Tiled · Terracotta · Most popular
Roof restoration across Melbourne
A restoration is the difference between a roof that has twenty years left in it and a roof you replace in three. Done properly it is five distinct stages, and the ones you can't see from the ground are the ones that matter.
Signs you need it
How to tell from the ground.
- Ridge capping mortar is cracked, crumbling or missing in patches
- Moss and lichen holding moisture against the tiles
- Tiles that have slipped, cracked or been walked on by an aerial installer
- The roof has never been recoated and the colour has gone chalky
- Water marks appearing on ceilings after heavy rain, not light rain
The process
What we actually do, in order.
Inspection and photographs
We get on the roof, walk the whole thing, and photograph every fault. You get the photos whether or not you go ahead. No quote is written from the driveway.
High-pressure clean
Moss, lichen and oxidised surface come off. This is also when hidden cracks reveal themselves, which is why the quote allows for tile replacement rather than pretending it won't be needed.
Rebedding the ridge caps
The old mortar bedding is stripped and the caps re-laid on fresh bedding. Skipping this and pointing over the top is the single most common corner cut in this trade.
Flexible repointing
Pointing compound that flexes with the roof as it moves and heats, instead of rigid mortar that cracks away from the cap within a couple of summers.
Prime and coat
A primer coat then two colour coats, applied once the roof is genuinely dry. We will not coat a damp roof to hit a date. It will not bond and it will peel.
What it costs
We don't publish a price. Here's what moves it.
Every roof is a different age, size and condition. Anyone quoting this over the phone is guessing, and the guess is always low.
- Roof size, measured in squares, and the pitch
- Condition of the bedding underneath the caps
- Concrete, terracotta or slate (terracotta needs matched replacements)
- Access: single storey with a clear yard versus double storey and scaffold
- Solar panels, skylights and aerials that have to come off and go back
Questions
Roof Restoration: common questions
How long does a restoration take?
A standard single-storey tiled roof is usually three to four days: a day to clean, a day to re-bed and re-point, then coating once it has cured and dried. Weather moves this around and we would rather move a date than coat a wet roof.
Will it fix a leak?
Often, because most leaks on tiled roofs come from failed pointing, slipped tiles or rusted valley irons, all of which a restoration addresses. If the leak is coming from a flashing or a structural issue we will tell you before you spend money on a restoration that will not solve it.
How long does the coating last?
On a properly prepared roof, ten to fifteen years before it needs attention again. Preparation is what determines that, not the brand of the paint.
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Emergency call-out
Roof leaking right now?
Storm damage, a sheet lifted, water coming through the ceiling. Ring the mobile. We get a temporary fix on it and make the roof safe, then quote the permanent repair once it's dry enough to work on properly.
Need roof restoration?
Free on-site inspection, photos of everything we find, and a written quote with nothing hidden in it.