CONCRETE
TILE ROOF RESTORATION
CONCRETE ROOF RESTORATION
Highest quality Roof Restoration’s Melbourne wide.
Carefully structured and engineered process that makes your Roof Restoration Melbourne weather proof!
We cover all of Melbourne with offices based in the West, North, East and South.
Quality restorations, tailored specifically for your requirements and your budget.
Comprehensive and informative roof assessments backed by 30 years industry experience.
Our detailed written quotes are completely free and come with absolutely no obligation.
Highest quality membrane technology with an industry exclusive 20 year manufacturers warranty.
With over 30 years experience we understand that a “one size fits all” approach to Roof
Restoration just doesn’t cut it.
There are three very specific factors that influence the requirements for a roof restoration.
1. The condition of the roof.
Older, or poorly maintained, roofs will generally require more attention. This will obviously impact the procedures required when restoring them.
2. Our customers requirements.
Homeowners who intend to stay in their home for a very long time, may want to consider a more advanced roof restoration using higher quality materials. Those that intend to sell in the near future, may not wish to overcapitalise on their investment.
3. Your financial situation.
Not everybody has an unlimited budget. And while your roof is very important, sometimes other priorities need to be considered.
That’s why, when we come out to assess your roof, we consider the above and ask the relevant questions so that we can tailor a roof restoration specifically engineered for your unique requirements.
Will utilise a wide range of technologies. From Nanotech through to cross-linked polymerisation.
Heat reflective coatings to titanium infused pigmentation. And while we prefer to carry out quality restorations wherever possible, both our preparation, and our finishing coats, have enough flexibility that they will generally suit everyone’s budget.
Our roof assessments are comprehensive and informative. The written quotes are detailed, completely free of charge and come with absolutely no obligation.
So, if you are in the market for a Roof Restoration, either now, or in the future, then feel free to contact us today. Our laid-back approach is both prompt and professional and we guarantee to have your comprehensive written quote emailed to you within 24 hours.
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ABOUT CONCRETE TILE ROOF RESTORATION
Concrete is one of the most popular materials used in roof construction. Its durability and strength are qualities that make it ideal for construction and building. Unfortunately, it does retain a lot of excess heat that continues to radiate into the home well after the sun has gone down. Concrete tiles weather over time and begin to get brittle with age. Protective membranes applied to the concrete can not only significantly extend the life of the roof and dramatically improve the appearance, but specialised types can also dramatically reduce the core temperature of a tile. Watch the video below to watch our full process video or see the individual steps below.
Many companies opt to perform a “band-aid solution”, effectively patching cracks and painting over problems. Quality Roof Restorations takes a holistic approach to roof restoration. Every component of the roof is thoroughly examined and upgraded to the highest standards and techniques. Applying the absolute latest technology in infrared heat reflectivity as well as highly advanced protective membranes, our policy is to provide you with a world-class roof restoration that will look as good as a brand new roof, and perform better! Our incredible 20-year warranty is a testament to our confidence in our techniques.
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Please read on to see how we go about returning your roof to its former glory while also introducing important energy saving technology.
STEP ONE: SAFETY RAILS
All work carried out on a roof is dangerous. WorkSafe regulations require that physical edge protection in the form of safety rails be used on all roof restorations regardless if the home is a single or double story. Much of the work carried out involves the necessity of carrying heavy objects and handling awkward machinery. The presence of a solid roof rail not only prevents falls, it also allows our tradespeople to focus closer on the quality of the work they perform.
STEP TWO: BROKEN TILES
The first stage in the restoration process is always to check the roof for broken tiles that may be currently leaking or may possibly leak in extreme weather events. Tiles with small chips are generally left in the roof but relocated to the blind side of the roof. Anything with a larger chip or break is replaced entirely.
STEP THREE: PRESSURE CLEANING
Melbourne roofs are subject to ever increasingly high amounts of pollutants. Dust and dirt are also present to varying degrees. The complete removal of these components is critical for a lasting restoration. Not only can foreign elements adversely affect our membranes, anything left on the surface of a tile can prevent the primers from soaking into the body of the tile. This will result in peeling.
Using chemicals can damage the tile and get into the surrounding gardens. For these reasons, we utilise high pressure water only for the cleaning stage. Large commercial pressure cleaning machines are used that can reach pressure in excess of 4,100 psi. A considerable amount of time is spent in this task to ensure all grime and pollutants are thoroughly removed.
STEP FOUR: RE-BEDDING
The bedding concrete is one of the most important components of a roofs structure. It is the foundational concrete that sits under the ridge caps. It is designed to ensure that the ridge caps do not blow off the roof in high winds or slide off on their own. In almost all roof restorations this concrete needs to be removed completely to ensure a quality job is achieved. Trying to patch over the top or only partially replace it, will nearly always end in disaster. Failing bedding is one on the most common reasons for water ingress and, if not done properly, can also impact on your
insurance coverage should damage occur to the home. All of our concrete tile restoration work comes with a complete removal of all existing concrete. All ridge caps and gable tiles are then set firmly in place onto the new bedding concrete. The mix of sand and cement is also crucial. Too much sand can allow the pointing material that goes over the concrete to fail. Expansion and contraction of the pointing can begin to come away if the concrete has too much sand in it. We use a solid mix of three parts sand and one part cement. This forms a very strong concrete base once dried.
STEP FIVE: RE-POINTING
The pointing is the second component of the concrete bedding. Many companies will apply this directly to the old bedding. This is not compliant under Australian Tiling Standards 2050 and can void your insurance coverage if leaks occur from this practice. Once the bedding has adequately set, we apply an acrylic flexible compound to the new concrete finish. This is flexible, so resists cracking during high temperatures. It is also waterproof which protects the underlying concrete and increases the length of time that it will last. Its highly adhesive quality also means that it bonds extremely well to the tile and the bedding creating a much more effective join between them.
STEP SIX: VALLEY IRONS
A valley iron is the roof gutter that sits under the tiles where two roof faces meet. They generally have a galvanised steel finish that is subject to oxidation. Even if rust is not visible on the surface, it is still likely that it will be present under the bedding concrete that secures the valley tiles. We recommend replacing all valley irons over 30 years of age. We always use Colorbond steel for our valley replacements. Even though the new valley will become coated along with the roof, Colorbond has a much more resilient finish than the plain steel and will last for much longer. Concrete is not used to secure the tiles. Valleys expand and contract with temperature change. The movement can cause the valley bedding to crack and fall out. This is a common source of roof leaks. Therma-guard implement’s a sophisticated form of rubber lining with an adhesive compound impregnated into it. It is very flexible and resilient and much better suited to securing valley tiles to the valley iron than conventional bedding.
STEP SEVEN: ROOF PENETRATION
Most tiled roofs have some types of penetrations through them. They are usually either ventilation pipes for the sewerage system or heater/hot water flus. In many cases, they are sealed with inefficient lead sheeting that is a common source of water ingress. The clam system at the top of the penetration fails and the lead is prone to splitting. When we perform a professional roof restoration, these old faulty flashing systems are fully replaced with new Dektite flashing kits.
A dektite has a reinforced flexible acrylic mat and instead of lead. It has an adhesive back so it bonds to the tiles and its acrylic substance makes it extremely durable. The sealing method on the pipe is by way of a rubber sleeve that is trimmed down to suit the pipes diameter. A bead of silicone is applied to the pipe at the top of the sleeve and an adjustable clamp secures the sleeve to the penetration.
STEP EIGHT: CHIMNEY FLASHING
Chimneys are another big source of roof leaks. The lead around the sides is prone to the same issues that can plague penetrations. The flashings on the side designed to stop water that hits the chimney faces from running down the chimney and entering your home, often fail also. A small gutter, called a chimney soaker tray, sits behind the chimney. This catches sand and debris and commonly rusts out very rapidly. We often replace the entire chimney flashing system on older homes to
ensure that no further problems occur. The lead is replaced with a flexible adhesive acrylic matting, the sides of the chimney are re-flashed with new Colorbond steel and the rear soaker tray is always replaced with Colorbond.
FIRST APPLICATION
FIRST APPLICATION
STEP NINE: PRIMER COAT
The first protective coat to be applied is critical. As it is what is directly in contact with the tile, the first coat is what determines whether or not the subsequent coatings will peel. Peeling paint on a tiled roof restoration can be disastrous. Any attempt to repaint the roof will fail as the new paint will simply peel off with the old paint that is left on the tile. In most cases, the roof has to be left peeling until the old paint oxidises, a process that can take many years. So instead of improving the look of your home, a
low-quality roof restoration can actually make it look worse. The surface of a concrete tile is porous. That means that thick paints applied will seal the tile and trap air in the body of the tile. As the trapped air heats up, it expands. At the same time, this is happening, the paint is softening from the heat. The expanding air will begin to bubble the softened paint and peeling begins to occur. This is the number one application error made in the industry. Well over half of the restoration firms utilise a “sealer coat” for their first coat. It is generally a thick paint that seals the tile prior to painting. It will improve the look of the colour coats, but it traps air in the tile and peeling is a virtual certainty. Therma Guard utilise nanotechnology with our primary application. Nanotechnology is the science of miniaturisation. The molecules in our primer coat are much smaller than usual. This allows our primer to soak deeply into the roof and penetrate well into the body of the tile. It is highly adhesive so the subsequent compounds applied bind perfectly to it. In effect, our membrane system can never peel. It becomes part of the tile itself. It will, of course, eventually weather away, but this will be a gradual fading effect that will take decades.
SECOND APPLICATION
SECOND APPLICATION
STEP TEN: HIGH SOLID SEALERS
The second application is all about aesthetics. Now that the primer is doing its job to ensure our membranes will never peel, we can focus on delivering a smooth and even finish. Concrete tiles have a rough surface. They are often pitted and grainy. In many cases the surface varies significantly from tile to tile. These discrepancies can show up, particularly when the sun is reflecting off the tiles, making the roof look patchy. Our high solids sealer
is specifically designed to combat that and deliver a consistent creamy presentation. It is a thick viscous acrylic membrane with added emulsifiers. An emulsifier is a coagulant that stabilised the sealant. It affords our membrane a constitution that has less fluidity than other sealants. As it is applied, this membrane not only fills in pits and cavities it also resists running on the tiles inclined surface. The end result is a rich acrylic surface that is uniformly consistent in thickness. When the top coats go on, they apply very evenly and consistently.
APPLICATION THREE & FOUR
APPLICATION THREE & FOUR
STEP ELEVEN: PROTECTIVE HEAT REFLECTIVE TOP COATS
Our finishing coats are the peace de resistance. They are specially engineered membranes that incorporate three separate cutting edge technologies.
THIRD APPLICATION: CROSS-LINKED POLYMERS
Polymers like acrylic paints, are molecularly structured in chains. This makes them strong within the chain, but the individual chains can separate which leads to crazing, cracking and eventual failure. A cross linked polymer is specially engineered so the the individual polymer chains cross over each other. Not only does this significantly extend the life of the membrane, it also improves dirt pick up resistance. The cross linking makes
the surface smoother meaning the dirt washes off easier during periods of rain.
FOURTH APPLICATION: NANOTECHNOLOGY
Becoming more widely used over the last decade, nanotechnology provides many benefits. As the molecule is smaller, the overall strength and durability of the membrane is increased. The surface is also much less porous so foreign elements like dust and pollution find it more difficult to penetrate the surface, keeping the coatings pure. The colour pigment also lasts longer because the molecule is smaller so less surface is presented to the damaging factors of ultraviolet light.
INFRARED REFLECTIVE PIGMENTS
Infrared light is heat. Our colour pigments that are incorporated in the last two membrane coats have infrared reflecting technology infused into them. Global climate change and increasing energy costs make this particular technology a no brainer. While initially more expensive, long term savings can be enjoyed as both the homes comfort level, and your energy bill will be much healthier! By using our heat reflective membranes, on a
hot Melbourne day, the internal temperature of your home can be as much as 10 degrees cooler than it currently is. This is based on a charcoal type colour but even in the lighter colour ranges a big difference can be felt. The other major benefit of heat reflective roof paints is that they last much longer than traditional coatings. They fade much less because they are reflective. There is much less expansion which helps to prevent pollutants from entering the body of the compounds. Even foot traffic on the roof is less likely to affect the finish as it does not soften as much in the heat. Together, these three technologies represent the latest developments in enhanced protective membranes and place our coatings amongst the best in the world.
Our restoration services are far more than just a paint job. They last many times longer than standard roof paints. The appearance, particularly over time, far outstrips standard restoration practices. The heat reflective technology incorporated within the coatings makes a restoration by Therma-Guard Roof Restoration exceed the performance of even a brand new roof. Because of our exhaustive preparation and attention to detail, you can expect your roof to remain relatively problem-free for decades to come. Because of this, our services are not for everyone. If you believe that you will be in your home for less than 5 years, or are prepping your home for sale, other, less expensive, options might bear consideration. But if you do intend to keep your house long-term, our services work out to be much cheaper than our competitors when calculated over the full life of the restoration, particularly when energy savings are factored in. Obviously, all homes are different so some of the processes above may vary from roof to roof. If you are seriously considering having your roof restored, the best approach is to contact us for a free assessment and quotation. Simply click on the contact form or call 0425 722 261 to get started.
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High quality roof restorations with our unique 4-coat heat reflective technology
Quality Roof Restorations FAQ’s
- What is a roof restoration?
Roof Restoration refers to the process used to bring your roof back to a new type condition. It generally includes pressure cleaning, repair or replacement of broken mortar and resurfacing the tiles. Sometimes additional work is required. It’s always best to have your roof professionally assessed to determine the best scope of works to obtain the desired result.
- How much does roof restoration cost?
Because there are huge discrepancies in the quality of materials, and the skill of the trades people who perform the work, prices in the Roof Restoration industry can very incredibly. As a matter of fact an average Melbourne home of about 180 m2 of roof can vary between $3000 and $30,000. But realistically, a good quality Roof Restoration of that size, performed by qualified trades people that utilise quality materials, would generally come in at around $7,000 plus or minus a few thousand depending on the amount of work required.
- Why do the prices of a roof restoration vary so much?
Workmanship and materials. Like most other trades based industries Roof Restoration is suffering from a lack of skilled trades. With the demand so high it’s only natural that the labour void would be filled to keep up the supply. Unfortunately this has led to a disproportionate amount of unskilled trades people carrying out roof restoration works. Naturally enough, the price is significantly lower when the work is done by someone who is not skilled. As far as materials go there are many different types with huge variations in both price and quality. Like any major renovation project, we recommend that you carry out extensive research prior to making a decision.
- How long does a roof restoration last?
Unfortunately the longevity of a Roof Restoration can also vary hugely. A poor quality job can start to have issues as quickly as six months after it’s completed while the highest quality roof restorations can be expected to last in excess of 20 years. Inadequate cleaning, the lack of an appropriate priming coat, poor quality workmanship and low-grade materials can all significantly reduce the duration that you can expect from your roof restoration. Unfortunately the quality of the job can often appear to be of a high standard when it’s first completed. Enough so that you will pay your hard earned cash on completion without the problems appearing until the company that performed the works is long gone. We recommend a thoroughly pressure cleaning the roof with an industrial grade machine, applying a highly adhesive primer, preferably incorporating nanotechnology, prior to the topcoats going on. Make sure that the person that is carrying out the work has had adequate experience And understands all facets of roof restoration work. We also recommend high-grade acrylics that incorporate titanium based pigmentation.
- When is the best time of year to do a roof restoration?
Contrary to popular belief, there really isn’t a perfect season to carry out roofing work. Temperature doesn’t really affect the application of a good quality acrylic membrane as there are special additives that are generally implemented within the coatings that accelerate the drying time. Obviously rain can affect the coatings if they get wet while they are being applied or directly afterwards. High quality coatings, however, are much thicker than normal paint. This means that they are generally touch dry within about 30 minutes after application. So provided the company that applies the products is somewhat diligent about observing weather trends you can expect an equally high-quality job in both summer and winter.
- Do you really need to restore your tiled roof?
Your roof is subject to all facets of weather affects. From high intensity rainfall to scorching heat and extreme UV punishment. Obviously this takes its toll on both the tiles themselves and the associated elements of your roof. The tiles can become quite weathered over time which allows rain and moisture to penetrate deeper and deeper into the body of them. The bedding and pointing, or mortar work, is subject to rain, wind and extreme heat. All of these things can accelerate the deterioration quite rapidly. Valley irons and roof flashings can also begin to rust and breakdown over time. While it is possible to carry out ongoing maintenance to keep your roof in good repair, it can become expensive. The main benefit of performing a roof restoration, apart from the massive aesthetic improvement it will make to your home, is to prevent, and delay, ongoing expensive maintenance. It is generally far less expensive to professionally restore your roof once, than continually repair it.
- Should I restore or replace my concrete tile roof?
This can only really be answered by a thorough inspection from an industry professional. The simple answer is if your tiles are past their use by date and have become brittle, replacement is generally the only course of action that you have. But if your tiles are still serviceable and their life can be extended by a professional Roof Restoration that is always a far less expensive option. Often homeowners make the error of overcapitalising on their home and installing a new roof. Possibly what they don’t consider is that a new roof will still require ongoing maintenance. If your roof is able to be restored, and it is done so professionally, you should get around 20 years of additional life before either replacement, or another restoration is required. If you replace your roof now you can expect it to need major improvement works in about 20 years also. So in most cases there is no real benefit to replacing your roof over restoring unless it’s past its use by date.
- Is it worth it to restore my roof?
A quality Roof Restoration is an excellent investment into your most valuable possession. It can increase the value of your property by tens of thousands of dollars, eliminate the need for expensive ongoing maintenance and even reduce your energy bills if thermal reflective technology is incorporated into the protective membranes. Provided it is done well, there are almost no downsides to having your home upgraded in this way.
- I’m selling my house. Should I get a roof restoration done to increase the value?
This really depends on the overall condition of your home. If the exterior of your home is in a good condition and the roof presents poorly and has visible deterioration, it is likely to impact significantly on the sale price. On the other hand, if it’s an older property that clearly requires maintenance work, there is little point, generally, in spending additional money on only one facet of the home. Our advice, if this is the case, is to consider carefully. After all, many people make significant profits by buying older homes and then renovating and selling them. In most cases, adding improvements to a home prior to sale is going to allow you to accrue additional profits when that home is sold. It really comes down to whether or not you want to invest the time and money in having your home as presentable as possible and reaping additional profits, or if you’re happy to sell it as is with the understanding that the asking price may not be as high as it could be.
- How long does a normal roof restoration take to complete?
If one skilled tradesperson is engaged to clean, fully re-bed, re-point and apply 4 applications of a roof membrane you can expect the project to last for a full week. In saying that, I have seen low quality roof restorations be completely finished in a little as four hours. A quick squirt with the hose and a thick coat of paint and they are done. Not an advisable way to complete a restoration, but possible.
How Much Does A Roof Restoration Cost?
How much does a roof restoration cost.
If you’re asking this question the chances are that you’re about to commence, or are in the middle of, obtaining quotes for a roof restoration. Roof Restoration is a massive industry in Australia and among our most popular home improvement projects. Done correctly he can make a huge difference to both the appearance and the value of your property. But like any major project careful consideration and Research should be done prior to engaging a contractor.
So exactly what is a Roof Restoration? What should be included in a Roof
Restoration? How long should a Roof Restoration take? And how long should a Roof Restoration last? And maybe, most importantly of all, why is there such a huge difference between the quotes I’m getting for a roof restoration?
The cost of performing a roof restoration on an average home can vary massively. It can start as low as $1,000 and exceed $20,000 in price. It’s these incredible variations in pricing that can confuse and confound consumers. So why is there such a massive difference? Why do quotes that seem similar have such ridiculous variations in costing? In this article we will examine what a roof restoration is, what some of the pitfalls are and how do to identify a professional job from a phoney one.
What is a Roof Restoration and what are the correct procedures?
Roof Restoration is quite simply the act of improving your roof. traditionally it includes cleaning, repairing and re-colouring the tiles. There are a lot of different ways to perform this task, some that will last, and some that won’t. Maybe the most important thing to consider and understand when you’re about to obtain your quotes is that not everyone, indeed, most, trades people in this industry are not skilled or qualified. You see, like most other trades related industries in Australia, Roof Restoration suffers from a lack of skilled trades people. The problem with Roofing, however, is that there is still a very high demand. This has, unfortunately, created a void that has been filled by sometimes less than savoury individuals. Well over half of the quotes you are likely to get will probably come from inexperienced and unskilled tradespeople. They can produce a reasonably attractive job initially, but are not capable of performing the more difficult tasks required on a quality restoration that need a skilled individuals attention. This is led to the industry having a bad reputation and many, many substandard jobs being done.
So let’s take a look at the individual steps that should be implemented in a quality roof restoration, and some of the corners that are cut with the less professional jobs.
Step one, replacing broken tiles and Ridge caps.
With a professional Roof Restoration usually any tile with a break in the corner that exceeds 50 mm, and of course split tiles, should be replaced. Any damaged or broken ridge caps should also be replaced. Tiles with minor chips in them can be relocated to the Blind side of the roof as they only have an aesthetic impact and will not affect the weather-ability of the roof.
With a less professional job, this simply isn’t done at all, or the breaks are just silicon and up.
Step two, pressure cleaning the roof.
Pressure cleaning is critically important to ensure that the roof coatings do not peel off. Very high pressure, at least 4000 psi, Is required so that not only the dirt and dust is removed but also the pollutants that accumulate on suburban roofs. Particular attention needs to be applied to the nose areas, or the more vertical section of the tile near the overlap, as these areas get less sunlight and are quite prone to moss and lichen growth. If this area is not thoroughly cleaned peeling of the coatings is almost inevitable.
With a less professional job, low power machines are often used resulting in inadequate cleaning of the tiles. The noses of the tiles are not clean correctly which leads to peeling. When a more powerful machine is used, with an inexperienced operator, the homes often become flooded because the water is applied at an upwards angle in an attempt to clean the noses of the tiles.
Step three, replacing rusted valleys.
The valley refers to the metal roof gutters that sit in between the opposing faces of your tiled roof. Any rust present needs to be either completely removed or the valley itself replaced. There are no products on the market today that can successfully treat or encapsulate rust. Anti-rust paints need to be put on to a surface that is completely free of rust, and rust converters are ineffective and the manufacturers do not offer a warranty. Valleys that are left with rust present in them will fail and cause the coatings to peel.
With a less professional job, paint is applied directly onto rusted valleys or, at best, an anti-rust paint is applied over the top, which will have little or no benefit.
Step four, re-bedding the ridge caps.
The bedding refers to the solid concrete positioned underneath the ridge caps. It is often confused with pointing, which is actually the exterior application that is applied over the top of this solid core. If this material is cracking or crumbling, or the ridge caps are loose, it needs to be stripped out and re-done. Most homes over 10 years old will require at least a partial re-bed, but generally all ridge caps should be stripped away and a new foundation of concrete applied. The mix of concrete is also very important. At least 25% cement should be utilised, and a good quality bricky sand used for additional adhesion. If this is not done you can expect the restoration, particularly along the ridge lines, to fail within five years as a maximum.
With a less professional job, the loose ridge caps and cracking and crumbling mortar is simply skimmed over and left unrepaired. In fact, with very inexpensive restoration jobs, the ridge caps are not touched at all, and the paint applied directly over the top of the old mortar.
Step five, re-pointing the ridge caps.
The pointing material refers to the waterproof compound that is applied over the top of the bedding. It is designed to seal the ridge cap and prevent moisture ingress from affecting the concrete bedding compound. Historically, a cement mix and an additive with high elasticity was used to achieve this. In more recent times a silicon type compound with a glassy sand is utilise for this task.
With less professional jobs, the pointing is either only partially done, or not attended to at all. In cases where it has been done often just a coloured cement, high in water content, is sponged over the top of the bedding to give the appearance of a smooth surface. This is very brittle and will generally crack within a few years.
Step six, applying a penetrative primer coat.
Concrete tiles can become porous on their surface. Applying a sealant or a paint directly onto the porous surface can trap air in the body of the tile. As the trapped air warms up, it can begin to expand and then contract again as it cools. This constant expansion and contraction over the years continuously pushes on the sealant or paint applied above. Inevitably, over time, the membranes will begin to bubble and peel. This is generally disastrous for your roof as nothing can be done to rectify badly peeling paint. Removing all of the paint can be virtually impossible, and applying wet paint over the top of peeling paint will just result in the wet paint peeling off as well. For this reason utilising a good primer that preferably incorporates both nanotechnology, for deeper penetration, and high adhesiveness, for superior bonding, is imperative. As a matter of fact, the application of a good quality primer, can result in a coating that simply can not peel. Weathering will eventually take its toll, but the actual coatings will be fused to the body of the tile. Providing the previous preparation steps are done correctly, your roof will only ever require a rinse down and a topcoat to keep up appearances.
Less professional jobs do not apply a primer coating at all. All restoration jobs that have not had a penetrating primer applied can be expected to fail sometimes within six months but definitely within 10 years.
Step seven, applying a high solids sealer.
A sealer coat is a thick membrane that should be applied over the top of the penetrating primer. Well this coat is not critical for longevity, it is essential to provide a superior finish for the topcoats. A good quality sealer coat should be very high on solids and is designs to be applied evenly over concrete tiles To minimise patchiness and insure a smooth and consistent finish.
A less professional Roof Restoration will either not have a sealer coat at all, or have a sealer coat applied directly onto the tile surface without a suitable primer. Occasionally a sealer is referred to as a primer/sealer. This term sounds like it could be adequate but is actually quite contrary. A primer penetrates and a sealer seals. It’s either one of the one or the other. It cannot be both.
Step eight, applying to UV resistant top colour coats.
The two top colour coats are the most important in terms of long-term aesthetic appeal. A compound that is a pure acrylic, with high grade UV stabilises, cross linked polymerisation, and good dirt pick up resistance is ideal for a quality long-term finish. Recent innovations in the roof coating industry Have also led to titanium based pigmentation which, while expensive, can last many times longer than a traditional roof paint. In fact, the manufacturers of these products, generally warrants their materials for 20 years or longer. While you are doing your roofing research it is best to discuss this with the professional company you have selected. Some questions should be considered. How long will you stay in the house? Obviously the longer you stay in the home the more you may want to invest on your roof restoration to achieve a quality job to minimise inevitable ongoing expenses. If you’ll be in your home for five years or less, a more medium grade restoration might be a better option as it should still be presentable upon the sale of your property. If you are selling in the very near future, you may not wish to overcapitalise on your investment.
A less professional roof restoration company will not go into too much detail about the coatings they are using. They will generally not ask any questions regarding your requirements and they almost never provide you with options.
Step nine, the all important cleanup.
Upon completion of work, the gutters and surrounds of the home should be thoroughly cleaned. The neighbours on either side of the property should be approached and asked if any dirt or roof related debris has entered their property. Roof Restoration can be a messy job and the cleanup is a very important part of finishing the job.
Less professional roof restorations will leave your home in a mess and your neighbours complaining. Over the years we found that this is one of the issues that tends to irritate homeowners the most.
So, after all of that, how much should Roof Restoration cost?
Well clearly, it’s more about how long is Roof Restoration going to last and whether it’s performed by a qualified tradesperson. Below is a guideline that you can expect to pay and the estimated length of time that type of restoration is expected to last.
All of the below pricing is based on an average single story suburban Melbourne home of 150 m² to 200 m² of roof area. In imperial measurements, this equates to a 15-18 square home. Obviously smaller, or larger, homes will vary accordingly.
Basic spruce up.
Typically comprising of just a rinse down of the roof and one or two coats of an inexpensive roof paint.
Approximate cost – $1000-$2000
Expected serviceable life – six months to 2 years.
Entry level Roof Restoration.
Typically comprising of a pressure clean, repair of the ridge capping (but not full re-pointing or any bedding), and three coats of paint.
Approximate cost – $2500-$4000
Expected serviceable life 1-4 years
Standard Roof Restoration.
Typically comprising of replacement of broken tiles, full pressure clean, Partial re-bed on very poor concrete areas, full re-point of all Ridge work, and three coats of paint.
Approximate cost, $3500-$6000
Expected serviceable life time, 3–8 years
Quality Roof Restoration.
Typically comprising of replacement of broken tiles, full pressure clean, replacement of rusted valleys, full re-bed of all ridge caps, Full re-point in a flexible Compounds and 4 applications of quality roof membranes including a primer and sealer.
Approximate cost, $6000-$10,000
Expected serviceable life, 8-12 years. After this period this type of job will generally require a rinse down and topcoat only to revitalise it.
Premium quality Roof Restoration.
Typically comprising of replacement of broken tiles, full pressure clean, replacement of rusted valleys, full re-bed of all ridge caps, Full re-point in a flexible Compound and 4 applications of quality roof membranes including a primer and sealer. The top colour coats will incorporate either heat reflective technology, titaniumbased pigmentation protection or both. The membranes will come with at least a 15-25 year MANUFACTURERS warranty.
Approximate cost, $8000-$12,000.
Expected serviceable life, 15–25 years. After this period this type of job will generally require a rinse down and topcoat only to revitalise it.
This is just a guideline only of course, there are many high pressure companies, particularly those that advertise heavily on television, that can come in at double or even triple the above pricing. In many cases, those exorbitantly priced companies, provide a very basic service that will not last for very long at all. It’s best to ask as many questions as you can and make yourself as well informed as possible prior to making a decision.
As we started earlier, it is imperative to discuss your situation carefully with an industry professional. It’s easy to fall into the trap of a seemingly inexpensive repair job that will ultimately cost far more in rectification works than would have a quality job. It is equally important not to overcapitalise on your investment if your personal circumstances might influence the actual requirements.
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