For the patio cover, what about some retractable options? https://budgetawnings.com.au/productImages/Black21_65.jpg http://www.canopy4u.com.au/retractable-awning-patio-cover-folding-arm-grey-5-0m-x-2-5m-motorised.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjw5ti3BRD89aDFnb3SxPcBEiQAssnp0qH9AeIqM_YoaoT0P7Qj-dUwCooEPRoLaA4OH8OQSTAaAhQS8P8HAQ

siriuskey the grass trees are welded iron & wire, made by an artist who lives in our area, they are gorgeous and we don't have to worry about them dying! Yes you are right, the verandah is coming away from the wall, which is where the little birds nest ;) I love the last picture you posted and its the look we want. Interesting that all your images show grey/galv roof, which is what we want (not red). Mel N yes the cost is due to lack of tradies in the area so we have to add on travel, accommodation, meals. Also quote does not include removal of old iron & timber from site so we have to factor in dump fees. We could dispose of the timber battens easily enough, everyone needs firewood here, it's the iron that's expensive to dump. big reader yes she is a treasure, we love her. tessaway the house has plenty of light in the front rooms, it's very bright here, almost every day is sunny. We would just like to see the full height of the windows from the front garden. Maybe we should just enjoy the house, add pergolas to the sides and not worry about what she looks like from the street.

Hi there Mary, that's something I hadn't thought of re painting the ridge tiles, I had thought to replace them with the grey, it would depend on the condition of the ridge do they need re setting, this would be a good time to replace rather than fiddle with painting, Woodland Grey is a classic Colour Bond, Gully a bit lighter. Your Roof is a strong red colour, I would get a sample of both grey colours, if you have a spare red tile take it with you to look at samples good luck

I have designed a couple of flyover roofs and they have their pros and cons. On the plus side they seem to catch any cooling breeze as they are more open, and hot air doesn't get trapped underneath and build up. On the minus side you need to make sure that there is enough clearance to easily clean the existing gutter from under the flyover roof. In Melbourne the area underneath stays dry for most storms, but when you get wind blown rain then you will get some rain in under the flyover roof, so it won't be as dry as a verandah. The amount of rain that gets in under the roof will depend on the direction of the wind. It is better to make the flyover roof freestanding, like in this photo of one of my flyoever roofs, rather than penetrate the existing roofing material with supports. For your two options in your Cairns climate, I would suggest a flyover roof would be a better looking option, and provide a better quality of under-roof space, rather than the step-down option (which may block your views). Best of luck with your considerations, Dr Retro