Roofing in Longwarry

Longwarry is split between two councils, so the first thing to settle for a roof replacement is whether your property sits in Baw Baw Shire or Cardinia Shire, since that decides where permit questions go. The town has older houses from its railway days alongside newer blocks, and repairs, restorations and replacements of older roofs are the common jobs. An enquiry from Longwarry goes to one independent local provider, which inspects and quotes on its own account.

Which council covers my Longwarry property?

Longwarry is about 83 km south-east of Melbourne’s CBD and is split between the Shires of Baw Baw and Cardinia (Wikipedia). It had 2,436 people at the 2021 census. Your rates notice names your council, and so does a planning property report from VicPlan, the state’s map viewer for zones and overlays.

Getting this right matters because:

• building permit and overlay questions go to the council your property is in, or to a registered building surveyor
• the planning scheme, and any overlay on your lot, belongs to that council
• a provider who has mostly worked in one shire may assume the other’s rules

Baw Baw Shire Council says nearly anything built needs a building permit, and Cardinia Shire Council handles properties on its side of the line. The roof replacement permits guide explains when a re-roof needs a permit.

What kind of roofs does Longwarry have?

The railway reached Longwarry in 1879 and the station still runs services to Melbourne and Bairnsdale. A town of that age usually has some older houses near the centre, and newer homes on blocks built more recently. If your house is one of the older ones, expect a provider to ask about:

• the roof covering and whether it is original
• past repairs and patches
• whether any part of the roof, eaves or gutters may be asbestos cement
• the condition of battens and framing

Houses that have been extended over the decades often carry two roofs in one: the original section and a later addition with a different pitch or material. The junction where they meet, usually a flashing against a wall or a short valley, is a frequent leak point. Point that junction out in your enquiry if you know where it is, and mention any part of the roof that was replaced or patched before you bought the house.

Could my Longwarry roof contain asbestos?

A railway town this old is likely to have houses and sheds from before 1990, the cut-off the Victorian Asbestos Hub uses when it warns that a building probably contains asbestos. On the outside of a Longwarry house, the Hub’s list of likely spots takes in the roof sheets, the ridge, the gutters and downpipes, and the eaves lining. The Hub is clear that looking at a sheet cannot confirm it either way, and that only laboratory testing of a sample gives a definite answer.

The Hub recommends a licensed asbestos removalist for any amount of removal, using wet methods, containment and protective equipment, with lawful disposal arranged by the removalist. The asbestos roof replacement page covers the whole process from testing to the new roof. A 2026 Melbourne guide puts removal of an asbestos cement roof by a licensed removalist at $52 to $135 per square metre, before the cost of the new roof.

What are the options for an older Longwarry roof?

Situation	Option	First step
Unsure of the roof’s condition	Paid inspection and written report	Book an inspection
Tile roof, sound tiles, worn ridges	Restoration	Inspection and quote
Metal roof, rusted through in places	Replace affected sheets or re-roof	Inspection and quote
Suspected asbestos cement roof	Test, then licensed removal and new roof	Testing before any other work
Changing roof material	Re-roof, check permit needs	Confirm council and permit position

Why start with a roof inspection in Longwarry?

On an older house, a paid inspection with a written report gives you a record of the roof’s condition before you commit to a larger job, and you can use it to compare quotes. The roof inspections page explains what a good report includes. A 2026 Melbourne price guide puts an inspection and written report at $210 to $525 per visit. If that suits, you can arrange a Longwarry roof inspection and say whether you want photos included.

What will a careful provider do on an older roof?

1. Ask which council your property is in if a permit question comes up.
2. Treat any fibre cement sheet as possible asbestos until tested.
3. Refuse to water-blast, cut or drill suspect sheets before testing.
4. Check battens and framing in the roof space.
5. Put the scope, exclusions and any compliance certificate in writing.
6. Plan fall protection, following WorkSafe Victoria’s compliance code for housing construction.

Which licences apply to Longwarry roof work?

Metal roofing, flashings and roof drainage are plumbing work in Victoria, done by a licensed roof plumber or under one’s supervision, and a compliance certificate is due for plumbing work over 750 dollars. Asbestos removal needs a licensed removalist, and WorkSafe Victoria keeps a directory of licensed asbestos removalists. The about page shows how to check a plumbing licence.

How does Longwarry relate to Drouin?

Drouin is the nearest large town to the east and has a much bigger stock of recent estate homes; its page, roofing in Drouin, covers builder warranty questions for newer houses.

Next step

Start a Longwarry roof enquiry with your street, which council your rates notice names, the roof material and the rough age of the house, whether you suspect asbestos anywhere on the roof, eaves or sheds, and photos of the roof from the ground. Do not break off a piece to check it.

Send a job enquiry