Constant exposure to temperature variations over time dramatically impact resilience and weatherproofing of your roof. The continual expanding and contracting under extreme heat and cold causes your roof surface to buckle, crack, decay and fade.
Once your roof surface is compromised, damage to your home can ensue.
Crucial signs your roof needs repair or restoration.
All too often, one of the first tell-tale signs of a problem in your roof is the appearance of watermarks in your ceiling. Many homeowners have experienced first-hand the anguish of arriving home to wet floors or damaged furniture and water emanating from their ceiling.In the majority of cases, the presence of leaks is more apparent during heavy rain or stormy weather, testing your ageing roof. As heavy downfalls batter your roof, rain seeps through porous or cracked tiles, compromised seals in flashing or rust in metal roofing.
Once water enters your roof area, it quickly creates havoc within your home. Mould rapidly forms in damp conditions and represents a severe health risk to your family. In extreme weather, excessive water buildup in your ceiling can cause it to collapse under its weight, inundating your home’s fittings and fixtures.
Crucial signs your roof needs repair or restoration urgently are;
- Watermarks on your ceilings.
- Water dripping from your ceilings during heavy rainfall.
- A roof inspection reveals light emanating from cracked or misplaced tiles, rust holes in metal roofing or around fixtures.
- Sagging roofline.
- Ridge tiles need re-pointing (re-bedding).
- Flashing around skylights has deteriorated or suffered damaged.
Crucial checks every roof needs to access storm damage.
After heavy storms, it makes good sense to assess your home for storm damage, especially after high-winds or hail. Any damage will require closer inspection; damage rarely is limited to one location, so a thorough roof inspection is recommended. We advise engaging the services of a qualified roofing specialist, there are, however, some checks you may feel confident to do yourself.We’ve created a simple, 4-step checklist;
- Do a quick visual check of your roof from ground level for apparent signs of fallen debris such as branches or other materials blown from nearby structures;
- Hail storms can create real havoc on your roof, especially hailstones larger than 30mm.
- Scan your roof area for obvious signs of damage to the surface of your roof, look for signs of dislodged or broken tiles or tears in flashing or bruising * in metal roofs.
- Inspect gutters as they can quickly become clogged with excess leaf matter, branches or twigs.
All damage should be repaired as soon as possible by a qualified roofing contractor. When immediate repairs are not possible, ensure that your roof is watertight. Spot repair any minor damage with sealant, if however, your roof has suffered significant damage, cover the entire area with a tarpaulin.
* Besides from being unsightly, heavy bruising can affect the integrity of the coating of your roof and reduce it’s longevity, diminishing the value of your home.
What is roof restoration?
Opting to restore an existing roof is more often the preferred choice by many homeowners and renovators. More affordable than roof-replacement, a roof restoration can increase the longevity of your roof by 10-15 years and can increase the resale value of your home.During roof restoration, paint or foam is applied to the surface of tile, wooden, slate or metal roofs. The paint is designed to perform several functions; it reseals the surface of the tiles and shingles which have become porous with age, while re-coating metal roofs protect the surface from corrosion and rust.
What are the types and cost of roof restoration options?
Depending on the size of your home, renovation costs can range between $5,000 and $10,000 (approximately $65 per square metre).
The following roof surfaces are ideal for restoration;
- Terracotta Tiles
- Cement Tiles
- Iron/metal cladding
The most common restoration technique is the application of an impervious paint or foam. Before resurfacing your roof surface, it requires thorough cleaning to remove leaves, moss, lichen and bird droppings.
Many contractors opt to use pressure cleaners to clean the roof surface due to its speed and efficiency: cracked tiles, minor holes and flashing repaired or replaced and ridges re-bedded when required.
The role that colour plays in roof efficiency.
Roof restoration also provides homeowners tired of their roofs bland colour, the opportunity to change to something more vibrant. Carefully consider your choice in colour as it does impact on your homes heating or cooling efficiency. Dark colours attract more heat and lighter shades, primarily white, reflect heat.We recommended you consider the climate and location of your home and choose the best option to improve the energy efficiency of your home. You might also like to know that white roofs are between 7-8% more energy efficient? Something worth everyone’s consideration.
How long does roof restoration take?
Roof restoration dramatically depends on your roof condition and size. Roofs not requiring repair work are completed the same day while those with significant repairs extend completion time.Roofs older than ten years almost always require repair work, such as; replacement of cracked tiles, re-bedding ridge tiles and deteriorated flashing. All repair work and roof cleaning are necessary to be complete before any commencement of the resurfacing process.
What is roof repair?
Roof repair can be rather extensive and can range from minor fixes to partial roof replacement.The majority of jobs which can be quickly fixed by a qualified roof contractor are;
- Replacing tiles.
- Re-bedding tiles.
- Gutter repair or replacement.
- Replacing flashing.
- Sealing minor holes or leaks around fittings or fixtures.
- Sealing and repairing skylights.
- Roof and gutter cleaning.
- Gutter guard and leaf guard repair or replacement
Minor roof repairs are charged hourly while fixed pricing is the norm on larger jobs. Roof repairs can be costly with extensive storm damage running into the tens of thousands of dollars. If you want the best rate, a little shopping around is required.
How long should your roof last?
Surprisingly, most roofs fair equally well, with terracotta, concrete and metal roof expected to last around 50-75 years and slate roofs as long as 150 years. It is vital to consider your home's location as environmental conditions do factor into your roof expected life-span. For example, many homeowners are unaware that the exposure of your home to sea spray reduces the longevity of concrete tiles.When is it better to replace your roof?
As your roof ages, its surface slowly succumbs to the elements and breaks down. Regardless of the level of care and maintenance on your roof over the years, eventually, every material reaches the end of its life cycle.Here are some signs that indicate your roof needs replacing;
- Spiralling roof repair and maintenance costs.
- Rotting roof timber.
- Your roof sags.
- The majority of your roof tiles are brittle or broken.
- Corrosion of roof surface or around fittings and fasteners.
- Damage or mould on internal ceilings.
- Reasons why you should replace your gutters.
Many don’t consider the vital role their gutters play in keeping your home maintenance free until it’s too late, and repairs can be costly.
Leaking, rusted, damaged or sagging gutters are a good indicator that it’s time to consider gutter replacement. Sometimes, the signs may be a little subtle such as watermarks or mould appearing in ceiling corners and walls due to gutters not functioning as they should.
If your gutters have deteriorated to the point they need replacing, it’s time to consider calling in the services of a professional to resolve the problem.
Reasons why you should consider using gutter guards.
Leaf and organic buildup in gutters can have severe implications around your home; causing gutters to overflow, damaging foundations and representing a possible fire risk, especially in bushfire areas which are susceptible to floating embers.Gutter guards help prevent the buildup of leaves and twigs in your gutters and eradicate clogged downpipes and overflowing gutters.
Conclusion.
It makes good sense to look after your family home; after all, it is likely one of the most significant investments your family will ever make.The roof of your home is not something that any homeowner should view likely. Proper care and maintenance of your roof ensure not only the longevity of your roof but also your home.
We hope that we’ve helped you better understand how to care for your roof and weigh up the benefits between, repair, restoration and roof replacement.
If you have any questions or would like to offer your feedback, we warmly welcome any remarks.