Roof Needs Replacing? Consider Restoring it Instead

If your tiled roof is damaged, old, or in a general state of disrepair, then you may be considering having it replaced. For many Australian homeowners, replacing their tiled roof is a daunting prospect, because it involves considerable time, expense, and inconvenience. If this is the situation you have found yourself in, why not consider a roof restoration instead?

Many roofing companies can conduct tiled roof restoration. It's difficult to know at a glance exactly what kind of condition your roof is in, so you will need to book a consultation where the contractor can inspect your roof and let you know whether it's a candidate for restoration or if the roof's condition is so bad that it will need replacing. Here is a rundown of the services that you may need to get your roof back into top condition.

Replace broken or missing tiles

A tiled roof relies on each overlapping tile being intact to create an impenetrable barrier against water and draughts. If even a single tile is broken or missing, this can leave your home vulnerable to the elements. Broken or missing tiles can be a real problem during storm season. A gap in the roof can allow the wind to enter the cavity between the tiles and the roof joists. This can cause a domino effect with the overlapping tiles peeling away and your home being left without a roof covering.

When restoring your roof, the company will remove the broken tile and replace it. They may need to remove several of the surrounding tiles to do this because of the way that tiles overlap on your roof. Once the broken tile has been removed and replaced, then the rest of the tiles can also be put back into place, sealing the roof tight.

Re-point your ridge caps

Ridge caps are the specially designed tiles that are laid over the top edges of the roof angles to seal the roof. While the regular roof tiles are generally nailed on, ridge caps are secured using concrete pointing.

Over time, the pointing can be degraded by weather damage. This leaves the ridge caps very vulnerable to being torn off during windy weather. Ridge caps can cause considerable damage to surrounding roof tiles and should be re-pointed as part of your roof restoration.

Coat your tiles in a protective membrane

Roof tiles are exposed to all the extremes of the weather. Whether it be blazing summer sun, or rain, wind, and hail during the colder months. This can leave them chipped, stained, and brittle. Covering them with a protective membrane will leave them looking like new and will also create a protective barrier against further damage.

Another positive about coating your tiles in a membrane is that it can completely transform the look of your home. Dated orange roofs can be transformed into sleek modern roofs, with a huge array of colours available. If your roof feeds a drinking water tank, then make sure that the membrane you use is safe for this purpose.

In comparison to a complete roof replacement, which may take weeks to complete, a tiled roof restoration will generally only take a few days. It is also far less intrusive than a replacement, and will give you a great end result for a fraction of the price.