Whirlybirds and roof ventilation in Hamilton and north Brisbane

What whirlybird installation covers

A whirlybird is a turbine roof vent: wind turns the head, and hot, moist air is drawn out of the roof space. Installing one means cutting a hole between rafters or trusses, fitting the base and flashing it to the roof so it stays watertight, then mounting the turbine head.

New whirlybirds

The roofer picks the spots near the ridge, clear of framing, wiring and solar panels, and fits one or more units in a single visit. Larger roof spaces usually take more than one.

Replacing noisy or seized whirlybirds

Old whirlybirds squeal or stop turning when the bearings wear, and rusted bases can leak. A swap usually reuses the opening: the old unit comes off and a new base and head go on.

Solar roof vents and eave vents

A solar roof vent has an electric fan driven by its own panel, so it moves air when the sun is up whether or not there’s wind. Roof vents need somewhere for air to come in; eave vents, fitted to the eave lining, let outside air into the roof space to replace what the vents draw out.

Whirlybird installation costs in Brisbane

Whirlybirds are one of the few roofing jobs Brisbane installers price openly, per unit. Two storeys, a steep or tiled roof and the number of units change the total.

Whirlybird installation prices in Brisbane

Checked 22 October 2026. Mike’s Whirlybirds is a Brisbane installer; its price table is undated, says “Prices include GST” and “Roof type and access conditions may affect final price”, and its Hamilton page uses the same text as its other suburb pages. Brisbane Roof and Paint is a Sunnybank contractor; its guide (updated 26 March 2026) doesn’t say whether GST is included, and its FAQ gives a lower single-unit figure (A$350 – A$650) than its main text.

Solar roof vent prices in Brisbane

Checked 22 October 2026. KWR Roofing is a Camp Hill contractor; its homepage prices are undated and exclude GST. Brisbane Roof and Paint’s figure is from the guide above (updated 26 March 2026), GST not stated.

Wind or solar, tile or tin: choosing roof vents

Wind-driven or solar

A whirlybird needs no power and turns in any breeze. A solar vent costs more but runs its fan on still, sunny days. Ask the roofer to price both for your roof space, with the number of units for each.

Tin roofs and tile roofs

On corrugated iron and Colorbond, the base flashing is shaped to the sheet profile, sealed and screwed down. On a tile roof, tiles are cut or removed around the base and a flexible flashing is dressed over the tiles below. Ask how the flashing will be finished, because that’s where a whirlybird leaks if it’s done badly.

How many whirlybirds?

It depends on the size and pitch of the roof space and whether air can get in at the eaves. Ask the roofer how they’ve worked out the number, and where each unit will go.

Who can install whirlybirds in Queensland

The QBCC’s roof and wall cladding licence class covers work to “Flash penetrations through roofs and walls”, naming the work to “install skylights and ventilators”. The QBCC requires a contractor licence for building work “valued over $3,300”, so a one- or two-whirlybird job priced as above falls below that threshold; a larger ventilation job may not.

Check any roofer’s licence and class on the QBCC licensee register.

What to have ready

• Roof material (tiles, corrugated iron, Colorbond or fibro) and whether it’s one or two storeys
• How many whirlybirds you have now, and whether any are noisy, seized or leaking
• Whether you’re after wind-driven whirlybirds, solar vents or a price for both
• Whether the eaves have vents, and where solar panels sit on the roof

Common questions