrs | Re-bed & re-point ridges every 8–10 yrs |
Upfront cost | R150–R350/m² supply-and-fit | Labour R90-R180 + tile cost |
25-yr cost of ownership | ★★☆ (low) | ★★★ (medium-high) |
5. Spotting a “Loan-Shark” Roofing Quote
1.Vague BOQ: If “Materials – R400 k” appears as a single line item, run.
2. No sheet thickness stated: 0.3 mm vs 0.5 mm is night-and-day in hail.
3. No sheet thickness stated: 0.3 mm vs 0.5 mm is night-and-day in hail.
4. Warranty waffle: Legit installers offer 5 – 10 yr workmanship + manufacturer paint warranty.
5. References missing: A roofer with happy clients will shove them in your face.
Remember our forum friend hammered with R800 k? That’s R3 600+/m²—10× normal supply-and-fit. A polite “voetsek” is entirely appropriate.
6. FAQs Your Wallet Wants Answered
Q1. Is R450 /m² installed realistic?
Yes—on a straight single-pitch, no rotten timber, 0.40 mm corrugated supply, and you bribe the weather gods for clear skies. Reality for suburban IBR Chromadek sits R600 – R800 /m².
Q2. Do I need brand-new trusses?
Only if your engineer flags sagging or you’re steepening the pitch. Many tile-to-Chromadek conversions reuse the main truss grid (lighter roof load = bonus).
Q3. How long will Chromadek’s colour last?
In inland Gauteng: 10 – 15 years before first repaint; life expectancy 25 + years if you keep it clean. Coastal KZN? Cut that in half.
Q4. Can I DIY to save bucks?
Legally, yes. Practically, one badly sealed side-lap = lifelong leaks. Rather DIY the gutters and leave the sheet-lay to pros.
7. Ready to Turn Quote Shock into Cost-Savvy Confidence?
We’ll measure up, cost-model your options in plain ZAR, and hand you a guaranteed no-surprise price—all before the first summer thunderclap.