How the COLORSTEEL greens compare
| TSR (heat reflected) | LRV (light reflected) | |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent Green: rich, vibrant | 25% | 10% |
| Karaka: deep rainforest green | 24% | 8% |
| Mist Green: soft, olive undertones | 39% | 25% |
| Lichen: olive and khaki neutral | 42% | 28% |
Is Permanent Green right for your house?
It reads as a real green from the street, not a grey-green. That makes it a natural partner for painted weatherboards, white trims and rural views, and a bold call on a modern box.
Karaka has almost the same heat figures but is deeper, closer to black-green. Mist Green and Lichen are far softer. Permanent Green is made in Classic only.
What a darker roof means for heat
A lower TSR means more heat absorbed, so a Permanent Green roof gets hotter in summer sun than a pale one. On an older house, that's a good reason to sort insulation and underlay and roof ventilation during the re-roof.
The low LRV of 10% can help in protected landscapes. Queenstown Lakes caps roof LRV at 20% in its Rural Residential and Rural Lifestyle zones and wants browns, greens or greys, which Permanent Green appears to meet on paper. The council still has the final word.
Coast and geothermal sites
Both MAXAM and ALTIMATE come in Permanent Green. NZ Steel doesn't recommend MAXAM within 25 m of the high-water line on the east coast, or 50 m on the west, so ALTIMATE is the product there. For geothermal sites, such as parts of Rotorua, your roofer should confirm the product with NZ Steel.
Where we'd land
If you love a green roof and the house can carry it, Permanent Green is the traditional pick. We'd order a sample, judge it in daylight against your trims (NZ Steel says screens misrepresent its colours), and raise roof-space ventilation with the roofer in the same conversation. Find My Roofer has no affiliation with New Zealand Steel.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.