Concrete Tile Roof Restoration

Concrete Tile Roof Restoration – Should You Restore Your Concrete Roof Or Replace it?
Concrete tiles are one of the most durable materials used for roof construction and restoration. They are made of cement, sand, and water mixed with the help of a machine to create a wet material that can be moulded and hardened. Concrete is commonly used for constructing houses because of its ability to withstand fire, strong winds, and other types of climatic factors.

Concrete tiles are economical, and they come in different colours such as red, grey, black, etc. to beautifully complement the style of your house. In addition to this, they have shown great results during earthquakes, and they fulfil seismic load requirements for building materials.

However, concrete tiles, much like all other materials, tend to get damaged or worn out over time. At that point, you want to replace or restore them. In this article, we will discuss how and when you should restore your concrete tile roof when it’s damaged. Make sure to stick around if you wish to find out more about roof restorations Melbourne and maintenance, their cost, and much more!

 

 

What Are Concrete Roof Tiles Made Of?

As the name suggests, concrete roof tiles are made of concrete. It is a thick mass that can be moulded into different shapes before it dries, producing a stone-like material.

Tiles made of concrete have ribs that prevent water from seeping inside. However, these are not to be confused with terracotta tiles.

The word terracotta comes from the Italian dialect and it means ‘baked earth’, as it is a type of clay-based ceramic. Their primary function is to keep your house mould-free.

Their distinctive colour is orange-red, and they can be a good option for your roof. However, they are quite commonly replaced by concrete tiles made to look a lot like terracotta.

Concrete tiles can come in different shapes, and they are usually painted with different colours for a more visual appeal.

Concrete roof tiles are even strong enough to walk on. It’s not something we recommend, but it makes your life easier when you or someone you hire needs to fix a damaged part of the roof.

 

 

 

Fun Fact;

Concrete Tiles can be used as insulation. When installed leaving a space between the tiles and the roof surface, it can reduce heating caused by the sun. – Wikipedia

 

Concrete Roof Maintenance

Concrete roof tiles play an important role in protecting your home from bad weather conditions. However, when bad weather conditions join hands with the old age of your roof, it gets harder for the tiles to stay intact.

Even though the longevity of concrete tiles is quite impressive, you can make them last even longer with proper maintenance. There are a couple of ways to do this:

• Regular inspection — Checking to see if your roof needs any fixing or maybe even replacement should be on your to-do list at least twice a year. It is recommended that you inspect your roof right before spring and fall.

The reason behind this is that there are many rain storms during fall, and depending on the area where you reside, there can be snow as well.

This is why you should check whether your roof can handle this before the onset of the bad weather. Once the rain season has ended, check to see if anything has been damaged.

We recommend you get a professional such as Vivify Roofing to do this work instead of doing it yourself.

• Keep it clean — Even though there is not much that can make your concrete roof dirty, algae or moss might serve as occasional visitors. Nonetheless, you can simply use water to clean it up.

Make sure that the pressure is not too high because that might do more harm than good.

• Remove debris — Tree branches, leaves, etc. can often be found on your roof. Make sure to regularly check this and remove them before they cause any further damage.

By doing this, you will be able to save yourself some money which you otherwise would’ve spent on repair expenses.

Moreover, it would be for the best if you brought in a professional to check if everything is alright with your roof every once in a while. Climbing the ladders or walking on the roof to clean it tends to be fairly dangerous, and it is best if someone who is trained does that instead.

 

 

Signs That You Might Need Concrete Tile Roof Restoration

Even though you properly maintain your roof by cleaning it and constantly checking for damages, it might still get to a state where it needs to be restored or repaired. Lucky for you, cement tiles are the ideal material for renovation.

Here are some of the main signs that concrete tiles on your roof need restoration!

Watermarks

If you notice any watermarks on your ceiling, immediately check the condition of your roof. Sometimes the tiles get damaged and the water goes through. It somehow gets to your roof and leaves stains all over the ceiling.

This does not only look bad, but if it stays that way, it can cause a lot more damage. Obviously, watermarks are a sign that there is a leak, and you can clean and paint over it, but unless you fix the initial problem, you will always find yourself struggling with this.

 

 

Dripping water

If there is a heavy rainstorm outside, and you see water drops seeping down from your ceiling, it is definitely a sign to call in the professionals.

Surely, you do not want to get into a situation where you’re putting buckets around your house. Not to mention that water dripping from your ceiling means that it is already in your attic, and most of the stuff there might be ruined. Taking good care of your roof can prevent this from happening.

Another problem is if water gets in touch with light fixtures. This is very dangerous, and setting this straight should not be on your shoulders but a professional’s.

 

 

Light Emanating

While you or someone you hired are doing the roof inspection, you might notice light coming through your roof. This means that there are cracks on your roof. These cracks can eventually become bigger, and even if they do not, the water can still leak through them, causing more damage.

This can even be a sign that your roof tiles are not placed properly. The inspection will uncover that, so you will be able to fix the problem in time i.e. before the next downpour hits.

 

Sagging Roof Ridge

A sagging roofline is not difficult to repair, but it is very dangerous and needs to be fixed on time. Make sure to hire a construction professional to deal with this problem before it gets worse. The sooner you fix it, the less money you will spend.

Furthermore, if you do not repair it on time, it might cause damage to the rest of your home and possibly injure somebody should it collapse, and this is very probable.

If the framework for the roof is built as it should be, fixing the damage should not be too difficult. Moreover, numerous reasons can bring about sagging of the roofline. Some of these are water dripping, poor construction, too much weight, and old age.

Do not ignore this issue, even if it’s in its infancy. If it starts, it will only get worse, so be responsible and mindful of it.

 

 

Damaged Bedding

Your roof bedding is a cement mortar where all of the tiles are placed. This is the most important part of the roof structure. It helps to keep the tiles in place, and subsequently prevents the water from going inside.

Unfortunately, it is subject to damage over time and needs to be replaced. This is called re-bedding, which we will touch upon later.

If your bedding becomes weak, the tiles might no longer stay in one place, the roof will start leaking, and overall, you will be dealing with much more damage than you started with. Your best course of action would be to hire someone who will check whether and how much replacement your bedding needs.

 

 

What Does Roof Restoration Include?

Once you have noticed any sign of roof damage, it is time for restoration. Simply put, a roof restoration is the process of cleaning, replacing, or repairing the tiles.

However, the overall process has a lot of steps that depend on the previous step to produce a fine result, which can end up requiring a lot of labor. We are going to explain how a professional will go about your roof restoration and the most common steps that are involved

Inspection

The first thing that the company you hired would do is conduct a thorough inspection to pinpoint every location where there’s damage.

They will inspect every part of the roof to detect any further damage. An in-depth inspection before actually doing anything is necessary to determine the most appropriate course of action.

 

 

Replacing the Tiles

The paid professionals are going to replace the tiles, either only the damaged ones or all of them (as per your requirement). This is to ensure that everything is the way it should be.

They will examine the watercourse to know whether or not your tiles can handle the pressure and that the ribs are effectively preventing water collection and weakening of the roof. Any cracks and leaks will also be looked at, especially the ones caused due to misplacement.

 

Cleaning

The professional you hired for restoration will clean your roof as well. They generally use water with adequate pressure that is suitable for the tiles, and that will not cause damage. This is one of the main reasons why you should hire someone to clean the roof for you.

A professional will know how much water pressure to use, which can be somewhere around 4000 psi. Roof cleaning will help you get rid of all the dirt and mould that are harmful to the tiles in the long run.

 

 

 

Re-bedding

As mentioned earlier, bedding is a framework holding the tiles. The bedding tends to get damaged, usually due to old age. At that point, it needs to be replaced.

For this task, we recommend you hire a construction company because the process is very demanding and potentially dangerous. The professionals must remove the entire old cement bedding and lay out a new one.

This process can take up a few days, but it is definitely worth it because you get safety and comfort in return.

 

 

Concrete Tile Roof Restoration Cost

When it comes to the cost of restoring your roof tiles, you need to consider many factors. Some of these factors are mentioned below:

• The size of your roof
• The price of the materials
• Labour costs

It will also depend on whether you would have to repair the roof, restore it, or replace it entirely.

A roof repair usually entails fixing minor issues with your roof. Whether it is a leak or misplaced or broken tiles. This type of repair is usually isolated to a small section of the roof while the rest is left untouched.

A roof replacement on the other hand, is the most expensive option and it is performed when the roofing surface is beyond repair – whether it is the age of the roof, leaks, sags or temperature.
It is not uncommon for some people to want a roof replaced just because they want to opt for a different material either.

A roof restoration is in between a partial repair and a replacement. it usually entails repairing the whole roof surface when the damage isn’t too severe.

The best way to get the most accurate estimate is to fill out our roof restoration cost calculator. Answer a few simple questions about your project and we’ll provide you with a straightforward quote.

Regardless of the price, you should think about your safety first and hire professionals to do their job. The last thing you’d want is to execute an incompetent repair in an attempt to save just a few bucks. Not to mention, it will only cost you more in the long run because a sloppy repair will definitely come back to haunt you.

 

 

Trust Vivify Roofing For Professional Concrete Roof Restoration

Roof restoration is a tricky and dangerous job. It requires the help of a professional because one wrong step could cause more damage that then spreads out across the entire roof.

Vivify Roofing are experts in the field of concrete roof restoration. With a 5-star rating on Google and over 15 years’ worth of experience in roofing, our professional team has what it takes to get your roof done right.

Reach out today on 1300 475 097 to get your roof restoration started.