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When is the roof on your Melbourne home most likely to leak? When it rains of course, so when does it rain the most in this fair city?
When is the roof on your Melbourne home most likely to leak? When it rains of course, so when does it rain the most in this fair city?
A roof leak can be caused due to a number of reasons, from overflowing gutters, to storm damage, to dodgy plumbing. Finding the causes of roof leaks and fixing them is incredibly important, as they can cause a lot of damage to your home and can even be dangerous. Check out our blog 7 major causes of a leaking roof, to find out what may be causing your roof to leak and how they can be fixed. Preventing a roof from leaking in the first place, or getting it fixed as soon as the problem arises is very important. If roof leaks are left unattended they will get worse and worse which can cause a lot of damage to your house. This will cost you time, money and even your health. Here are some risks associated with leaking roofs to your home.
Chimneys are often an overlooked part of the roof and many assume they’ll have no issues with them, but like everything they deteriorate over time and can cause chimney roof leaks. Chimney Leaks can occur for numerous reasons and can lead to major inconveniences in your home. Melbourne is no stranger to severe weather conditions, and masonry chimneys can be prone to water damage. Water damage can cause blockages to the chimney flue, damage the lining, and result in problems with bricks becoming loose and broken. Chimneys with water damage can not only be inconvenient, but also dangerous and impact the health of those who reside in your household.
The regular, heavy rain around Melbourne has left many homeowners with questions to ponder about the integrity of their roof. One of those questions, if your roof is leaking like a sieve, is should you get it fixed or should you go for a complete reroof? And if you do decide to completely replace it, should you use metal roofing or tiles?
If your roofing issues are simple ones to fix (e.g. fixing a few broken tiles, replacing ridge cap cement, or repairing roofing sheets that are lifting) then clearly you don’t need to consider a reroof of your Melbourne home. The repairs will be relatively easy and cheap to fix. and once they are fixed you shouldn’t have any more issues.
The reroof versus fixing discussion starts when there are several issues with your roof, some of which you may have fixed in the past. It could also be that your roof is old and nearing the end of it’s useful life. Or, potentially, it could be a relatively newer roof that was poorly installed.
At the end of the day, there will come a time for every roof when it is better to reroof than get it fixed. Not just better, but more cost effective. In some cases the cost of repairing can actually be more than reroofing., While in other cases, it can make sense to invest in the expense of a new roof than keep dishing out a few thousand dollars every few years just to keep an old roof from leaking.
The other major benefit of reroofing, apart from having all the issues fixed for good, is you’ll have a beautiful new roof. Unless you have a flat roof on your Melbourne home, a reroof will greatly improve your home’s street appeal. It’s like getting a face lift for your home!
Another benefit of reroofing your Melbourne home, is that it can be a great time to make some changes. For example, you may want to add a skylight or two to increase natural light inside your home, add a vent to improve circulation or change the colour of your roof.
Another change you may consider is to replace your tiled roof with a metal one. Why tiles to metal and not the other way around? While it can be possible to replace a metal roof with a tiled roof, generally a roof structure that was designed for metal won’t be strong enough to cope with the added weight of tiles. So, in general, if you have a tiled roof home now you can consider changing to tiles but not the other way around.
It’s also worth pointing out that there are other options you can choose when reroofing, not just tiles and metal, but these are easily the two most common options. So, which is better for your Melbourne home?
Here are some important points to consider:
At the end of the day, it’s really a personal choice. Both tiles and metal make excellent roofing and often the decision is based around aesthetics more than anything else.
Contact the reroofing experts
If you want to find out whether your Melbourne home needs a reroof or you are better to get it fixed, give Oats Roofing Maintenance a call on 0435 695 466 or organise a quote via our website.
Whether your Melbourne roof leak is caused by an issue surrounding a vent, chimney or skylight, or another issue altogether, the important thing is to get the problem fixed as soon as you can. Even a minor leak can cause damage. A leak that goes unnoticed or is not fixed for some time can significant issues to your home, perhaps costing thousands of dollars to fix.
Oates Roofing Maintenance are experts for all things to do with roofs. From fixing roof leaks and other repairs, to maintaining, cleaning and entirely replacing roofs. We can even rid your home of vermin if they’ve taken up residence in your roof.
Oates services all areas of Melbourne and offers free quotes. To organise a quote today, give us a call on 0435 695 466 or submit a quote form on our website. We’ll take care of everything for you.
The last week has perfectly encapsulated a typical Melbourne spring. Cloudless skies and mild temperatures one day, windy, cloudy and cold the next. And to top it off, around 50 millimetres of rain in a couple of days across much of the city. Where else would you want to live? While these variable conditions can be tough on us humans it can also be hard on roofs, which is why roof repairs are so common this type of year.
When you think about it (and we do, a lot!) roofs are pretty extraordinary things. From an aesthetic point of view, the roof is often one of the first things we notice about a house because it’s generally the largest surface area and can easily be viewed from the street. It can be the difference in having a home your proud of or one your ashamed of. Practically, your roof forms a vital defence against the elements and allows rainfall to flow to tanks or the Melbourne stormwater system.
Around Melbourne, there are many different types of roofing that you will see. Steel sheeting and concrete tiles are very common. Terracotta tiles, slate, asphalt shingles and other roofing materials can also be found. All these materials will do a great job – aesthetically and practically – however, over time issues can occur, particularly if maintenance is a bit lax. And in the case of a storm, the damage can occur instantaneously, with the falling of a tree, tree limbs or other debris.
That’s where roof repairs comes to the fore. Whether it’s fixing a leak, replacing a cracked tile, unclogging gutters or downpipes, or more major repair work, roof repairs are essential to keeping your roof and home in good condition.
Just in case you were wondering, repairing roofs in the Melbourne area is an essential service and can be completed during the current lockdown. So there’s no need to delay in getting your roof fixed (and you shouldn’t – see below).
During the pandemic we are completing emergency works, such as fixing roof leaks, repairing storm damage, cleaning and repairing gutters and downpipes, vermin removal and anything else that can be classed as urgent. Our work is completely contactless, as it’s all completed externally. Plus, we are adhering to all necessary COVID-19 guidelines, to ensure you’re safe and so too are our people.
See our COVID-19 page for more details.
Let’s face it, many of us fall into the “I’ll get onto it tomorrow” category. Tomorrow I’ll do the housework. Tomorrow I’ll make an appointment for the dentist. Tomorrow I’ll go for a walk or a run, or start that new diet. Often, tomorrow never comes!
But if your Melbourne roof needs repairs, it’s not a job that should be put off for long. Not fixing your roof when it needs repairs could mean that a simple and inexpensive job ends up costing you hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars:
If your Melbourne home needs roof repairs, Oates Roofing Maintenance is the team to call. We have more than 40 years’ experience in the roofing industry, are fully licenced and insured, are working from heights certified and are a family business. In addition, we offer free, no-obligation quotes. Plus, we work right across the Melbourne area.
Call us today on 0435 695 466 or organise a quote via our website.
It’s worth pointing out that roof repairs isn’t all we do. For example, we also completely replace roofs, conduct cleaning, maintenance and inspections of roofs and restore roofs. In fact, if it’s got anything to do with roofs, chances are we do it! See our website for full information on the services – including roof repairs – that we offer Melbourne customers.
With heavy and consistent rain a regular visitor to Melbourne of late, there are no doubt many people who have noticed roof leaks on their Melbourne home for the first time.
There are a plethora of potential causes of roof leaks – including damaged tiles, cracked tile cement and rusted metal roofing sheets – but common, overlooked issues are items such as skylights, chimneys and roof vents. All of these require sealing to prevent roof leaks, but over time these sealing materials can deteriorate or become damaged, causing a leak.
Let’s a look at these individually and in more detail, so you can perhaps recognise what’s causing a leak at your home.
Take a look at your roof from the street and you may see several ‘things’ or ‘small pipes’ coming from it. Without getting too technical, those things are called vents and they are used, for example, to remove steam and gases from kitchens and bathrooms.
Vents can be a common cause of roof leaks on Melbourne homes. Or more correctly, it’s not an issue with the vent itself but the sealing material that is used at the point where the vent exits the roof. If you’ve noticed a leak near this area and your roof materials (generally tiles or metal roofing) seem okay, the culprit is likely to be the vent sealing material.
There are a few common issues. One is the rubber material that is meant to create a tight seal between the vent pipe and the roof. With exposure to the elements, over time the rubber material can deteriorate and split and the next thing you know you’ve got a leak in your home. Other common causes associated with vents can come from waterproofing material, called flashing, metal parts and sealant.
Like vents, chimneys can also cause roof leaks in Melbourne. These can be caused by issues with the masonry structure, in the case of brick chimneys, or the metal structure, in the case of metal chimneys. However, the most common cause of issues with chimneys, like vents, is the sealing material surrounding the chimney.
In this case it’s the flashing or the waterproof material. Chimney flashings generally last a long time, but eventually they can rust and need attention. Another common issue is when flashing hasn’t been installed correctly, so even if your home or chimney is new, don’t discount this as a possible cause of a leak.
Skylights are terrific assets, letting light into dark rooms that don’t have enough natural light via windows. However, they can also let water in.
If you have a skylight that is leaking, if your skylight is one that opens, firstly check that the skylight is closed and check the weather seal where the skylight meets the surrounds in the closed position. If these looks fine, again the issue is likely to be the flashing or the waterproofing that forms a seal where the skylight unit meets the roof.
If you have a roof leak on your Melbourne home caused by a vent, chimney or skylight, it’s time to call in the professionals. While it is pretty easy for anyone with DIY skills to replace a broken tile and clean gutters, repairing issues such as a damaged flashing requires some extra skills.
This will generally involve removing the roof tiles or roofing sheets surrounding the vent, chimney or skylight, removing the old flashing and replacing it with new material. Once this is done, the roof tiles or roofing sheets can be replaced. In some circumstances, roofing cement and sealants can be used to fix issues, but this is generally only a temporary fix, before proper repairs are carried out later.
Whether your Melbourne roof leak is caused by an issue surrounding a vent, chimney or skylight, or another issue altogether, the important thing is to get the problem fixed as soon as you can. Even a minor leak can cause damage. A leak that goes unnoticed or is not fixed for some time can significant issues to your home, perhaps costing thousands of dollars to fix.
Oates Roofing Maintenance are experts for all things to do with roofs. From fixing roof leaks and other repairs, to maintaining, cleaning and entirely replacing roofs. We can even rid your home of vermin if they’ve taken up residence in your roof.
Oates services all areas of Melbourne and offers free quotes. To organise a quote today, give us a call on 0435 695 466 or submit a quote form on our website. We’ll take care of everything for you.
Oates Roofing and Maintenance is a family run business, specialising in leak detections, re-roofs, roof restorations, gutter and downpipe replacements.
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