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Best Time To Do Roof Repairs, Roof Plumbing, Roof Restorations and Roof Replacements In Perth

13/1/2019

 
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The best time to do any roof work is Perth’s drier months. It is during this time when there is obviously less risk of rainfall and therefore greater opportunity to complete the work uninterrupted. It is also the best time to complete any ridge cap work without risk of rain washing out any fresh pointing and also the best time to paint without delays due to slow drying roof coating times and unpredictable weather patterns common in the wetter months.

The drier months are really when all roofs should be prepared for the wetter months ahead to avoid any surprise roof leaks we commonly see when the first winter storms arrive. We also complete most of our roof plumbing, guttering and downpipe work during in the drier months to avoid the disruptions from winter storms. Not surprisingly, the wetter months are usually our busiest for repairs due to the number of leaks that develop so the drier months are a good time to get in early and complete any roof repairs, roof plumbing, roof restorations and roof replacements before the busy period kicks off.

Ultimately, it’s never too late as long as it’s not too late!
 
Don’t put off having your roof inspected, preventative maintenance is far better than waiting for a breakdown!
 
Call Kalamunda Roof Restorers for an obligation free roof assessment and quote on 0422469125, email [email protected] or fill in our Online Form

Perths Leading Roof Restoration Company

13/1/2019

 
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 Perth Roof Restoration Reviews

Based on the number of testimonials we have received from our perth clients over the years (click here to read) we here at Kalamunda Roof Restorers pride ourselves on knowing that we have served our Perth clients to the highest level possible. Our goal has always been our clients recommendation to their family and friends and the best way we know how to do that is to provide an outstanding service from the moment first contact is made, to the completion of the job and importantly, after care service. We are genuinely here to provide the best roofing service in Perth to our clients and the testimonials we receive are an honest reflection of this commitment.

When you choose Kalamunda Roof Restorers to care for your roof, you are choosing a company that you can trust to complete the work to a high standard, stand behind their warranty, and ensure at the end of the job your expectations are exceeded.

For professional advice and more information about our premium roofing maintenance, roof restorations and roof replacements in Perth, please contact the Kalamunda Roof Restorers team on 0422 469 125, email [email protected] or fill in our Online Form to request a complimentary quotation.

Tiled Roof v's Colorbond Roof

10/9/2018

 
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White Colorbond Roof Sheeting
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Dark Clay Roof Tiles
I am often asked the question, “If I was building a new house in Perth, what type of roofing material would I choose and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each”? Lets start with aesthetics. I personally like the look of clay roof tiles on a classic Hamptons style house and Colorbond on a more modern or even federation style house, but that’s just my opinion. So it really depends on the style of house you choose and your personal preference in color. White roof tiles in my opinion don’t look great, but white Colorbond does and visa versa, black tiles look great but black colorbond doesn’t, which again is my personal opinion. When it comes to the advantages and disadvantages of each roofing material, I think the best way is to just list them in a generalized manner as I have below:

Tiles – Clay

Advantages
  • Roof asthetically looks good
  • Tiles last longer 50-100 years
  • Tile colour doesn’t fade
  • Easier than metal roof to access roof space for electrical/plumbing work
  • Fire resistant
  • Don’t rust
  • Quiet when it rains

Disadvantages
  • Tiles break. Some tiles can break in places that are concealed by tiles next to or above the broken tile making it difficult to find.
    o  Solution - Tiles can be replaced and broken tiles that are concealed can take some investigation, but usually can be found by lifting all the tiles in the leaking area and inspecting each tile.
  • Fretting. Clay breaks down when in contact with salts.
    o  Mainly a problem by the coast or when solar hot water systems, evaporative air conditioners or pool heating leaks onto the roof.
  • Dust and leaves enter roof space.
    o  Solution - Use Sarking under tiles and valley/gutter mesh to prevent leaves entering roof space.
  • More prone to leaking compared to a metal roof.
    o  Usually tiled roofs leak due to neglect and lack of maintenance. A well maintained tiled roof should not leak.
  • Lichen and moss grow on clay tiles and can affect the appearance of the roof, the longevity of the tiles and also contribute to leak issues when the drainage channels / pans are blocked up with this growth.
    o   Solution – Pressure cleaning the roof at 3500psi every 5-10 years should keep the roof looking great. There are also other products that can be sprayed onto the roof every 5 years or so to kill the growth of moss and lichen so the roof continues to look great.
  • Ridge caps need repointing every 15-20 years.
    o   Solution - An unavoidable issue with tiled roofs, but ridge caps can be pressure cleaned and repointed with a flexible acrylic cement to seal up any cracks that have formed and keep moisture from entering the roof space.
  • Sarking. Sarking is the weather proof film that is installed under the tiles to help prevent leaks should there be an issue with the tiles. However, over time the sarking breaks down or gets holes in it from trades accessing the roof space or from vermin chewing holes through it. This then leads to areas where water can enter the roof space onto the ceilings.  When tiled roofs with sarking leak, the cause of the leak may be difficult to pinpoint as the source of the leak may be higher up the roof.
    o   No real solution for this apart from keeping vermin out of the roof by covering valleys and gutters with mesh, and avoiding trades accessing the roof space from the roof, which can be almost impractical when electrical or plumbing work requires access to confined spaces.
  • Heavy. Tiled roofs can weigh a lot, perhaps 10–15 tons for a standard-large 4 x 2 house. The problem arises when the roof carpentry is not done to standard, which then leads to sagging roof timbers and in some cases, in danger of collapse.
    o   Solution – When the roof is being constructed, the roof frame needs to be inspected by the building supervisor to confirm that it meets the building codes for tiled roof frames. It would also be a good opportunity to request additional struts be installed where possible to add support and strength to the roof frame.
  • Tiles cannot be used on low pitch roofs. Tiled roofs should be no less than 15 degrees, below which they are at greater risk of leaking. A good pitch for a tiled roof is around 25 degrees, above which looks great, but becomes more expensive to construct and is also risker to work on.
    o   Solution – ensure roof frame is 20-25 degrees to reduce risk of roof leaks commonly observed in lower pitch roofs. If a lower pitch roof is required a metal roof is recommended.
  • Tiles generally look better in a darker colour. This means they will be hotter in summer, but also warmer in winter.
    o   Solution – All roofs should have some form of insulation, so my recommendation for any tiled roof would be heavy duty sarking, as well as heavy duty ceiling insulation (eg batts). This will help insulate from the heat in summer and help keep the house from losing heat in winter. Also, to help evacuate hot air from the roof space in summer, I would recommend installing some solar exhaust fans or whirly birds.

Tiles - Cement

Advantages
  • Cheaper than clay tiles and can look just as good.
  • Can last just as long (50-100years) if maintained and restored at 20 year intervals.
  • Easier than metal roof to access roof space for electrical/plumbing work.
  • Fire resistant.
  • Don’t rust.
  • Quiet when rains.
  • Don’t fret like clay tiles.
  • Lichen generally doesn’t grow on cement tiles.

Disadvantages
  • Cement tiles generally break and chip easier than clay tiles.
    o  Solution – Broken tiles can be replaced, be careful when walking on the roof to minimise the risk of the weak corners from breaking.
  • Colour on most cement tiles is applied as a painted coating during manufacture and so the colour fades over time, eventually requiring a roof restoration. Some tiles are coloured with oxides in the actual cement, so should keep their colour / appearance over time.
    o  Solution – Cement tiles can be pressure cleaned, sealed and painted to restore their colour and prevent moisture penetration. This is generally required every 20 years and is an opportunity to change the colour of the roof is desired.
  • Dust and leaves enter the roof space.
    o  Solution – Use sarking under tiles and valley / gutter mesh to prevent leaves entering roof space.
  • More prone to leaking compared to a metal roof.
    o  Usually tiled roofs leak due to neglect and lack of maintenance. A well maintained tiled roof should not leak.
  • Moss (but not lichen) grows on cement tiles and can affect the appearance of the roof, the longevity of the tiles and also contribute to leak issues when the drainage channels/pans are blocked up with moss.
    o  Solution – Pressure cleaning the roof at 3500psi will clear away moss and debris, but this is generally only done on cement tiles in preparation for painting. There are products that can be sprayed onto the roof every 5 years or so to kill the moss but pressure cleaning is generally the best way to clean out the drainage channels between tiles. Also, when a cement roof is pressure cleaned, any oxidized paint will also be removed, so unlike a clay tile which doesn’t lose its colour, a painted roof will lose its coating over time and eventually require recoating.
  • Ridge caps need repointing every 15-20 years.
    o  Solution – An unavoidable issue with all tiled roofs, but ridge caps can be pressure cleaned and repointed with a flexible acrylic cement to seal up any cracks that have formed and keep moisture from entering the roof space.
  • Sarking – Sarking is the weather proof film that is installed under the tiles to help prevent leaks should there be an issue with the tiles, however over time the sarking breaks down or gets holes in it from trades accessing the roof space or from vermin chewing holes through it. This leads to areas where water can enter the roof space onto the ceilings.  When tiled roofs with sarking leak, the cause of the leak may be difficult to pinpoint as the source of the leak may be higher up the roof.
    o  No real solution for this apart from keeping vermin out of the roof by covering valleys and gutters with mesh, and avoiding trades accessing the roof space from the roof, which can be almost impractical when electrical or plumbing work requires access to confined spaces.
  • Heavy – Tiled roofs can weigh a lot, perhaps 10 – 15 tons for a standard-large 4 x 2 house. The problem arises when the roof carpentry is not done to standard, which then leads to sagging roof timbers and in some cases, in danger of collapse.
    o  Solution – When the roof is being constructed, the frame needs to be inspected by the building supervisor to confirm that it meets the building codes for tiled roof frames. It would also be a good opportunity to request additional struts be installed where possible to add support strength to the roof frame.
  • Tiles cannot be used on low pitch roofs. Tiled roofs should be no less than 15 degrees, below which they are at greater risk of leaking and cement tiles are more prone to leaking at lower pitch compared to clay tiles. A good pitch for a tiled roof is around 25 degrees, above which looks great, but becomes more expensive and also risker to work on.
    o  Solution – ensure roof frame is 20-25 degrees to reduce risk of roof leaks commonly observed in lower pitch roofs. If a lower pitch roof is required a metal roof is recommended.
  • Tiles generally look better in a darker colour. This means they will be hotter in summer, but also warmer in winter.
    o  Solution – All roofs should have some form of insulation, so my recommendation for a tiled roof would be heavy duty sarking, as well as heavy duty ceiling insulation (eg batts). This will help insulate from the heat in summer and help keep the house from losing heat in winter. Also, to help evacuate hot air from the roof space in summer, I would recommend installing some solar exhaust fans or whirly birds.

Metal roof – Colorbond or Zincalume

Advantages
  • Modern / archituctural look but can be used on older colonial / federation buildings.
  • Fire resistant.
  • Require less maintenance and are less likely to leak compared to a tiled roof.
  • No risk of broken tiles.
  • Anticon is used instead of sarking which adds insulation.
  • No need to repoint ridge caps every 15-20 years like a tiled roof.
  • Lighter in weight compared to a tiled roof so don’t require as much frame support strengthening.
  • Less gaps for leaves and dust to enter roof space.
  • Harder for burglars to break and enter through roof (apparently the roof is commonly used by burglars to enter a building.

Disadvantages
  • Screws require replacing every 20-30 years as the tend to be the first thing to go rusty.
  • Roof sheets corrode on underlap especially in coastal areas.
    o   Solution – This normally takes a long time for this to happen if the correct roof sheeting (eg Colorbond Ultra) is used. Roof sheeting can be replaced fairly easily.
  • Colorbond roofs will fade over time, especially the darker colours and require recoating every 20 years to continue looking good and help protect the metal base material from corrosion.
  • Metal roofs are hard to access the roof space from top (eg for plumbing/electrical work)
    o   Solution – Sheets can be unscrewed and removed for access, it’s just harder than removing a few roof tiles.
  • Lighter in weight - Although being lighter is an advantage, metal roofs must be tied down to the house walls/frame to ensure they don’t lift and blow away in strong winds.
  • Risk of denting - No risk of broken tiles, but risk of denting when people walk on the roof.
    o   Solution – Install heavier gauge sheeting , closer battens, or simply educate people/trades to tread on the screw lines.
  • Gutter guard and valley mesh - Gutter guard and valley mesh require adhesive strip or saddles to secure the mesh – these collect leaves where they join onto the roof.
  • Metal roofs are more noisy when it rains.
    o   Solution - Anticon and ceiling insulation significantly reduce rain noise.

Which Roof Covering Is The Best?

So overall, each roofing system has advantages and disadvantages and the list above should help give an insight into the pros and cons and help you choose what type of roof is best for you. If you are building a new house, you really have a great opportunity to select a roof that best suits your house from an architectural perspective, as well what’s best for your climate and location (eg proximity to coast, ease of access for maintenance etc). Whatever roof you choose, there is no such thing as maintenance free, so expect to spend some money over time to
keep your roof looking great and free from leaks.
For professional advice and more information about our premium roofing maintenance, roof restorations and roof replacements in Perth, please contact the Kalamunda Roof Restorers team on 0422 469 125 or email [email protected] or fill in our Online Form to request a complimentary quotation.

No More Roof Maintenance Problems With A New Roof In Glen Forrest Perth

17/5/2018

 
We have just completed a roof replacement in the Perth Hills suburb of Glen Forrest, changing from cement tiles to Colorbond. The owner no longer wanted the roof maintenance problems associated with broken tiles, cracked ridge caps and subsequent leaks and couldn’t wait to see them off the roof and thrown in the bin (hence the photo of the tiles in the truck!).
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Roof Replacement - Clay Tiles to Tin (Colorbond)

6/2/2018

 
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Swiss Clay Tiled Roof Perth - Major leak problems.
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New Colorbond Roof Perth - Manor Red Colour
Your roof is not meant to leak, period. But when a roof does leak it can cause significant damage to the building in which it is meant to protect.

We have just replaced a section of a tiled roof at Mazenod College in Lesmurdie as they had persistent and ongoing problems with the roof leaking. No matter what they did to address the issues, every year new leaks would appear. The main problem with the roof was the tiles.

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Metal Roof Restoration Fremantle

28/11/2017

 
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BEFORE - Faded Colorbond Metal Roof In Fremantle, Western Australia
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AFTER - Painted Colorbond Metal Roof After Roof Restoration
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Unsightly & Patchy. Colorbond Metal Roof BEFORE Roof Restoration
We have just completed another restoration on a faded Colorbond metal roof in Fremantle. The client called us concerned about the condition of his roof as the colour had all but disappeared in many areas giving the roof an unsightly and patchy appearance.  Our restoration work took the tired and faded roof back to its former glory and has extended the life of the roof for many more years to come.

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Colorbond Metal Roof Restoration - Perth

15/11/2017

 
A roof restoration is a great way to transform your tired looking roof, fix the leaks and extend its life. We can restore both metal and tiled roofing and make them look great again. We have just completed another roof restoration in Maida Vale, Perth, this time an old, faded Colorbond metal roof.

Read More

Perth Hills Roof Replacement - Colorbond Metal

6/11/2017

 
Perth Roof Replacement
Small section of roofing replaced with new Colorbond roof sheeting
We were recently called out to investigate a section of roof in the Perth hills that had persistently leaked for years causing damage to the internal rooms, despite being “repaired” by several different contractors. The roof and flashings were in poor condition and most of the screws were rusty. Also, the solar hot water system was due to be replaced and the associated copper pipes rerouted so they weren’t laying on the roof and causing galvanic corrosion.

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Spring Is The Best Time To Plan A Roof Restoration In Perth

24/10/2017

 
Roof Restoration Perth Hills
Roof Restoration Perth
Roof restorations, roof replacements, roof repairs and gutter replacements are best completed when we have nice sunny days, not too hot, not too cold and not wet. That’s why now is the best time to book in a free inspection and quote and get the ball rolling. Don’t make the same mistake as so many others do, leaving home maintenance on the sideline until the roof leaks in the middle of the stormy season and your unable to get someone to fix the problem immediately.

We have attended countless roofing leak repairs at the start of winter that really could have been rectified months earlier.

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Roof Replacement Perth Hills - Cement Tiles To Colorbond Metal

12/9/2017

 
Cement tiled roof replacement Perth
Old cement tiled veranda is uncovered.
Colorbond tin roof replacement Perth
A new veranda is constructed and Colorbond roofing in "Jasper" colour is installed.
Taking care of our home and property goes with the territory in home ownership. Your roof plays a vital role in the protection of your greatest asset and when it comes time to replace your roof, it’s important to engage the services of a professional team to complete the job correctly the first time.

Taking care of our home and property goes with the territory in home ownership. Your roof plays a vital role in the protection of your greatest asset and when it comes time to replace your roof, it’s important to engage the services of a professional team to complete the job correctly the first time.

Read More
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