Roof Restorations
Our comprehensive restoration service brings tired tile roofs back to life. From rebedding and pointing to tile replacement and valley repairs, we restore your roof to like-new condition.
What's Included
- Rebedding and pointing
- Re-pointing services
- Broken tile replacement
- Valley iron repairs
- Ridge cap restoration
- Full clean and paint
- Extend roof lifespan
A full roof restoration can extend your tile roof's life by fifteen to twenty years at a fraction of the cost of replacement. When tiles are structurally sound but the roof shows signs of age—cracked pointing, loose ridge caps, weathered surfaces, or water stains on ceilings—restoration addresses these issues comprehensively, returning your roof to like-new condition and performance.
Storm Coat Roofing provides complete tile roof restoration services throughout Gippsland. Our experienced team handles every aspect of restoration work, from rebedding and pointing to tile replacement, valley repairs, and final painting. We understand the construction methods used in homes across the region and have restored hundreds of roofs across the Latrobe Valley, West Gippsland, and beyond.
Unlike cosmetic-only approaches that simply paint over problems, our restorations address underlying issues first. We repair or replace damaged components, restore weathertight integrity, and only then apply quality coatings that will last. This thorough approach costs more than superficial treatments but delivers genuine, long-lasting results that protect your home and add value to your property.
Our Process
How we deliver quality results for every project
Comprehensive Roof Inspection
We begin every restoration with a thorough inspection that examines all aspects of your roof's condition. We check every tile for cracks, chips, or deterioration. We assess ridge cap condition, pointing integrity, and bedding soundness. Valley irons, flashings, and all penetrations are examined for rust, holes, or failed seals. We inspect from both outside and, where possible, inside the roof space to check for timber condition and any signs of past water entry. This detailed assessment informs our restoration scope and quote.
Tile Replacement
Cracked, broken, or severely deteriorated tiles are replaced before other restoration work begins. We maintain stock of common tile profiles and can often match tiles for older roofs, though perfect colour matching after decades of weathering isn't always possible—the coating applied later creates a uniform finish. Where tiles have slipped or shifted, they're reset properly in position. Any necessary flashing or valley iron replacement is also completed at this stage, ensuring the structural elements of the roof are sound.
Ridge Cap Rebedding
Ridge caps—the shaped tiles that cover the apex of your roof—are set into a mortar bed that deteriorates over many years. When this bedding cracks and crumbles, ridge caps become loose, allowing water entry and creating a significant leak risk. Rebedding involves removing all existing mortar, cleaning the ridge cap undersides and tiles below, and resetting each cap in fresh mortar with proper positioning. This is detailed, labour-intensive work that's essential for a watertight roof.
Ridge Cap Pointing
After rebedding, ridge caps are pointed with flexible pointing compound that seals the joints between caps and tiles. Traditional sand-cement pointing becomes brittle and cracks over time, while modern flexible compounds accommodate the movement caused by thermal expansion and contraction. Proper pointing is applied in a smooth, consistent profile that sheds water effectively and provides a neat appearance. This step, combined with sound rebedding, makes your ridge caps waterproof for many years.
Thorough Roof Cleaning
With structural repairs complete, we thoroughly clean the entire roof surface. High-pressure cleaning removes all moss, lichen, dirt, and residue, revealing the true condition of the tiles and providing a clean surface for coating adhesion. We clean ridge caps, valleys, and all roof surfaces. Gutters are cleaned of debris generated by the restoration work. The roof must dry completely after cleaning before coating can proceed, so we allow appropriate time for drying based on weather conditions.
Coating Application
The final stage is applying quality roof coating—typically two coats for proper protection and appearance. We use penetrating sealers where appropriate for porous concrete tiles, followed by membrane coatings that provide UV protection, waterproofing, and lasting colour. Professional spray application ensures even, consistent coverage across all surfaces. The result is a roof that looks dramatically better and is sealed against the elements for years to come.
Benefits
Why this service matters for your property
Extend Roof Life by 15-20 Years
A properly restored tile roof can remain serviceable for another fifteen to twenty years—potentially more with ongoing maintenance. This represents extraordinary value for your roofing investment. The structural elements of tile roofs—timber framework, battens, and tiles themselves—often remain sound for decades longer than the mortar work and surface coatings. Restoration renews the failing elements while preserving the sound structure.
Cost-Effective Solution
Roof restoration is a smart investment that addresses deterioration at a fraction of starting over. When the underlying roof structure—timber framework, battens, and majority of tiles—is sound, restoration renews the failing elements while preserving what's still good. This approach makes economic sense for most roofs showing typical age-related deterioration. We'll give honest advice during our inspection about whether restoration is the right approach for your specific situation.
Stop Leaks and Water Damage
Many roof leaks originate at ridge caps, valleys, or flashings rather than through the tiles themselves. Restoration specifically addresses these vulnerable points—rebedding and pointing seal ridge caps, valley iron replacement eliminates rusted-through sections, and flashing repairs stop water entry around penetrations. Comprehensive restoration eliminates these water entry points, protecting your ceilings, walls, and possessions from water damage.
Dramatic Visual Transformation
The appearance difference between a tired, weathered roof and a freshly restored one is remarkable. Moss stains, faded colour, and decades of grime give way to a clean, uniformly coloured surface that makes the entire house look newer. Ridge caps that once showed cracks and missing mortar now present a neat, professional finish. The visual impact of restoration often surprises homeowners who've grown accustomed to their roof's gradual deterioration.
Add Property Value
Roof condition significantly impacts property valuations. Buyers and their inspectors look carefully at roofs, and visible issues reduce offers or lead to price renegotiations. A freshly restored roof signals a well-maintained property and removes a major concern for potential purchasers. The investment in restoration typically returns value through improved sale price, making it particularly worthwhile for homeowners considering selling in the coming years.
Why Gippsland Roofs Need Restoration
Gippsland's climate accelerates the deterioration that makes roof restoration necessary. The combination of substantial rainfall, temperature variations between seasons, and strong winds that sweep through the region takes a toll on roof components that other areas don't experience to the same degree.
Ridge cap mortar is particularly vulnerable in our climate. Traditional sand-cement bedding develops cracks as it ages, and these cracks widen with repeated wetting and drying cycles. Water enters the cracks, causing further deterioration, while thermal movement works the mortar loose from the tiles. Eventually, ridge caps become loose enough to shift in strong winds, creating gaps for water entry. The heavy rains that characterise Gippsland winters find these gaps readily.
Valley irons—the metal channels that line the internal corners of roofs—face similar challenges. Original galvanised valleys rust over time, especially where leaves and debris collect and hold moisture against the metal. Once rust perforates the valley iron, every rainstorm brings water into the roof space. Restoration addresses this with valley iron replacement using modern materials that resist corrosion far longer than the original product.
Tile surfaces themselves become increasingly porous over decades of weathering. While tiles may appear intact, their capacity to absorb water increases, leading to problems with moss growth, increased weight on the structure, and potential freeze-thaw damage in cold snaps. Sealing and coating during restoration creates a waterproof membrane that addresses this surface deterioration.
Quality Materials for Lasting Results
The materials used in restoration work significantly impact how long results last. We use quality products selected for durability and performance in Gippsland's conditions, not the cheapest available options that might look similar initially but fail years earlier.
For ridge cap bedding, we use traditional sand-cement mortar with appropriate additives for flexibility and adhesion. The mortar mix is carefully proportioned to achieve the right balance of workability during application and strength once cured. We don't rush bedding work—proper curing time before pointing helps ensure long-term durability.
Pointing compound is a critical material choice. Traditional sand-cement pointing cracks within a few years due to thermal movement and shrinkage. We use flexible pointing compounds designed specifically for roof applications—they remain pliable over time, accommodating movement without cracking while maintaining their waterproofing function. Quality flexible pointing costs more than sand-cement but lasts many times longer.
When replacing valley irons, we use modern Colorbond valleys that offer far superior corrosion resistance compared to the original galvanised material. These newer materials are designed to last the life of the restored roof and beyond. Flashings are replaced with appropriate modern materials as required.
Roof coatings are premium Australian products with strong UV resistance and flexibility. We select products proven in Australian conditions, typically with ten to fifteen year warranties that reflect the manufacturer's confidence in their durability. The additional cost of premium coatings is modest compared to total restoration cost but significantly extends the interval before repainting is needed.
Why Choose Storm Coat
Local expertise you can count on
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about roof restorations
How do I know if my roof needs restoration or replacement?
Restoration is appropriate when the underlying roof structure—timber framework, battens, and majority of tiles—is sound, but ridge caps, pointing, valleys, or tile surfaces have deteriorated. Replacement makes more sense when tiles are extensively cracked or deteriorated, timber structure shows significant damage or rot, or the roof design causes inherent problems. We assess both options honestly during our inspection and recommend whichever genuinely serves your interests best.
How long does a complete roof restoration take?
A typical residential roof restoration takes between five and ten working days, depending on roof size, condition, and complexity. This includes inspection, repairs, rebedding and pointing, cleaning, and coating. Weather affects scheduling—we need dry periods for coating application—so calendar duration may extend beyond working days. We'll provide a realistic timeline with your quote based on your specific roof.
What's the difference between rebedding and repointing?
Rebedding involves removing ridge caps entirely, stripping out old mortar, and resetting the caps in fresh mortar bed. Repointing means applying new pointing compound over existing bedding—appropriate only when the bedding itself is still sound but the old pointing has failed. If the bedding is cracked, crumbling, or loose, repointing alone is just a temporary fix. We assess bedding condition and recommend the appropriate approach.
Will restoration stop my roof from leaking?
Comprehensive restoration addresses most common leak sources including deteriorated ridge caps and pointing, rusted valley irons, and failed flashings. Many leaks that seem to come "through the tiles" actually originate from these areas. However, if tiles themselves are cracked or severely porous, or if issues exist in the roof structure, additional repairs beyond standard restoration may be required. Our inspection identifies all leak sources before quoting.
How long will a restored roof last?
A properly restored roof should remain sound for fifteen to twenty years before major work is needed again, though periodic maintenance helps maximise this lifespan. The coating typically needs renewal in ten to fifteen years, but this is a smaller job than full restoration. Ridge cap work and valley repairs should last considerably longer if quality materials were used. We design our restorations for maximum longevity, not just short-term appearance.
Can you restore terracotta tile roofs?
Yes, we restore both concrete and terracotta tile roofs. Terracotta requires somewhat different techniques—the glazed surface affects coating adhesion, and the tiles themselves are more brittle than concrete. We use appropriate products and methods for terracotta, ensuring proper adhesion and a finish that complements the unique appearance of terracotta tiles.
Restore Your Roof to Peak Condition
Don't let a deteriorating roof compromise your home's protection and value. Comprehensive restoration addresses the underlying issues that cause leaks and damage, returning your roof to sound, weathertight condition while transforming its appearance. It's a smart investment that extends roof life at a fraction of replacement cost.
Contact Storm Coat Roofing today for a free inspection and restoration quote. We serve homes throughout Gippsland including Traralgon, Morwell, Moe, Warragul, Drouin, Sale, and surrounding areas. Let us show you what a difference professional restoration can make to your roof and your home.
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