Many homeowners think “roofing steel is roofing steel” but the truth is not all roofing steel is created equal. Here’s what you need to know about the advantages of genuine Colorsteel.
Awaawaroa House features a unique design by Cheshire Architects, comprising three buildings around a central courtyard, utilising COLORSTEEL® Lichen.
In New Zealand, Colorsteel is such a popular product its name has become synonymous with roofing steel. The downside of its popularity is that sometimes it is assumed that all steel roofing is ‘Colorsteel’, when in fact, there are imported products in the market. But the difference between the performance of roofing and cladding pre-painted steel has a big impact on how long the colour lasts and the longevity of the steel.
To discover the unique qualities of Colorsteel, we spoke to Colorsteel’s technical expert Divya Kumar, who shares how to ensure you’re getting the genuine product.
A contemporary barn-style home in Wanaka, designed by Condon Scott Architects, featuring a COLORSTEEL roof in a tray profile.
Why choose Colorsteel
When you peel back the layers of what Colorsteel offers, it becomes clear why the cheaper route is rarely the smart long-term decision.
“Our steel is engineered for New Zealand’s brutal mix of salt, UV, wind, and moisture,” shares Divya. “The coatings, substrates, and paint systems are selected so all elements work together to resist corrosion, fade, chalking and premature failure.”
Colorsteel starts off as Zincalume, a high-quality steel with an alloy coating designed to last substantially longer than a traditional galvanised coating. The introduction last year of groundbreaking, patented Activate® technology, significantly assists in slowing down corrosion further, resulting in warranties of up to 50 years. The coated Zincalume steel is then pre-treated, primed and painted to become Colorsteel, which offers excellent colour retention and superior longevity.
Colorsteel is made right here in New Zealand at a local manufacturing site in Glenbrook, South Auckland. It is then sent to rollformers across the country for shaping into the corrugate, trapezoidal and tray profiles New Zealanders know and love. When it arrives on your site, there are simple ways to tell it’s the genuine product.
“Products often arrive with a branded protective film and every sheet is marked with small black COLORSTEEL® branding on the underside. If our name isn’t shown, it’s not the genuine product,” shares Divya. “We see it all the time - people think they’re getting ‘cheaper Colorsteel,’ but they’re really buying an imitation. That’s why we encourage every homeowner to ask their supplier for written confirmation of the product solution, gauge, and colour, and to make sure they receive their warranty at the end of the job.”
Genuine COLORSTEEL can be identified by the branding on the underside of the steel, and by branded protective film.
To ensure your genuine COLORSTEEL isn't swapped out, let your builder know you want the real deal.
Learn more about choosing roofing steel
To give you the clarity and confidence you need when it comes to reroofing or recladding with steel, we’ve created a homeowner series to help you ensure you’re getting a premium solution. Over the coming articles, we’ll unpack the key factors that set genuine Colorsteel apart: its durability in New Zealand’s demanding conditions, its superior colour performance, and the comprehensive warranties that back it. Just as importantly, we’ll highlight the real risks and hidden costs of choosing cheaper pre-painted steel products that may look similar at first but fail to deliver over time.
You’ll learn how chalking and colour retention affect the long-term look of your home, why warranties are a critical safeguard against future expense, how Colorsteel is engineered to perform, and how to spot imitations before they arrive onsite. By the end of the series, you’ll be equipped to ask the right questions, insist on genuine Colorsteel, and advocate for the best outcome when working with builders, designers, or suppliers.
