u/Ekalb007

Does this sound like a reasonable price for this scope of work in the current Brisbane market?

I received a quote of around $62,000 for a full roof replacement (+extra associated works) on a 72 m², 3 bedroom high set Queenslander in Brisbane, built in the 1930s.

Scope of works:

• New Zincalume roof with upgraded 0.48 BMT thicker roof sheeting
• Replacement of rotten or insufficient battens where required (up to 40 lineal metres included)
• Tie downs to the roof structure for certification compliance
• New 0.55 BMT Zincalume flashings and capping
• Dektite flashings to roof penetrations
• New Colorbond Quad 150 gutters
• 4 new downpipes
• 4mm aluminium gutter and valley mesh
• 75/80mm (R1.8) foil faced anti condensation roofing blanket
• Removal of old ceiling insulation, roof cavity vacuum, and installation of new Poly Batt ceiling insulation
• Installation of 1 solar powered Green Vent roof vent
• Replacement of all soffits with modern fibro soffits (currently open timber slats), including vermin proofing
• Fascia repairs and restoration
• Preparation and painting of fascias and soffits
• Building approvals, certification, QBCC insurance, contract works insurance, and scaffolding/safety rail
• 10 year installation warranty plus manufacturer warranty of up to 20 years

Breakdown:

• Roof replacement: $12,780
• Roof blanket insulation: $2,480
• Certification, approvals and insurance: $3,260
• Upgrade to 0.48 BMT roof sheeting: $1,040
• Solar powered Green Vent: $1,090
• Removal of old insulation + vacuum roof cavity: $2,890
• New Poly Batt ceiling insulation: $3,340
• New Colorbond Quad 150 gutters: $4,480
• 4 new downpipes: $1,280
• 4mm aluminium gutter and valley mesh: $2,330
• Fascia restoration and painting: $11,780
• Modern fibro soffits: $14,870

I’m replacing the roof on my 1930s high set Queenslander in Brisbane and have received conflicting advice about the original hardwood fascias.

One roofing company recommended replacing all the fascias while the gutters are off. They said this type of fascia work is generally only done every 20 to 30 years, sometimes longer, to maintain the long term integrity of the fascias, and that it can only be done while the gutters are removed.

Another company said the opposite. They said the original hardwood fascias on these homes are usually fine structurally, they work on old Queenslanders all the time, and they can pretty much guarantee mine will be ok. They said replacement would cost around $10k but they don’t think I’ll need it. They also said if they find any damaged sections during the job they’ll repair them at no extra cost, and that ongoing maintenance is basically just painting.

I don’t mind spending the extra money if replacement is genuinely the smarter long term option, but if the existing hardwood fascias are likely to last decades with maintenance then I’d rather keep the originals.

Looking for advice from people experienced with older Queenslanders:
• Are original hardwood fascias usually still ok once gutters come off?
• Is full replacement commonly needed or often oversold?
• Would you keep and repair original hardwood fascias if they’re mostly sound?

I’ve been thinking about this lately and I keep coming back to the same question:

If humanity had to start over from scratch, but we kept all the knowledge from history, science, philosophy, psychology, wars, religion, politics, economics and all the mistakes we’ve already made, what kind of principles would actually create the best long term society?

Not some perfect utopia or political ideology. Just a realistic set of ideas that actually account for what humans are really like. Good and bad.

This is basically my attempt at that. I’m sure parts are wrong or incomplete, but I’d be interested to hear what people agree with, disagree with, or think history has already proven right or wrong.

1.	Reality matters more than ideology.  

Do not force the world to fit beliefs. Change beliefs when evidence changes. Reward truth seeking, not loyalty to narratives.

2.	Power must always be limited.  

Every concentration of unchecked power eventually corrupts. Build systems where leaders can be challenged, replaced, audited, criticised, and restrained.

3.	Freedom is necessary, but not absolute.  

People need freedom to think, speak, build, love, trade, create, and dissent. But freedom without responsibility destroys trust and stability.

4.	Incentives shape civilisation.  

Humans respond to incentives more than moral speeches. Design systems where doing the right thing is also beneficial.

5.	Strong communities prevent collapse.  

Healthy societies are built from families, friendships, local groups, and shared responsibility. Isolation weakens civilisation.

6.	Teach people how to think, not what to think.  

Education should focus on reasoning, emotional regulation, communication, ethics, statistics, history, science, and practical life skills. Indoctrination eventually destroys innovation.

7.	Never detach from nature and physical reality.  

Humans are biological creatures, not machines. Sunlight, movement, sleep, real food, purpose, and human connection matter more than many advanced technologies.

8.	Meaning matters as much as material comfort.  

People can survive hardship with meaning. They often collapse under emptiness despite comfort. Civilisations need art, ritual, beauty, philosophy, spirituality, and purpose.

9.	Preserve free inquiry.  

A society that punishes questions eventually becomes fragile and irrational. Science only works when questioning is allowed.

10.	Compassion and competence must coexist.  

Pure compassion without competence creates failure. Pure competence without compassion creates cruelty.

11.	Reward contribution, not status performance.  

Societies decay when appearance becomes more important than usefulness. Honour builders, carers, teachers, engineers, scientists, farmers, and honest workers.

12.	Bureaucracy must remain servant, never master.  

Systems naturally grow larger and self-protective. Constantly simplify rules and decentralise decisions where possible.

13.	Technology is a tool, not a god.  

Use technology to improve human flourishing, not replace humanity itself. Measure success by human well being, not raw efficiency.

14.	Prepare for human weakness.  

Humans are tribal, emotional, fearful, ambitious, and easily manipulated. Good systems account for this instead of pretending humans are perfectly rational.

15.	Avoid extremes.  

Many disasters came from absolutism. Total freedom becomes chaos. Total order becomes tyranny. Total equality destroys incentive. Total competition destroys cohesion. Balance is harder but more durable.

16.	Long term thinking must dominate short term reward.  

Civilisations collapse when leaders optimise for immediate gain at RC the expense of future generations. Think in centuries where possible.

17.	Truth and reconciliation matter more than revenge.  

Cycles of humiliation and revenge destabilise societies for generations. Justice matters, but endless vengeance poisons nations.

18.	A civilisation should be judged by:   
•	how’s it treats children  
•	how it treats the weak  
•	whether truth can be spoken safely  
•	whether ordinary people can live meaningful lives  
•	whether future generations inherit something better

19.	And maybe the simplest core principle:  

A good society is one that helps ordinary people live meaningful, free, healthy, connected, and dignified lives without needing fear, deception, or domination to hold itself together.