Is Your Roof Turning Your Home Into an Oven?
Peninsula summers can be brutal when you don't have sarking. All that radiant heat from your roof pours straight into your living space— making air conditioning work overtime or simply giving up.
Reflective sarking blocks up to 97% of that radiant heat before it enters your home. It's one of the best investments for comfort and energy savings—and we install it to professional standards.
What Sarking Does for Your Home
Thermal Protection
Reflects up to 97% of radiant heat. Keeps homes 5-10°C cooler in summer and reduces heat loss in winter.
Moisture Barrier
Prevents wind-driven rain and condensation from entering your roof cavity. Protects structure from moisture damage.
Energy Savings
Reduce air conditioning costs by keeping heat out. Many homeowners report 20-30% reduction in summer cooling bills.
Bushfire Protection
Required in BAL-rated areas. Prevents ember entry and radiant heat penetration during bushfire events.
Noise Reduction
Adds acoustic insulation. Reduces rain noise on metal roofs and general outside noise transmission.
Roof Protection
Secondary weather barrier if tiles crack or slip. Extends the lifespan of your roofing system.
Sarking Products We Install
The right sarking depends on your roof type, climate zone, and requirements
Reflective Foil Sarking
Standard choice for most installations. Reflects radiant heat and provides moisture protection.
- ✓ 97% radiant heat reflection
- ✓ Vapour barrier
- ✓ Most cost-effective
- ✓ Suits tile and metal
Breathable Sarking
Allows vapour to escape while blocking liquid water. Ideal for high-moisture environments or unventilated roof spaces.
- ✓ Prevents condensation
- ✓ Vapour-permeable
- ✓ No ventilation required
- ✓ Ideal for living spaces
Bushfire-Rated Sarking
Required in BAL-rated areas. Specifically tested and certified for bushfire protection.
- ✓ Meets BAL requirements
- ✓ Ember protection
- ✓ Radiant heat barrier
- ✓ Non-combustible
See Sarking Installation in Action
Feel the Difference in Summer
Quality sarking installation transforms how your home handles heat. By reflecting radiant heat before it enters your roof space, your home stays cooler and your air conditioning works less hard.
We install sarking during roof restorations, replacements, and new builds—ensuring proper overlaps, sealing, and coverage for maximum effectiveness.
View More ProjectsOur Sarking Installation Process
Assessment & Recommendation
We inspect your roof structure, understand your goals (heat reduction, bushfire compliance, etc.), and recommend the appropriate sarking product.
Roof Access
For full installation, we carefully remove tiles or lift metal sheets to access the roof frame. This is typically done during restoration or re-roofing.
Sarking Installation
Sarking is draped over rafters with proper overlap, taped at seams for complete coverage. Reflective side faces the airspace for maximum heat reflection.
Battens & Roofing
Battens are installed over sarking (creating an air gap for reflective products), then roofing material is reinstalled or new roofing laid.
Quality Check
Complete inspection ensuring no gaps, proper overlaps at edges, and correct installation around penetrations. Your home is now protected.
When Should You Install Sarking?
✅ Ideal Times to Install
- •During roof restoration – Tiles are already off
- •Roof replacement – Perfect opportunity
- •New construction – Code requirement in many cases
- •Major renovations – When roof access is available
⚠️ Signs You Need Sarking
- •Upstairs is unbearably hot in summer
- •High air conditioning bills
- •Condensation in roof cavity
- •In a bushfire-prone area without sarking
- •Metal roof with no insulation layer
Sarking Installation Across the Peninsula
We install sarking throughout Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. From coastal homes to bushfire-prone areas, we have the right solution.
Sarking Installation FAQs
What is sarking and why do I need it?
Sarking is a protective membrane installed under your roofing material (tiles or metal). It serves multiple purposes: thermal insulation (reflects up to 97% of radiant heat), moisture barrier (prevents condensation and wind-driven rain from entering), and improves roof longevity. While not mandatory for all roofs, it's required in bushfire areas and highly recommended for comfort and energy efficiency.
Is sarking required under my roof in Victoria?
Sarking is mandatory in bushfire-prone areas (BAL ratings). For other areas, it's required for metal roofs in certain situations under the Building Code. Even where not mandatory, sarking is strongly recommended—it improves energy efficiency, protects against condensation, and adds a secondary weather barrier. Many Peninsula homes without sarking experience summer heat issues.
How much does sarking installation cost?
Sarking installation costs depend on the product type, access difficulty, and roof size. This is usually done during roof replacement or restoration, as tiles/sheets need to be removed. Retrofitting sarking to an existing roof adds labour cost for access. Contact us for a specific quote based on your roof.
What types of sarking are available?
Several types exist: 1) Reflective foil sarking (most common)—reflects radiant heat, provides a moisture barrier, 2) Non-reflective breathable sarking—allows vapour to escape while blocking liquid water, 3) Combination products—foil plus insulation foam, 4) Bushfire-rated sarking—required in BAL areas. We'll recommend the right type for your situation.
Will sarking make my home cooler in summer?
Yes, significantly. Reflective sarking blocks up to 97% of radiant heat from entering your roof space. This can reduce attic temperatures by 15-20°C on hot days, making your ceiling-mounted insulation more effective and reducing air conditioning load. Many customers notice immediate improvement in summer comfort after sarking installation.
Can sarking be installed without replacing my roof?
Technically yes, but it's not straightforward. Tiles need to be carefully removed and re-laid, which adds significant labour cost. In most cases, we install sarking during roof restoration or replacement when tiles are already off. For metal roofs, sheets can sometimes be lifted without full removal. We'll assess the best approach for your roof.
Does sarking help with noise?
Yes. Sarking adds a layer of acoustic insulation, particularly noticeable on metal roofs during rain. Heavy rain on an uninsulated metal roof can be quite loud inside—sarking plus ceiling insulation significantly reduces this noise. It won't make your home completely silent in a hailstorm, but it makes a meaningful difference.
How long does sarking last?
Quality sarking products last 20-30+ years. The foil won't degrade under normal conditions. Typically, sarking outlasts the roofing material above it. When you re-roof in 30-50 years, you'll inspect the sarking and replace if needed, but often it's still in good condition. We use products with long-term warranties.
Related Services
Explore our other professional roofing services
Roof Restoration
Complete roof restoration including cleaning, repairs, and coating
Learn More →Roof Repairs
Fast and reliable roof repairs for all roof types
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Professional roof painting with premium coatings
Learn More →Roof Cleaning
High-pressure roof cleaning to remove moss and debris
Learn More →Find Us on Google Maps
Ready for a Cooler, More Comfortable Home?
Stop the heat before it enters. Get a quote for sarking installation and feel the difference next summer.
✓ Free Quotes ✓ 97% heat blocked ✓ 20+ year lifespan ✓ Professional install