Tiled roofs are the most common roof across the Illawarra and the South Coast, and they fail in fairly predictable ways. Tiles slip or crack. Ridge capping mortar perishes. Valleys fill and rust. None of that is dramatic on its own, and all of it lets water in if it is left long enough.
Tile repairs
Broken, slipped and missing tiles get replaced with matching stock where we can source it. On older roofs an exact match is not always possible, in which case we will show you the closest option before fitting it rather than after.
Ridge capping, re-bedding and repointing
The mortar bedding under ridge and hip capping has a working life, and near the coast it is shorter than most people expect. Once it cracks, capping starts to move and water finds its way underneath. Re-bedding resets the capping on fresh mortar; repointing seals the joint with a flexible pointing compound. It is routine maintenance and far cheaper than what happens if it is ignored.
Leaks and valleys
Valley irons collect debris and eventually corrode. Penetrations move. We trace leaks back from where the water shows up inside, which is almost never where it gets in.
Where we stop
We do not touch gutters, downpipes or metal roofing. In NSW that is roof plumbing and it requires a plumbing and drainage licence, whatever the job is worth. Clearing debris out of a gutter is maintenance and we are happy to do that. Replacing or installing one is not, and we will refer you on.
Common questions
- Do you do metal roofing or guttering?
- No, and that is a licensing line rather than a preference. Metal roofing, guttering, downpipes and flashings are classed as roof plumbing in NSW and always require a plumbing and drainage licence regardless of what the job costs. We work on tiled roofs. If your job is metal or involves gutters, you need a licensed roof plumber and we will say so.
- How do I know if it's the ridge capping?
- Cracked or crumbling mortar along the ridge lines and hips is the usual tell, often with fine sandy debris in the gutters below. Bedding mortar has a finite life and the coastal weather down here shortens it. Re-bedding and repointing is a normal maintenance item, not a sign the roof is finished.
- Can you find a leak if you can't see where it's coming in?
- Usually. Water rarely enters where the stain appears, so it means tracing back uphill from the mark inside — checking valleys, penetrations, cracked tiles and the ridge line. We would rather spend the time finding the actual entry point than patch the ceiling below it.
- Is there a size of roof job you don't take on?
- Most tile repairs, re-bedding and repointing jobs are comfortably within what we take on. Larger roof work needs a licensed contractor in NSW, and if yours does we will tell you up front and point you to a licensed roofer.