Below is the current COLORSTEEL colour range as published by the manufacturer, with each colour's solar reflectance and light reflectance values, and the practical things to weigh up before you decide. Screens never show roof colours accurately, so use this page to build a shortlist, then check physical samples in daylight. When you are ready, book a free measure and we will bring samples to your home.
The Standard COLORSTEEL Range
Screen colours are approximate. Always choose from a physical sample in daylight.
The current COLORSTEEL range
COLORSTEEL now sells two main roofing products. MAXAM replaced the earlier Endura and Maxx products and is designed for most New Zealand environments, including inland, urban and many coastal sites. ALTIMATE is made for extreme marine, volcanic and highly corrosive environments. The manufacturer states that MAXAM is available in all COLORSTEEL colours.
Colours come in three finishes: Classic, Low Gloss, which is designed to reduce reflectivity, and Matte, which gives minimal reflectivity. If your old roof was a colour that no longer appears in the range, the closest current match is usually easy to find with samples side by side.
Heat and light reflectance
COLORSTEEL publishes two numbers for each colour. TSR, total solar reflectance, is the share of the sun's energy the roof reflects rather than absorbs. LRV, light reflectance value, is how much visible light it reflects, which is roughly how light or dark it looks.
A high TSR colour such as Cloud reflects most of the sun's energy, so the roof surface and roof space stay cooler. A dark colour such as Ebony absorbs most of it. Insulation and ventilation matter more to indoor comfort than roof colour, but on a house with a shallow roof space or a skillion roof, colour can make a noticeable difference in summer.
Matching the colour to the house
Start with what will not change: the cladding, joinery, brick or stone, and the style of the house. Villas and bungalows usually suit traditional colours on a corrugate profile, while contemporary homes often carry the darker charcoals and matte finishes well.
Think about the roof as part of the street too. A roof is a large area of colour, and it reads lighter and brighter in full sun than it does on a small sample indoors. Spouting, downpipes, fascia and barge flashings can match the roof or the joinery, and that choice changes the look as much as the roof colour itself.
- Lighter colours look larger and brighter in full sun
- Dark roofs show dust and salt less but absorb more heat
- Low Gloss and Matte finishes reduce glare toward neighbours
- Spouting and fascia can match the roof or the joinery
Covenants, heritage rules and neighbours
Many newer subdivisions have covenants that can limit roof colours or require approval from the developer or residents' society. Check your title and covenant documents before you choose, because changing a roof colour later is expensive.
If your house is a scheduled heritage item or sits in a Residential Heritage Area under the Christchurch District Plan, check what applies before you change roof material or colour. We can help you check this before you order.
Coastal sites and warranty
Colour does not change which COLORSTEEL product you need, but your exposure does. Sites close to the sea, and especially within about 100 metres of open surf, need checking against COLORSTEEL's environmental categories so the right product and fixings are used and the warranty applies.
Whatever the colour, unwashed areas such as soffits, spouting undersides and sheltered roof sections need regular washing in coastal environments to keep the warranty valid. NZ Steel's maintenance guidance sets the interval by environment.
Sample in daylight before you decide
The manufacturer says on-screen colours will vary from actual product colours, and recommends ordering a sample. Look at samples outside, in morning and afternoon light, held against your cladding and joinery, and from the street as well as up close.
If you are torn between two colours, compare their TSR values as a tie-breaker: the lighter one will keep the roof space cooler. Once the roof is on, it stays that colour for decades.
COLORSTEEL Colours FAQs
What happened to COLORSTEEL Endura and Maxx?
COLORSTEEL replaced Endura and Maxx with a single product, MAXAM, which is designed for most New Zealand environments. ALTIMATE remains available for extreme marine and highly corrosive sites.
Which COLORSTEEL colour keeps a house coolest?
The colours with the highest total solar reflectance (TSR) reflect the most heat. In the current range, Cloud has the highest published TSR at 69%, with TuiTuft, Titania and SandScape close behind at 66%.
Are dark roofs a problem in Christchurch?
Dark roofs absorb more heat, so the roof space runs warmer in summer. With good insulation and ventilation many homes are comfortable under a dark roof, but on skillion roofs or homes with little roof space, a lighter colour makes more difference.
Can I choose any colour in a new subdivision?
Check your covenant first. Many subdivisions restrict roof colours or require approval before you change them.
Why does my sample look different on the roof?
A large roof in direct sun reads lighter and brighter than a small sample indoors or on a screen. Look at samples outside in different light, and against your cladding and joinery, before deciding.