Any roof restoration begins with an initial inspection of the roof. There are many aspects of the roof to examine before deciding on what steps are needed to ensure you achieve the best results possible.

When we conduct the inspection we will look for the following;

• Batten damage -This can be noticeable when tiles have visibly sunk in areas and the roof line is not straight.
• Tile breakages – Leaks into your roof are highly probable if you have broken tiles. These need to be counted up so that new tiles can be installed.
• Tile surface – All roofs wear differently.  The older the tile, the more likely the roof tile is porous. Grainy and porous tiles (usually tiles of more than 40 years old) require a high build or filler product to be applied prior to sealing. This will ensure we achieve a great finish and a longer lasting paint application.
• Ridge capping, gables and valleys- These need to be inspected so we can determine the extent of repairs which need to be made. Loose cement that is sliding down the roof or areas where no cement is present at all, will need to be fully re-bedded. On some occasions, the cement may be strong and sturdy with only visible cracking. In this situation, flexipointing is adequate and long warrantees are offered.  
• Valley’s – The valleys will need to be inspected for any rust spots. Minor surface rust can be treated with a rust kill whilst deep rusted valley irons will need to be changed.
• Gutters – Gutters are also inspected. If they are found to be in poor condition it is optional on whether they get replaced at the same time as the roof restoration. It makes sense to complete these tasks together as on most occasions, the roof gets a little disturbed during the gutter restoration.
• Fascia and Scotia – Any wooden fascia or Scotia is inspected and should be repaired as part of the roof restoration process.
• Loose flu pipes – Any unused flu pipes can be taken out and the empty hole filled in with new tiles and battens.
• Lead Flashings – Lead flashings need to be inspected for signs of damage. Often, there will be cracks in the lead which get quite large if not replaced. Lead flashing which has full sun exposure has a life span of between 15 – 20 years.
• OH&S Requirements – Safety is a vital aspect of our roof restoration process. We install roof handrail as required or where any situations deem it necessary. Sometimes a safety harness is satisfactory.

Roof Restoration Process

1. The first step of a roof restoration is to make sure the job is safe and ready to be worked on. A JSA (Job Safety Analysis) is filled out prior to job commencement.
2. We then re-bed and repair all the ridge capping, valley’s and gables required. Any broken tiles are changed and unused flu pipes taken out. We make sure all the rubbish is removed from the roof and the gutters are cleaned out. We change any rusted valley irons at this point.
3. Next we Pressure clean the roof. This is a very important step as the roof restoration is only as good as the preparation of the roof tile. We make sure we clean every bit of grime off the roof tile and ridge capping. The gutters are rinsed out and the perimeter of the house is cleaned. Any areas of your neighbour’s properties that have accumulated gunk from the roof are also cleaned up perfectly.
4. Next we flexipoint all the ridge capping, valley’s and gables. One again, making sure the roof is left spotless in preparation for the paint application.
5. It is essential that we complete the final task when the weather is favourable. Wind, heat, rain, due and temperature can all affect the quality of the job and the ability to work at all. The primer is first applied, followed by the high build filler (if required) and the two sealer coats. Sometimes a customer may request more coats for longevity. We allow about thirty minutes to an hour to dry in between coats. We also paint some spare tiles using the same roof restoration process.
6. The roof is finally complete and a final inspection is carried out. Any hand rail is taken down and spare tiles are stored away for the customer.

**Please note that any duplication of this content is strictly prohibited.

Visit www.Guardianroofing.com.au for more info.

Some of the signs that a house requires re-roofing include leakages, colour fading and breakages. This procedure will help stop leakages, make your house look more attractive and also increase its value. Increase in value is important in the event that you may need to re-sell the house. A new roof on a home is a great investment. Though most house experts normally say the most important part of the house is the structure, for any layman what they first see is the visual exterior starting from the roof down to the paintwork and decking.

With the need to conserve energy, most building professionals recommend the use of energy efficient roofing materials like the roof tiles, which are manufactured using process, which do not require use of chemicals. So re-roofing and choosing your product, it is important to use environmentally friendly materials like the clay tiles, sand tiles or cement tiles.

Re-roofing a house is a procedure, which needs to be well planned. First one has to hire a roofing professional who will have to advise on how long the project will take, what materials will be used, and the total cost of the project including his terms of payments. In addition to that, one will also have to consider the prevailing weather since extreme whether can affect the job of re-roofing or even the safety of the person doing the work.

One also has to consider the costs of removing the existing roof. The existing roof will have to be brought down first in a proper way such that the house structure is not interfered with and also the costs will have to be taken into consideration. Building permits can sometimes come into play. A roof with a heritage overlay will need to be replicated or made to stick as close to its original design as possible. Also the compound can be made dirty in the process, which add an additional cost cleaning it

Before the whole project begins, the house owner will also have to consider how long the whole process will take so that he can get alternative accommodation for himself and his family, and work out what times are safe for entering the house. Most re-roofing jobs are conducted in 2 or 3 sessions with the roof being in a stable condition after the completion of each day’s work.

Colour of the whole house is also important to take into consideration while re-roofing. One has to choose a colour which matches all the other exterior features in the house, be it the wall colours, gutters, or the frames.

While re-roofing using the environmentally friendly materials, one needs to consider that while Clay roofing tiles are natural, they require more reinforcement which may mean that one may have to spend more. Roof Sarking may need to be used. But the good thing is that use of Clay tiles while will ensure durability. Clay tiles lasts for a reasonably long period of time

Here at Guardian Roofing we know that undertaking roof repairs and roof restorations as required and generally keeping a well maintained roof not only protects you and your family from the elements, but can also add much value to your home. We hire only the most experienced and skilled tradesman to look after your roof repair and roof restoration needs. We Undertake most aspects of an extorior restoration. Just ask us what we can do!!

The areas we specialise in are;

• Roof Repairs
• Roof Restoration
• Gutter Repairs
• Body Corporate Roof Maintenance
• Leaky Roof
• Metal Roofing and Tiled Roofing
• Cement Roof Restoration
• Terracotta Roof Restoration
• Roof Ventilation (Whirlybirds)
• Restoring Terracotta and Cement tile roofs
• Roof Restoration of Metal Roofs back to their original condition.
• New Roofing and Extensions
• Fence and Driveway Painting
• Fascia & Scotia Repair

Not only will a modern roof seal or roof restoration instantly and dramatically increase the value of your house, it will also give your tired old roof a fresh and long lasting new look. Most importantly however, a roof restoration will give you the peace of mind that your house’s most significant asset will be protected from the elements for many years to come.

We use only the best quality products, all of which come with substantial warranties. We stand by our work and go out of way to make sure you as the customer is 100% happy with our service.

If you have any roof repairs, roof restorations or any exterior restoration requirement and need to have one of our team members come out and inspect, please contact us now for a free quote.

Also visit www.guardianroofing.com.au for more info.

It is important to keep your roof secure and Melbourne Roof Repairs can help you do that. You may not realise it but your roof can potentially do a lot of damage if not properly fixed. Like a lot of repairs, doing the right thing in the short term can save a lot of trouble, not to mention expensive remedies in the long term.

As well as keeping you sheltered, the roof of your house drains water away from your home. Water damage in the walls can cause cracks and over time this can result in damage to your home and property. While it is possible to minimize this damage with gutter guards and water sealant around the home, over time weather conditions will damage your roof and affect effectively the roof deflects water.

Another potential problem can be things like moss growth. While this may not cause problems in the short term there is a danger the growth can spread to your gutters and the water course lapping of your roof tiles. This will block the water flow, resulting in long term water damage. This type of water damage is hard diagnose until the damage has been done.

Aesthetic value is something you should consider. New tiles can make the roof look like new and look much more attractive. If you are thinking of selling your home this is something you should consider as it can make all the difference.

Some company websites will let you contact them directly for a quote via their website. Ideally you should have them look at your house and get an idea of the task involved and any roof repairs that may be needed. Repairs can be done instantly while some can take as long as three days or more depending on weather conditions.

Shopping around for Roof Repairs Melbourne will help you get the best deal for your repair job. Avoid door to door sales people and anyone who asks for the full payment, especially in cash. With the right information and approach you can get the most from your roof repairs.

Also visit www.guardianroofing.com.au for more info.

 If your roof is getting old and worn, you are probably in the process of finding a contractor to help you fix it up. However, finding a good contractor to get the job done right and on time is certainly not an easy task. If you are looking for roofing Melbourne contractors and needs some tips to help you know what to look for, this article can help.

There are many reasons why you may need to fix up the roof on your home or business. It may be worn from age, it may have recently sprung a leak, or you might just want to spruce up the way your roof looks. Either way, you need to put in a lot of time and effort to ensure that you find a good contractor for your roofing needs.

Some people try to fix up their own roofs. However, this can is a physically taxing job that does require a good amount of skill. It can also be somewhat dangerous since the job must be done quite high above the ground. Never fix your own roof unless you are completely confident that you know how to get the job done right and can do so safely.

Many people simply go out and try to find the person who is willing to do the job at the lowest cost. This is not a good idea. You should never base your hiring decisions on cost alone, since this may result in poor work being done or an incomplete job. However, it is important to find someone who fits within your budget or is willing to work with it.

A great way to find a good contractor is to ask someone you know about who they hired for their roofing jobs. Friends and family members will be able to tell you who they hired and if their work was any good. You can bet that if they give someone a bad review with a good reason, you should not hire that contractor.

When looking for contractors, start by using the Internet to create a list of potential hires. Some of these contractors offer different services and levels of quality. If they do, you can use this information to whittle your list down to the suitable people for the job.

Never hire a contractor without having some idea of how good their work is as well as their sense of professionalism. To find out what level of quality each contractor provides, look for consumer reviews and testimonials. Former clients are a great resource and will let you know how much the job cost, if it stayed within the budget, how well the work was done, and if it was done on time.

When you have sifted through your list of contractors to just a few, you may want to start calling them to obtain quotes. To get an accurate quote, it will be useful to tell them what type of roof you have on your home or business and how much surface area there is. All quotes should be free and once you have obtained a satisfactory quote, you should go ahead and meet with that roofing Melbourne contractor to discuss all your requirements.

Roof Restoration
Tiled Roof: Cement Tiles (Atlas)

Job Cost: $3000 – $4000

Colour: Rivergum Green

Time Taken: 4 days

Number of Workers on job: 4

After initially inspecting the roof at the customer’s request, it was apparent that the roof was in need of a restoration. Cement was falling out in various places, the valleys were slightly rusted (surface rust) and the roof looked like it had gone un-maintained and without any roof restorations undertaken for many years.
A plan was made for the repairs needed and the materials and colour choices then chosen for job. Being a porous old Atlas tile, the customer was given the option of having a high build product used, making the job a four coat process. The high build product (Maxi build) is applied after the primer and fills in the un-even surface of the tile, in preparation for the two top sealer coats.
Without a filler product, the tile soaks up the paint and the finished result is not as glossy. The filler product will also extend the life of the roof coating.

Day 1.

Firstly, an initial JSA highlighted the fact that guardrail was to be installed. The roof was slightly over the height of three meters in some sections. We set up the guardrail according to manufactures guidelines.

The ridge capping needed repairing and re-cementing in some areas. The valley had a rust kill product applied to kill the surface rust.
Day 2.

The roof was then pressure cleaned and flexi pointed. The perimeter of the house was cleaned up, including the driveway and all windows ledges, gutters and fascia.
Day 3.

The Primer and the Maxi Build are applied. The weather is not ideal for painting and coats are not drying very quickly. It is decided that we wait a day to continue the roof painting applications.
Day 4.

The final two sealer coats are applied and the guard rail is taken down. The job is then inspected and any minor touch ups are made.
JOB IS COMPLETE!

The customer is very happy with the end result and pays the tradesman on completion.

People don’t often think of getting a roof restoration done as part of their regular home maintenance routine. Your home’s roof is often overlooked and doesn’t get a lot of thought unless something goes wrong. However, by the time you notice a leak or realise you have problems, you are usually way past the point of a small repair– you could be up for big costs and big headaches for large roof repairs.

The good news is that these occurrences can be prevented by knowing both when and how to have a good roof restoration completed so that your home is well protected.

Guardian Roofing are the experts in roof restorations. We use the latest products designed to achieve long lasting durability and a beautiful colour finish in either a gloss or semi gloss.

A roof restoration can be achieved in a number of ways according to different roofing surfaces.

A Guardian Roofing Roof restoration can transform any:

• Mossy, dirty or lichen covered roof into a brand new looking surface.
• Faded or flaky roof into a rich updated glossy looking covering.
• Old looking Colorbond tin roof into a brand new shiny metal roof.

We have long warrantees on our roof restoration coatings ranging from seven to twelve years. These premium quality coatings have been tried and tested.

The flexible pointing products we use for repairing the ridge capping, valleys and gables also come with extensive warranties.

We use ‘Flexi Point’, which is one of only two products designed to Australian Standards and come with a manufactures guarantee of ten years.

DON’T DELAY!!

Get your roof inspected by Guardian Roofing and ensure that your roof is in order and able to perform its function by operating in tip top condition.

It’s a good idea to have your spouting periodically inspected and repairs made at the first sign of any abnormal wear and tear.

Gutters can become blocked and can cause large volumes of water to sit stagnantly in those areas. This section of the gutter can quickly begin to start oxidizing (rusting).

Small amounts of water sitting in the one blocked area can also create a low spot in the guttering. This will ensure that even when the gutters have been cleaned and unblocked, there is still water pooling in that section, causing that rust and further lowing the spouting.

Rust from the guttering can easily spread to metal sections of the roof, which in turn can quickly become a problem.

It is important to note that the main cause for all gutter and downpipe problems is the accumulation of leaves and debris. Periodic cleaning of the gutters will help to keep the water flowing correctly, and small foreign build up will continue on down through to the storm pipes.

Having large down pipes of at least 75mm – 90mm is also recommended as they allow much more water down and prevent leaves from building up easily.

Keep an eye on your houses foundations. Once you detect dipping and bowing of your Fascia boards, you will probably notice that gutter is also holding water in that area. This can be caused by many things.

A regular occurrence with older houses is that the storm pipes in the ground (commonly clay) will crack or completely shatter. The water from your roof runs into the downpipes and stormwater drain only to leak into and around your houses foundation. The more the storm pipe is broken, the more water will escape into the ground. If left un-repaired, structural problems will become an issue.

Keep on top of guttering problems and perform regular checks and maintenance, and you will ensure that your roof will stay perfectly functional for many years.

A typical  full Melbourne roof restoration cost to an average cement tiled home can range anywhere from $2900 – $5800 depending on many variables. This would include repairs to ridge capping, valleys, and gables and a full re-coat of roof paint ranging from 3 – 4 coats. It is hard to quote a set price for any roof restoration without looking at the job as many factors need to be addressed.

People often ask me to give them a roof restoration cost over the phone; I will ask for a rough square count of the home and then offer a large ball park figure.

Here is a list of variables that need to be considered before a Melbourne roof restoration cost can be given.

Roof Height / Pitch

• Is your roof a single story or a double story?
• Does your roof slope at the front or rear requiring hand rail or a harness? Hand rail is often required and is MANDATORY to use when various hazards are identified.
• Are there hazards within 2 meters of your roof requiring risk control measures (hand rail) to be set in place?
• A double story roof restoration will require more labour involvement and thus, vary the cost.
• A steep pitched roof will require more paint which creates extra cost. It also requires extra care and extra safety measures.
• The roof restoration process is much slower as the pitch of the roof gets steeper.

Roof Area and Shape:

• A large roof will obviously need a lot more paint than a smaller roof. The roof restoration coatings we use at Guardian Roofing are very good quality, and hence cost us more than buying other inferior brands.
• If your roof has gables, they will require hand painting. This takes more time and is factored in to the roof restoration cost.
• On a double story house, care is taken when painting on the single section around the perimeter. We ensure that no paint is left on walls or windows. This involves the machine pressure to be turned down and drop sheets to be used adding time and cost to the roof restoration job.
• How many ridge capping, Valley’s and Gables does your roof have? The more repair work, including re-pointing, re-cementing, and supply of ridge capping and tiles that is required, the more time is spent on the roof restoration. The more materials that are used, the more the cost varied.

Products Used

• The quality of products that are used for roof restorations can vary significantly. There are many cheap products of inferior quality available being sold in Melbourne. These coatings can be purchased cheaply and the roof restoration cost can be kept right down. Guarantees for these products range from 0 to 6 years. Often price should not come into play when deciding on a good quality Melbourne roof restoration.
• It is important to use a paint that has a minimum guarantee of 7 years.  A good paint application will last a minimum of 7 years, providing that the correct roof restoration process has been followed. Paints that have higher warrantee periods such as the heat reflective NXT COOL ZONE (10 years) will cost a little more.

Condition of Tiles

• Are your tiles over forty years old? Having old roof tiles will often mean that a 4 coat process will need to be applied. This can vary a roof restoration cost. A product such as High Build is used. This fills in the porous holes and prepares the roof tiles for the subsequent top coats, giving the tile a longer lasting and top quality gloss finish.
• Where your tiles are newer or painted within the last 12 years, a 3 coat process will usually only need to be used reducing the cost of the roof restoration.
• Do you require Terracotta tiles to be painted? A terracotta tile can be painted. However, the products that are used in order for the paint applications to stick are quite expensive and add extra cost to a roof restoration. All terracotta roofs will require safely rail if pressure cleaning is to be involved.
• Are your tiles in new condition and you just want to change the colour? Then a simple clean and 2-3 coats is applied and minimal repair work is carried out. This can be very cost effective.

Are your Gutters, Flashing’s and Valley Irons in Good Condition?

• Do your valley irons need to be replaced? Are your flashings in good condition? Are you gutters in good condition? These are questions you must ask yourself before deciding on a restoration.  It is often a great idea to get all these done at the same time. It can save you money down the track on repairs where tradesmen need to come back and fix problems that could have been sorted out at the same time. Often, repairs to gutters and valley irons after your roof restoration will require disturbing your roofs newly painted surface. This will in turn need roof repairs and add extra expense.

Lastly

A roof restoration cost can vary quite dramatically between different companies. It is important to know the process involved in roof restorations and what each company have quoted for. You need to weigh up all your options, and don’t just look at pricing, but understand what each company is offering and the quality of products which they will using while conducting their work.

A WORD OF WARNING about those roofing companies that display their ads on street poles and other public areas!! They constantly change their phone numbers to avoid fines for displaying public adverts. Hence they are fly by nighters whose guarantees are worthless. We have attended many a call out to a restoration completed by these rogue companies. Roofs have been left in extremely poor condition with broken tiles left in, and in some cases whole tiles left out! We have inspected these roofs and found them to be of a highly substandard. Some of these repairs have cost the customers a lot more than the original restoration!!

At the end of the day, you don’t need to pay through the nose for a good roof restoration. To a certain degree however, you do get what you pay for. If you want a cheap job, go for the cheapest price. If you want a great, proffesional job and one that will last, do your homework and pick a reputable company who you think you can trust and who will be around long after your warrantee period has expired.