How to Tell if Your Roof Needs Restoring?

We’re used to dealing with problems inside the home on a near-constant basis. As anybody who has ever owned property will know all too well, houses are almost like living entities. They creak and groan, strain and age. They might not be made of flesh and bone, but their insides still need a lot of love and care in order to stay in tip-top condition. However, it is easy to forget that the roof is an important part of this routine.

The health of roof tiles, shingles, and siding is often neglected, for long periods, because we take it for granted that these components will always be there. They are designed to be strong and sturdy, and they’re built to last. Without them, there would be no home at all. Yet, they’re not invincible; your roof is subject to age and damage from the weather. You need to keep a close eye on it so that you’re fully prepared when it comes time for a roof restoration.

Your roof is one of the most important structural features of your home. However, it is not easy to inspect for damage or minor surface wear and tear every day. Due to the extensive exposure to weather elements, including harsh sun, heavy winds and rain, your roof is the recipient of significantly eroding and damaging forces that must be considered when choosing your roof surface and keeping it maintained. Small issues can quickly turn into big problems and regular roof inspection by an expert. Top Glaze has a wide range of Melbourne roof restoration services. 

What Are the Signs You Need Roof Restoration?

Roof Leaks

Your first indication that your roof needs restoration will likely be that your roof has frequent leaks. If the interior of your home has been compromised, you may discover dark spots of mould or rot growing on your ceiling, or trails of moisture on your ceiling. These suggest water damage from a roof leak.

Life Expectancy

Generally, most roofs will last for 20 to 25 years, although this lifespan varies depending on the material used to construct your roof. If your roof has reached the end of its life, restoring your roof once will be less expensive than paying for frequent repairs.

Roof Sagging

A sagging area in the roof is a sure sign of roof damage. If you notice that there is a visible dip in your roof, chances are you have a problem with your roof rafters.

Deteriorating Roof Valleys

Damaged roof valleys require fixing as soon as possible. If you notice worn or loose material around the chimney, vents, pipes, and other areas where the roof has been penetrated and sealed, this is a sign your roof needs attention as soon as possible.

Corrosion

Corrosion, also known as rust, is a strong indication that water is collecting around your roof’s fittings and fasteners. If you detect rust alongside flaking paint and rotting timber, it’s best to have your roof professionally inspected to evaluate the level of damage.

Mould On Roof

Unlike algae and moss, which, in their proper settings, are healthy, natural flora — mould is a more clear-cut problem with hazardous health effects and no aesthetic value. Mould is easy to spot due to its rancid smell and slimy, unattractive appearance, which is characterised by black, brown, and dark-green blotches.

Deteriorating Roof Shingles

If your roof’s shingles look curled or worn, or you have shingle granules in your gutters, this is a definite sign your roof may need restoration.

Damaged Gutters and Downpipes

It’s easy for owners to overlook damage to their gutters and downpipes. If your roof’s gutters and downpipes show rust or corrosion, this is another sign your roof needs attention.

Cracked Or Worn Roof Flashing

If your roof’s tar or cement flashing looks cracked, broken, or worn, it may be best to have your flashing replaced with modern metal flashing, which will prevent leaks and delay the need for premature roof restoration or replacement.

Cracked Or Broken Tiles

Any cracked or broken tiles will need to be replaced as soon as possible. Tile roofing is very durable and rarely needs to be completely replaced. However, if you overlook individual damaged tiles, water can seep in and cause the timber holding up your roof to rot, leading to a more expensive roof replacement or restoration.

What Is Involved in Roof Restoration?

Due to the safety implications, it is surprisingly easy to fall off a roof, and specialist skills required roof restoration is not a DIY project. So you are generally going to need to hire someone who does this for a living.

Depending on the type of roofing you have, this will typically involve replacing tiles or sealing and repainting the metal sheeting/Colorbond – or replacing these elements entirely. Initially, the roofing specialist will clean the roof to remove all the dirt, mould, and algae. They will then either replace individual broken tiles and re-alignment tiles or seal and/or replace your metal sheet roofing. Looking for roof restoration Melbourne? Look no further! Top Glaze has you covered.

Metal Roof Restoration

Metal roof repair involves either patching a spot leak or replacing an entire sheet of roof sheeting. Leaks often develop at the seams or where the roofing joins flashing or guttering. 

A patch is usually utilised to cover a localised leak in a metal roof from the same metal or colourbond of the original roofing. Metal screws are used to affix the patch and then sealed to prevent any further leakage.

Roof Tile Restoration

Roof tile replacement of a faulty roof tile can avoid serious structural damage to your home and potentially costly repairs. Roof tiles can crack or be damaged by several factors, including severe weather and falling tree branches. 

Any necessary repairs are then made, such as bedding and repointing the ridge tiles or replacing broken, damaged, or cracked tiles. This is then followed by the application of an anti-fungicide and sealer.

Benefits of a Roof Restoration

A roof restoration is a great way to boost your home’s safety and aesthetic appeal. But if you need more convincing, here are just a few of the many benefits of getting your roof in tip-top shape.

Prevent Future Damage and Leaks

A poorly maintained roof is going to suffer at the hands of harsh weather and falling debris like branches. And if a roof becomes damaged, that’s when you start to get leaks.

A roof restoration is a great way to make sure that every inch of your roof is in top condition.

Any broken tiles will be removed and replaced, and any loose tiles or ridge caps will be re-bedded. The roof will be covered with a protective sealant which is going to prevent damage and leaks for years to come.

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

If your roof is run down and not sealed properly, it’s going to be letting a lot of air in and out. This means you’re going to have to crank up the heat (or the air conditioning) to compensate for all the heat you’re losing.

A roof restoration stops air from escaping from your roof, which in the long run is going to save you money on energy bills. You’ll be doing your bit for the environment too.

Extend Your Roof’s Life

A roof restoration is going to add years to the life of your roof. This means no more worrying about damage or leaks for years and no more worrying about the safety of your home.

Terracotta tile roof restorations, in particular, are going to increase the longevity of your roof, as terracotta tiles are well known to last for decades.

You’ll be safe in the knowledge that your roof is in good condition and will be for years to come.

Increase Your Home’s Value

The condition of your roof is vital to the safety and appearance of your home. A good quality, safe roof that’s been well maintained is going to boost your home’s market value.

Buyers are often put off by a roof that looks in need of repair, so by having a roof restoration, you’ll increase your chances of an easy sell. You’ll even be able to list your home for a higher price.

Your Roof Restoration Cost Has Many Factors

The Current Condition Of Your Roof

Things such as how many broken tiles need to be replaced, the condition of your ridge capping, and any additional repairs needed to your bedding will affect how much your roof restoration will cost.

Standard roof restorations will only need the ridge capping repointed. If the pointing on your ridge capping has begun to deteriorate, a full redo of your ridge caps will be required.

Peeling paint will also raise the cost of your roof restoration. If the roof paint is peeling, the team will need to sit on the turbo head, blasting the peeling paint off inch by inch for your new paint to adhere to the tile correctly and last. This takes hours upon hours to do and is very labour intensive. We generally see paint lift when the original job was not cleaned properly, poor products were used or when the tiles were not sealed correctly before the membrane was applied. We have a wide range of Melbourne roof replacement services at Top Glaze.

Guardrail

If you have a two-story home, you will require a guardrail to comply with OH&S laws. This will affect your roof restoration cost.

Product

You get what you pay for in the product department, and not all products are created equal. Of course, cheaper products will lower your quote price for your roof restoration but may cost you more in the long run when in a couple of years, all the peeling paint needs to be removed.

Broken Tiles

We pay from $3 – $7 per tile. The number of broken tiles that need changing will also affect the cost of your roof restoration.

Bedding

Generally, in roof restoration, the ridges only need to be rebedded where required. If a roof is needing a full rebate of all ridges, this will take a lot more time and labour.

Size of Your Roof

The average-sized roof is between 200 m² – 300 m². Keep in mind your roof size will be bigger than your house due to overhang and pitch.