To help make sense of the processes and services we offer, we have provided this informative F.A.Q to help answer a selection of some of our most commonly asked questions.
Simply click on a question to reveal the answer. Please contact us to ask about our services and how we can help you with your roof.
1. What is a full roof restoration?
A full roof restoration is a complete renovation of your entire roof, leaving it just as good as new. The following steps are involved:
- Firstly, we clean your roof with a high-pressure hose
- We remove all the old bedding and replace it with new bedding
- We then apply flexible pointing to your roof
- We replace all broken and cracked tiles with new tiles
- We clean your roof and gutters of all debris
- Finally, we apply a primer, then a sealer and a colour coating
2. How long does a roof restoration take?
It normally takes between two and four days to restore a roof. However, as is the case with most manual labour, this estimate might be off due to factors such as the complexity of the job, the weather, or a vacation.
3. What is high pressure washing of the roof?
Using highly pressurised water (3,500psi) we remove all moss, lichens and dirt from your roof without using any harsh chemicals that may harm your garden.
4. What is bedding?
Bedding is a sand and cement mixture that we use as a foundation to hold ridge caps and gable tiles to your roof. We then use coloured flexible pointing on top of the bedding.
5. What is flexible pointing?
Flexible pointing is a rubberised compound that is applied on top of the bedding. The pointing is then smoothed out to give your ridge caps a sharp, finished look. Because the pointing is flexible, it won’t crack like conventional cement pointing with house movements. This gives your roof great longevity.
6. What is primer?
Primer is a substance that is applied to the washed cement roof tiles. The primer soaks and bonds into the tiles, giving them extra strength. Primer on tiles also makes a great base for sealer to adhere to. Primer on tiles also makes a great base for sealer to adhere to.
7. What is a sealer coat?
Sealer is applied after the roof has had a primer coating. The sealer fills up all the porous holes in the tiles, giving it a smoother look. A sealer coating also functions as a good base for the coloured top coat to adhere to.
8. What is a top colour coat?
The top coat we use for your roof is a colorised acrylic resin that is made with the highest quality German resin produced by paint specialists Rohm and Haas. This top coat has been proven to last over 25 years and is highly UV resistant. It is the best water-based product on the market and comes in more than 16 colours.
9. How long do roof coatings last?
Roof coatings have improved a lot over the years and can last very long. Our Premier roof coatings can last up to 25 years with minimal fading. Premier uses only the highest quality acrylics with German pigments that are the world’s best.
10. What roofing products do you use?
When restoring or repairing a roof we proudly use Premier Roof Coatings – ‘For the best roof under the sun’. Premier Roof Coatings are 100% Acrylic, designed to re-surface concrete roof tiles and ColorBond® surfaces and are also safe to collect drinking water. We only use the best quality roofing materials available, to ensure longevity in all of our work.
11. Can you also install roof guttering?
Total Roof Restoration can take care of all your gutter needs. We have a licensed plumber on hand to do all your gutter replacements at great value. If you need your gutters replaced as well as your roof restored or repaired, keep in mind that the guttering needs to be done first, as it can disturb some of the ridge caps on your roof.
12. What is roof sarking?
Sarking is a type of foil used as insulation and can reflect up to 95% of radiant heat away from your roof space on a hot summer day. Sarking also helps in keeping dust out and protecting your home during bushfires and storms.
13. How does a roof restoration add value to my home?
Your roof is a major structure of your home and one of the main elements that determines how your house looks. An old tired roof will make your entire house look old, while a fully restored roof will instantly make your whole home look new and appealing to the eye. It can add many thousands of dollars of value to the price of your home.
14. How do I know if I need a new roof?
The following are things that may indicate that your roof needs replacing:
- Missing, cracked or curling shingles
- Blistering or peeling paint
- Shingle, sheathing or siding decay
- Leakage in the attic after heavy rains
- Stains on interior walls or ceilings
- High energy bills
15. Why should I get my roof cleaned, repaired and restored?
There are a number of key reasons why customers repair or restore their roofs. These include:
- To prevent leaks and potential structural damage
- To repair broken or loose tiles as a result of the harsh natural elements
- To improve the appearance and aesthetics of not just the roof, but the whole house
- To increase the value of the home, often resulting in a greater resale price
- To protect porous roof tiles from excess water absorption, moss & Lichen
16. What about a commercial roof?
At Total Roof Restorations, we cater for all types of roofing repairs. Call us and discuss your roofing problem and we’ll do our best to solve it. Our main aim is to keep your business running with minimum disruptions
17. I have a minor leak, can you help?
Certainly! Although minor leaks may not seem like such a big deal, it is important to get them taken care of as significant water damage could be caused which may result in larger issues with your roof down the track. Don’t wait for the next heavy downpour, if you know you have some small leaks in your **roof get them repaired **as soon as possible.
18. What are the advantages of terracotta tiles?
Terracotta tiles are made of clays that are kiln-fired to temperatures exceeding 1000°C for strength with high colour retention, producing a tile with negligible maintenance requirements. Terracotta roofing retains its appearance with age, maintaining the appearance of your home over time.
19. What roof coatings do you use?
Total Roof Restoration use Regent Paints and coatings, experts in the roof protection industry. Regent Paints are 100% Acrylic, designed to re-surface concrete roof tiles and ColorBond® surfaces and are also safe to collect drinking water. We have a huge selection of 42 coatings for you to select from.
20. What is re-bedding and re-pointing?
We can re-bed all loose or misaligned ridge caps, gables and valleys on your tiled roof. We’ll then re-point all ridge caps, gables and valleys using flexible pointing and replace any rusted valley irons. Our re-bedding and re-pointing service includes the changing of all broken and cracked tiles, using similar sizes and profiles. To finish off, we’ll clean down your roof and remove all rubbish.
Take a look at this video for a demonstration.
21. How long does it take to complete a roof restoration?
The average roof restoration job takes us around 3 days to complete, weather permitting.
22 Do you work in the rain?
We can wash a roof in the rain, but the application of pointing and coatings has to be done on dry days, as they can wash off in the rain.
23. Do you work on weekends?
Yes, at Total Roof Restorations we work on weekends as well.
24. Do you give free quotes?
Yes, Total Roof Restorations gives free quotations for roofing work in and around Melbourne, Victoria. Our qualified roof tiler will come to your house to check your roof and give the best advice for your situation with a hassle-free, no-obligation quotation. At Total Roof Restoration, you’re dealing with tradesmen not salesmen.
25. Can you show me some examples of your roof restoration work?
Yes we can show you before & after shots of roofs that we have restored or if you prefer, we can give you some addresses where you can view our work from street level.
26. How much do your roof restorations cost?
All roofs are different, not just in size and shape but also the state that a roof is in and how many tiles need to be replaced. To give you a costing for a roof restoration, we really need to see your roof. But our prices are very competitive and represent great value for your money.
27. Do you make a mess?
It is unavoidable that things will get messy, especially when we high-pressure wash. But we assure you that the Total Roof Restoration team goes to great lengths to ensure your house and surrounding areas are left spotless. We also wash and clean your gutters.
28. Is your work safe?
There is always a certain risk factor involved in working on roofs. However, all our tradesmen and supervisors have been practicing work-safe procedures and meet all OH&S requirements, ensuring all our staff work in the safest possible conditions.
29. Is Total Roof Restorations insured?
Total Roof Restorations have public liability insurance to the amount of $10 million, giving you peace of mind in the unlikely event that there should be any damage to your property as a result of our work.
30. Is your work guaranteed?
A Total Roof Restoration gives you warranties of the different products’ manufacturers, as well as a 10-year transferable warranty on all workmanship.
31. How many colours can I choose from?
You can choose from more than 16 colours in our Premier range of top coatings for your roof. We can also make up any colour to match a supplied sample.
32. Are your coatings safe for drinking water?
Yes, the coatings we use are acrylic and water based and are 100% safe if you are collecting rainwater for drinking, so they are ideal for use on properties with rainwater tanks.
33. What other services do you provide?
In addition to complete roof restorations, we also provide all types of roof repairs, gutter replacements, valley replacements, scotia replacements and air spin ventilator installations. We also do re-roofs, roof extensions and new roof installations. See our roofing services overview page for more information.
34. Do you accept Credit Cards for payment?
Yes. We have an EFTPOS machine with us so that you can pay via Visa, Mastercard, Maestro or your general Debit Bank Card.
35. Will my insurance cover the costs of my roof repair?
Most insurance companies will only cover damage to your roof if the damage was caused by a storm, and in most cases they will pay for repairs only – not full roof restorations. Please consult your insurer for further details on your cover.
In case you haven’t found the answer for your question please feel free to contact us, our customer support will be happy to help you.
