Everything You Need to Know About Roof Restoration in Melbourne

This guide is for homeowners who want to know everything about roof restoration to maintain the integrity and lasting value of their home. We think of a home as a basic human necessity, shielding us from the harsh elements. The term “keep a roof over my head” points to how important it is to have adequate shelter from sun, rain and wind for our health, comfort and well being. Roof maintenance is often overlooked however, with problems usually getting noticed only when a serious failure occurs.

What Is Roof Restoration?

Put simply, roof restoration is the process of restoring old, worn or damaged roofs to look and function like new again. Over time, all roofs take a beating from the elements and deteriorate. This not only makes the susceptible to leaks and damage, but also start to show their age, affecting the aesthetics of your home, which can put off potential buyers when it comes to selling it.

When is it Time for a Roof Restoration?

A roof restoration isn’t always a great investment for everyone. If your roof is in great condition, then it really isn’t necessary and would be a waste of money. In many cases, it might be better and more cost effective to make minor repairs or simply get it pressure cleaned.

There are many signs that may indicate that you’re in need of a roof restoration service. Let’s go through them together so you can make sure to nip any problems in the bud before it becomes and even bigger one down the road and costs more than it needs to. Detecting problems with your roof will usually involve climbing up into the roof cavity or getting up onto the roof to do an inspection. It is recommended that you get a roofing professional to do this safely. A qualified roofer will also have a better eye and specialist tools for detecting issues and can produce a thorough report that you can use when getting quotes for further work to be carried out.

Inside Your Roof Cavity

If you look inside the roof cavity or attic and see dark spots or trails indicating water damage, this is evidence that water is somehow getting through the roof. If you see beams of light coming through from the outside, this is also indicative that the roof is not properly protecting your home.

External Roof Indications You Need a Restoration

There are many ways you can tell that your roof needs restoration upon external inspection:

  • Worn or ruptured roof sealant. Roof sealants are used in a variety of ways, such as filling the spaces between components or as adhesive to fix a membrane to the surface. Over time, even the best roof sealants are prone to crack or shrink, exposing gaps that allow water to get through. Roof valley sealant is often the first place to show damage, followed by other areas.
  • Worn roof tiles. If you have a tiled roof, you’ll eventually find that the climate will wear down the coating and the tiles themselves, leaving them discoloured and possibly letting water through. You may also find tile pieces and granules washing up into the gutters; a sure sign that your tiles are wearing down.
  • Cracked and broken tiles. Not only are they unsightly, broken and cracked tiles or shingles can let water in as well as insects and other pests.
  • Mould, rot and lichen. Signs of mould and rot indicates that excessive moisture is being trapped on your roof. Any mould or rot on or in your roof is a potential respiratory health risk and should be removed and treated. Lichen or moss growing on the roof means that it isn’t sealed properly and can attract birds and critters to feed on it.
  • Metal corrosion. There are metal components to your roof that can become corroded, forming rust. If you have a metal roof, especially a very old one, the sheet coverings can also wear down and become corroded.
  • Worn or damaged gutters and downpipes. When the gutters become worn or damaged, eventually failing to drain rainwater from your roof, potentially causing further damage to your roof and the inside of your home.
  • Sagging roof structure. Any sagging in your roof structure is a sign that your roof needs attention. Neglecting to fix this can seriously compromise your home, leading to pooling of rainwater that will eventually leak into the home. It can even eventually lead to a roof collapse!

The Benefits of Restoring Your Roof

Investing in a roof restoration offers several long-lasting benefits to homeowners.

Extend the Life of Your Roof

It can vastly extend the lifetime of your roof, with less need for ongoing repairs or maintenance, saving you a lot of money over the long-term.

Old, worn down and damaged roofs that remain neglected get progressively worse over time and can accelerate the deterioration of other aspects of the home. A professional roof restoration will prevent further damage occurring, preserving it and protecting from degradation resulting from the punishing Melbourne climate.

Add Value to Your Home

Before putting your house on the market, it is a smart move to consider a roof restoration first. Being able to show off a new looking roof usually attracts a better sales price, especially if you can show a spectacular accredited report on the condition of the roof. Potential buyers will be assured that they won’t need to sink additional money into fixing up the roof either immediately or within the next few years.

A Restored Roof is More Energy Efficient

Heating and cooling a house with a poorly maintained roof will increase the cost of living comfortably. Insulation will only do so much and may get damaged if exposed to the weather being let in from gaps or holes in the roof. A properly sealed roof can save your household a lot of money in energy bills as well as raise your energy rating. A growing number of home buyers in Melbourne are also taking energy efficiency into consideration, not just for the cost savings but also to reduce their carbon footprint.

What is Involved in the Roof Restoration Process?

There are quite a few components to a roof restoration and what is involved depends on the state of your roof. Not all roofs require the same treatment as part of a restoration, so the process and cost will be different in each case. The starting point is to get a professional roofer to inspect the roof and provide a condition report explaining what is wrong with your roof and why a restoration is necessary.

Make sure the Roof is Structurally Sound

It makes sense to start with making sure the roof is structurally sound, checking that load bearing beams and rafters are not in need of replacement. Doing this makes sure that any additional restoration isn’t wasted, needing to start again and go back to the structural basics.

Tile or Sheet Replacement

We might either need to replace a few broken terracotta or concrete tiles, or it may be necessary to replace them all. If most of the tiles are crumbling, a complete re-tiling may be required for a proper restoration.

If you have a metal roof, any corroded or degraded sheets are replaced.

Roof Tile Re-bedding and Re-pointing

Roof re-bedding involves pulling up the roof tiles, laying fresh cement mortar and laying the tiles again. A flexible pointing material is also applied to the tiles to better bind them to the roof and prevent them shifting and coming loose again. Roof pointing is the second layer that goes over the top of the bedding to create a strong bind over the tiles and seal the roof against water, dust and debris. The flexible pointing material is used to replace concrete mortar used for the same purpose in older roofs for a longer lasting finish.

Gutter and Downpipe Replacement

If the gutters or downpipes are beyond repair, they’ll need to be replaced. Replacing these could also be a good investment if the existing gutters are very old and could increase the resale value of your home if nice new guttering is installed.

Pressure Cleaning the Roof

Using a high-pressure water cleaning system to remove dirt, lichen and debris from the roof can have a renewing affect to the look of your home. At the same time, it makes sure that accumulated grot is not compromising the structure.

Roof Painting and Resealing

A new coat of paint followed by a coating of roof sealant is the final important step to your roof restoration. The paint job can be the same colour as before or you have the opportunity to choose a new one. Say goodbye to a tired, old looking roof and say hello to a bright and fresh new look!

Adding a modern roof coating sealant will lock in that new look and protect it from the battering roofs take from rain and wind for many years to come.

Contact PorterVac for Roof Restoration Services

If you would like to extend the life of your roof, avoid costly leaks and damage, and breath new life into the appearance of your home, call PorterVac now on 1300 463 081 or request a call back here, we will answer any questions you may have and provide a free quote for your roof restoration.

What Is Roof Restoration?

Roof restoration is the process of restoring old, worn or damaged roofs to look and function like new again.

When should you do a roof restoration?

A roof restoration isn’t always a great investment for everyone. A qualified roofing professional can help you assess if your roof needs a restoration.

What are some signs your roof needs a restoration?

Worn or ruptured sealant, worn, cracked or broken roof tiles, mould, corrosion, damaged gutters and downpipes and a sagging roof structure.

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