Roof Restoration: 10 Frequently Asked Questions
Roof Restoration: 10 Frequently Asked Questions
Is your roof showing signs of age, wear and damage? Restoring your roof is an easy, fast and cost-effective way to completely repair, protect and transform your roof to lik-new condition. Here are the top 10 things you should know when considering a roof restoration.
1. Why do I need a roof restoration?
Your roof is the most important part of your house. It protects not only your home but your family within it. A roof restoration will protect your roof through a process of repairing, cleaning, sealing and coating your roof, returning it to its original condition and extending its lifespan by a minimum of 10 years.
2. Is it better to repair, restore or replace a roof?
Before you decide if you should repair, restore or replace your roof, it’s important to assess your roof’s age, condition and the extent of any damage.
While some roof damage will appear to be minor and if isolated can be repaired, there may be more serious damage happening under the surface.
A fractured tile can end up breaking and letting water into your home. Over time, heat, moisture and water starts entering the roof’s surface and very slowly rotting the timber away or causing plaster damage and mould growth.
In these cases, a simple repair may not fix the real problem and a roof restoration or replacement may be required. Having a roofing professional assess any damage and its severity means they can advise on the solution that’s best suited to your roof.
Regularly having a professional roofing applicator inspect your roof, assess the extent of repairs required and provide you with care and maintenance advice will keep your home protected for longer.
3. Is a roof restoration worth it?
A roof restoration combined with regular care and maintenance will extend the lifespan of your roof and provide long lasting protection.
The benefits of a roof restoration include:
- Longevity: A roof restoration can extend the lifespan of your roof. Look for a trusted roof restorer who can provide a warranty on product performance.
- Protection: With a complete roof restoration, your roof will be repaired, sealed and safeguarded from the elements. A specially formulated roof membrane like from Dulux Acratex will coat your roof and provide durable protection of your home and everything in it.
- Transformation: Your home will receive an ‘instant makeover’ with a roof that looks like new and the choice of a complete roof colour change to offset and complement the rest of your home.
4. Does restoring your roof add value to your home?
Restoring your roof can help improve your home’s value by providing protection from the elements, refreshing its exterior appearance and enhancing overall street appeal.
If you’re looking to add value to your home, the first thing you need to do is make sure that your roof is in good condition and it’s not going to leak. A roof restoration will ensure your home is properly secured from the elements, weatherproofed and protected before more serious damage sets in.
5. What should you consider when doing a roof restoration?
If you’re not a roof expert it can be tricky to know what to look for in a roof restorer or what’s involved. Before you do a roof resotration, here’s a few things to consider:
- Choose a supplier that can offer a warranty on product performance: A quality roof restoration will be backed by a product warranty, offering you the assurance that you’re getting results you can count on.
- Check the quality of products being used: The products your roof restorer applies will determine how well your roof is protected. The Dulux Acratex roof membrane formulation is regarded in the industry as setting the benchmark for the ultimate in roof protection.
- Compare costs and processes: It’s always a good idea to learn as much as you can about the roof restoration process, that way you can compare each roof restorer’s service, costs and make sure you’re comparing like for like. Read customer reviews and select a roof restoration supplier that is reliable and has a strong industry reputation.
6. Should you repair or restore a roof before selling your home?
When considering selling or renting out your home, repairing or restoring your roof can help appeal to prospective buyers or tenants, both aesthetically and by providing assurance that the building is structurally sound.
Serious buyers will often undertake a building inspection before considering purchasing a new home. If you have a worn or damaged roof, this can impact not only on the appearance of your home but its structural integrity.
A roof restoration will present your home in peak condition and ensure any structural concerns have been addressed before a building report is undertaken by a third party.
7. How do I know if my tiled roof needs repairing or restoring?
Terracotta is a naturally porous product that becomes softer as time goes on, while cement tiles will become more brittle over time. If you haven’t protected the material’s substrate, in time, nature will erode away at its surface leading to further damage if left untreated. Signs that your tiled roof needs repairing or restoring include:
- Loose roof tiles: Loose or missing roof tiles can cause leaks. If water has been allowed to enter your roof this can cause further internal water damage and structural problems.
- Cracked tiles: Cracked tiles can be an indicator of a roof that has become damaged with wear and tear and may have deeper issues that have formed over time including water penetration under the roof’s surface.
- Damaged pointing or cracked mortar: Pointing is the material applied over the cement mortar, also known as bedding, that secures your tiles to your roof. Fractured bedding or damaged pointing means when it rains, water can run down into cracks and inside your roof.
- Your roof is old: With age, tiled roofs will start to show visible signs of wear like colour fading, debris build-up and excessive moss, mould and lichen growth – all signs of damage that can weaken your roof’s surface.
- Watermarks on your ceiling: Dark spots on your ceiling or walls indicate that water has seeped into your roof and could be affecting your home’s structure. If you see these warning signs, you’ll need to get your roof checked out straight away by a professional who will be able to assess the true cause of the problem and advise how to treat the problem before further damage occurs.
8. How do I know if my metal roof needs repairing or restoring?
Colour fading and rust are both sign that your roof has seen better days. Metal roofs can be susceptible to a range of common issues, with signs that your metal roof needs to be repaired or restored including:
- Missing or damaged metal sheets: Strong winds, extreme weather, storms or hail can begin to show on a metal roof with broken metal sheets and missing panels signs of wear and tear.
- Stains on your ceiling: Dark patches on your ceiling can mean that your metal roof is damaged or leaking. It’s a good idea to take action as quickly as you can when you see internal leaks appear, as they’re the most common sign of roof damage and can lead to other structural issues if left for too long.
- Rust or corrosion: Rust or corrosion can eat away at your roof’s surface. During a roof restoration, rust is cleaned using a special power tool, and a rust prevention formula is applied to stop future damage from developing.
- Your roof is old: If your metal roof is past its use-by date and is starting to look tired, faded or has excessive dirt build-up or growth of moss and lichen, it could be time for a roof restoration. While some build-up of dirt and growth of moss is normal, over time debris, dirt and other materials can compromise and wear away at your roof’s surface. It’s a good idea to get a professional to assess the condition of your roof as they’ll be able to advise if there is other damage or underlying issues at play.
9. How do I choose a roof restorer?
When choosing a roof restorer, educate yourself and make certain that you can compare apples with apples. Look for a roof restorer who is following a system, has a solid reputation in the industry and will be around to back up any warranty or promises being made.
Here’s what to look out for when choosing a roof restorer:
- Do your research: Learn as much as you can about the roof restoration process to enable a comparison of each roof restorer’s service. Make sure you select a reliable roof restorer that will be around for the long haul.
- Look for long-lasting protection: Check how many coats of roof membrane will be applied as part of the roof restoration process. All Dulux Acratex roof restorations include a double coating of our exclusive roof membrane formulation with advanced polymer cross-linking technology for great looking, long lasting results.
- Check your warranty: Choose a roof restorer that provides a warranty on product performance and will be around for the life of the warranty in case any issues or concerns arise.
- Get quotes: Request a quote from a range of roof restorers to help you compare their processes and costs, and give you a taste for the type of customer service you can expect to receive.
- Look local: Find a roof restorer in your area by researching online or let us connect you with a roofing applicator in your area by telling us about your project here.
10. What does a roof restoration cost?
The cost of a roof restoration varies depending on a range of variables like the size, material and style of your roof, and starts from around $4,000.
To find out how much your roof will cost to restore, get a quote from a local applicator. Let us know your project details here and we will connect you with 2-3 local roofing applicators.
