For the first time in five years, New Zealand has a new Steel & Tube metal roofing profile to choose from. Stunning European-inspired tray roofing meets modern and innovative thinking to bring a competitive and high-performing roofing system. Introducing Steel & Tube's QBT450 (quick batten tray).

New Zealand's love for tray roofing

Tray-style roofing and cladding have a long-standing history in New Zealand from as early as the 1900's. Favoured by many Kiwis for their deluxe appearance and weathertightness.

Traditional tray roofing has many favourable benefits for homeowners although until now, current solutions have required highly-skilled installation processes to create the desirable, crisp-lined finish we all love.

For example, concealed installation may include securing sheets of roofing to a wooden substrate using multiple short clips lined up on a chalk line, which involves sharp-eyed labour to install accurately and straight. With installation cost aside, the other challenge for tray-style roofing is overcoming "canning", a term given to the ripple effect caused by installation errors.

The QBT450 system brings a modern approach to traditional tray-roofing, simplifying installation and creating a solution for New Zealand's love of European-inspired design.

What is QBT450? Modern ingenuity meets European design

QBT450 (quick batten tray, 450mm effective cover), Steel & Tube's latest roofing solution, combines beautiful high-end design with an intuitive concealed fixing installation method, creating a competitive tray-style roof for New Zealand homes.

Utilising a single 6-metre aluminium extrusion clip and a clever interlocking profile, QBT450 is mounted directly to your purlins with no substrate required. This method simplifies the installation process and allows for thermal or seismic expansion between each sheet, putting more build money in the homeowners' pockets and ensuring the longevity and weathertightness of your roof.

The patented mounting system unlocks installation perks for roofers too. With S&T's extrusion fixing and a centre sheet, roofing can be laid out bi-directionally (having two roofers working from the centre-out), essentially halving the profile installation time. QBT450’s mounting system also allows for one damaged sheet to be replaced without the need to uplift other sections. A truly unique feature of QBT450.

How does QBT450 contribute to a healthier, dryer home, and have a better impact on our environment?

The opportunity of installing QBT over a ventilated cavity not only saves in build cost by removing the need for a ply substrate, but also substantially increases air movement within your roof space. The 20mm cavity batten creates space for free-flowing air from eave to ridge. This air movement helps carry moisture from condensation out, leading to a dryer roof cavity. Great for occupant health and increasing the lifespan of the roofing.

When considering sustainability, the benefits of QBT are amplified when choosing COLORSTEEL's ALTIMATE:

• Aluminium is highly recyclable, in fact, an estimated 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today. 
• Altimate boasts incredible corrosion resistance, further extending the expected lifespan of your QBT450 roof. 
• With a base material thickness of 0.90mm you reduce the likelihood of canning appearing on your roof or cladding.

QBT450 is also available in COLORSTEEL’s MAXAM with a base thickness of 0.55mm for areas with less salt exposure as an economical choice to ALTIMATE. Both MAXAM and ALTIMATE offer an outstanding 50-year material warranty when used in accordance with Colorsteel’s guidelines.

Designed, tested, and independently reviewed by BRANZ

QBT450 is the only BRANZ appraised tray roofing system. The appraisal covers specification details and installation practices, independently checked to meet New Zealand building code standards.

Steel & Tube will also ensure high-quality craftmanship that partners with this profile, through a registered installer network. For more information on the BRANZ appraisal, design and specification, installer information, or to get in touch about QBT450 specifically, you can visit qbt450.nz.

Steel & Tube have a dedicated Technical Team ready to solve any questions you may have, and their Specification Team have preloaded QBT450 detailing into architectural specification programmes including MasterSpec and SmartSpec.