Reroofing Resources

• Peace of mind and knowing that your home is protected and there are no hidden leaks that could lead to expensive repair work.
• Reduction of long-term / ongoing maintenance costs.
• Improving or changing the colour, style and overall look of your roof without having to move
• Increasing the value of your home (and therefore protecting the value of your investment).
• Making sure your roof is sound is the first stage in the renovation process and fundamental to most extensions or additions.
• Restoration can extend the life of your existing roof

• When concrete tiles are new they have a colour coating that is both cosmetic and provides some waterproofing for the tile. As the coloured coating weathers away, the concrete tile is directly exposed to the elements.
• Concrete tiles are porous, meaning they absorb water. When the tiles get wet the water they absorb adds extra weight to the roof. As the roof changes between being wet and dry the weight of the roof varies and this can contribute to movement in the roof. Roof movement often shows up as breaks in the mortared ridge line.
• Erosion is another problem. A combination of environmental factors (such as flowing water, the freeze/thaw stresses in wet tiles, and the wet/dry cycle) can erode the concrete. This can result in concrete tiles becoming thinner and more brittle over time. Re-coating your tile guards against this erosion.
• The application of a coating will reduce the level of water absorption of the concrete tile and reduce further damage associated with this, extending the service life of your concrete tile roof. Without a re-coating the concrete tiles may become damaged beyond repair and a new roof may be needed.
• Recoating your concrete tile roof will also lift the appearance of your roof and add to your home's street appeal and market value

So have you looked at your roof lately?
Do you have hidden leaks?
Has your roof faded and lost its good looks?
Do you know what condition your roof is in?

This section will enable you to answer these questions by teaching you how to spot some early warning signs that indicate that your roof may need some attention.

Some of these warning signs will be visible from the ground while others will require you to get up on the roof and make a closer inspection. If you are uncomfortable getting on your roof to inspect it (or would just rather not go through the inconvenience) Gerard Roofs offers a free no obligation roof inspection service.

Click here to view a table of warning signs for different types of roof.

Algae, moss & lichen
Broken & cracked mortar
Cracked tiles
Holes
Loss of protective surface coating
Surface rust
Valley rusting
Water damage(ceiling, walls)

If you do not know what type of roof you have click here to find out.

Do you have any early warning signs? If so you need to do something about them because the longer you leave it the more chance there is for the damage and deterioration to escalate and the repairs to become costlier

• You want to change the colour or type of roof and improve the appearance of your home.
• You are planning an extension or addition that is going to require some roofing alterations.

If so, then you will want to know what roof renovation options are available for your house and its specific type of roof.

General Roofing Options - Including Advantages & Disadvantages:

MOSS KILL

Moss killing is a process of spraying a roof with a treatment chemical to kill off and stop the growth of moss, algae and lichen. If left unchecked they can cause damage to the surface of the roof and hold additional moisture on (and in some instances in) the roof surface.

From the time a spore lands on a roof it takes approximately two years for visible moss, algae and lichen to establish itself.

Moss treatment should be carried out every 2-4 years depending on the proximity of trees and the amount of shade a roof gets.

Advantages:

• Relatively inexpensive to carry out.
• Kills moss, algae and lichen to prevent further damage to the roof surface.
• Can result in some improvement in the appearance of the roof depending on the extent of the growth

Disadvantages:

• Localised treatment only kills moss, algae and lichen.
• Will not result in dramatic improvement in the roof's appearance so it may continue to look old.
• Does not restore surface coating or improve the colour of the roof.

REPAIRS

If you have a leak you can get a plumber or roofing company to look at your roof, identify the source of the leak and carry out localised repair work to prevent further leakage.

Advantages:

• The leak gets repaired and further water damage to your home caused by leaks is stopped.
• Can be a good remedy if the majority of your roof is in good condition.

Disadvantages:

• Materials used for repair work may not match the rest of the roof resulting in a patch-work appearance.
• It can be difficult to track down where leaks are coming from. This can require a trial and error approach which sees a roofing contractor or plumber making a number of visits and results in a costly repair.
• There may be other areas of the roof that are about to start leaking but are currently unidentifiable. When they do start leaking you must start the repair process over again - at a cost to you.

ROOF RESTORATION

Roof restoration is about completely restoring your roof and its surface coating. A roof restoration process generally comprises the following:

1. A chemical treatment to remove moss, lichen and algae growth and a water clean to prepare the surface for coating.
2. Minor necessary repairs including repairing and replacing damaged and corroded material.
3. Application of basecoat or primer.

Application of topcoat colour system.

Advantages:

• Revitalises the appearance of your roof, improving your home's street appeal and market value.
• Extends the life of your roof by restoring your roof's protective surface coating which protects the underlying roofing material from the elements.
• Reduces long-term maintenance costs.
• Peace of mind as most roof restorations come with a warranty or guarantee.
• Allows you to change the colour of your roof or (if you are adding an extension or addition) to match the colour of your existing roof.

Disadvantages:

• Guarantees and warranties are much shorter for re-roofing than for roof replacement.
• You are not able to change the type or style of roof that you have.
• If the condition of the roof is too bad you may not be able to restore it, or if you do decide to restore it the restoration may only last a few years before roof replacement becomes necessary.
• Only leaks that can be easily identified will be repaired.

RE-ROOFING

Re-Roofing is the process of replacing your existing roof with a new roof. You may decide to replace it with the same type of roof or a different type or style. Re-roofing can be carried out by removing your existing roof before installing the new one or by installing the new roof over the top of your existing one (this is possible with Longrun and corrugated iron).

Advantages :

• Peace of mind that your home is protected and that there are no hidden leaks that could lead to expensive repair work.
• Ensures one of the two critical features of your home - the roof ? is sound. If you also have a sound structure you are likely to have a sound house.
• Improves the appearance of, and adds a new dimension to, your home.
• Increases the value of your home and protects the value of your investment.
• Reduces ongoing maintenance costs as most re-roofs come with a substantial warranty or guarantee.
• Cost effective - Re-roofing is not a high cost in relation to the overall cost of your home.
• Allows you to change the colour, type or style of your roof and create the look and feel of the home you dream of - without having to move.
• If you are adding an extension or addition the new roof will match the roof on the original part of your house.

Disadvantages:

• Money - two to three times the cost of roof restoration

You may decide to get a couple of quotes. If so consider the following issues.

• Are they specialists in re-roofing and roof restoration?
• Do they offer a no obligation roof inspection and quote?
• Do they offer a known and reputable brand?
• Do they offer the products you would like quotes on?
• Are they an established / large company or do they have the backing of one?
• Do they have a good reputation? What recommendations, references and referrals have you been given?

The company will want your contact details and an outline of what specifically you would like a quotation for. They will then be able to arrange an appropriate time to inspect your roof and produce a quote. The roofing contractor will then collect all the information they need to provide you with a re-roofing or roof restoration quotation.

Generally you should receive a quotation back within two or three days of the roof inspection. The quotation should include an acceptance form for you to complete should you want to go ahead. If you decide to accept the quote and are not paying cash you'll need to give your roofing company more details for account opening purposes.

• Click here for information on the roof restoration market and companies.
• Click here for a comparison checklist for evaluating roof restoration companies.
• Click here to find out about Decragard Roof Coating System

When selecting a company be sure you know whether they will carry out a full restoration or whether they will just put on a coat of paint.

When you are selecting roof restoration contractors to get quotes from it is important that you consider a number of factors to ensure that you get the level of workmanship you are after (and have back-up in terms of appropriate warranties). Check whether the companies have been around long enough to have the level of experience necessary. Make sure they look secure enough to be able to honour their guarantees and warranties should things go wrong.

For questions you should ask when selecting a roof restoration contractor click here.

The cost of re-roofing varies depending on the size of your roof, the type of roof you have, the type of roof you are re-roofing with and the location of your home.

Gerard Roofs offer a free, no-obligation roof inspection service where we can measure-up your roof, provide you with an accurate quote and show you a range of product options. Just click below and fill in your details to register.

Click here to arrange a free, no-obligation roof inspection.

The cost of roof restoration varies depending on the type of roof you have, the condition it is in and the size of your roof.

We offer a free, no-obligation roof inspection service where we can measure your roof, report on its condition and provide you with an accurate quote for restoration. Just click below and fill in your details to register.

Click here to arrange a free roof inspection

Click here to view the roof restoration timeline.

When the roofing company receives your confirmed acceptance of their quote they will schedule a time for work to begin. As you can understand, restoring and replacing roofs is very weather dependent. A stretch of bad weather is likely to push your scheduled time back.

The roofing company you have contracted should keep you up-to-date with any changes. The roofing company you contract will advise you of the things you need to do in preparation for your roof to be restored or re-roofed. A professional roofing company will work closely with you to minimise any inconvenience and ensure that your property is left in the same clean and tidy condition that they found it in. They will advise you of the process they will go through to restore or replace your roof and how long this is likely to take.

To make you aware of the installation process and time comparison between roof restoration and re-roofing with different products we have developed the timeline below. Please note, it is a guide only. Your contractor should give you a specific timeline.

Re-Roofing Installation - Timeline Comparison:

• Existing Longrun / Corrugated Iron Roof
• Existing Decramastic Tile Roof
• Existing Concrete Tile Roof

1. The simpler your roof design, the lower the cost. A simple gable roof will be less expensive than a complex hip and valley roof of the same size.
2. Lower pitched roofs (15-25 degrees) are less expensive to install. Anything above 25 degrees will incur higher labour costs because of the steep pitch.
3. Resist the temptation to have a design that requires non right-angled internal and external roof corners. Labour and material costs increase where non-standard junctures occur.
4. Minimise small hip to valley areas (gussets) under 900mm wide as they result in increased labour and material costs.
5. Minimise the number of roof penetrations (skylights, chimneys etc) as these result in additional labour and material costs.
6. Two-storey houses are more expensive to roof than Single-storey dwellings because there are increased labour costs for working at height and because more structural support is required.
7. Use standard roofing products that do not require special flashings or accessories.
8. Use lightweight roofing systems. This will cut down on the cost of the structural support required.

Click here (link to document download - new window) to download the Gerard Roofs Brand Specification pamphlet/form. Click here (link to document download - new window) to download a copy of the Gerard BRANZ Appraisal Certificate.

Click here (link to document download - new window) to download Gerard technical drawings.

Once you've contacted your roofing company, and talked through the options (including profile, trim, and colour etc) you simply give the representative a copy of your house plans with the following information:

• Product options to quote (eg Gerard Colortile and Corona Shake)
• Accessory options to quote (eg Gerard Angle Trim)
• Both you and your and builder's full contact details
• The full site address
• Your desired timeframe for beginning and/or completing the installation

With this information the roofing company will work out the quantity of roofing materials and labour required to install the roof. Unlike some building products, roof costs cannot be worked out accurately only using the roof area. Instead the complexity of the roof design (number of ridges, hips, flashings, roof penetrations etc) can affect the overall cost. The more complex, the more expensive. Similarly, the roof pitch and the type of tile profile can affect the labour rates. Check out our tips on how to reduce your roof costs through better design. link

After four or five days the plans will be returned to you with a quote and a quote acceptance form. If you decide to accept a quote and are not paying cash you'll need to give your roofing company more details for account opening purposes.

Be aware that when it comes to installation dates, a roofing company generally needs two to three weeks notice (or even more if you are using a made-to-order colour).

Most quotes follow this format:

• Quotation value plus GST
• Any special notes on extra flashings, edge protection etc
• A drawing of a roof outline with dimensions
• Roof pitch and rafter spacing
• Company rep contact details
• Credit terms
• Earliest commencement date
• Terms of sale

Note: there may be an explanation of what is included without a breakdown of costs. This is the first trap you need to be aware of. The following looks at quotes in more detail.

Payment terms

This will need to be discussed and agreed upon with your roofing contractor.

Generally options include cash, payment seven days after completion, payment 20th of the month following or some form of finance such as AGC Finance.

Click here to view an example of a roof restoration quote ? Decramastic Roof
Click here to view an example of a roof restoration quote ? Concrete roof

	Decragard Roof Coating System	Other Roof Restoration Companies
Roof cleaning materials and labour	Yes	Yes
Repairs - materials and labour eg. Replace cracked tiles, replace corroded tiles, prime corroded steel, re-mortar cracked ridging.	Yes	Yes (note: compare what repairs are specified to be carried out between quotes, as quantities and areas of repairs may differ.)
Basecoat materials and labour (and texturing for Decramastic tiles.)	Yes	Yes (note: Check this includes texturing for Decramastic tiles.)
Topcoat materials and labour	Yes	Yes
Cleaning out gutters	Yes	Check that you won't be left to do this
Leaving site clean and tidy	Yes	Check that you won't be left to do this

It all depends on what product you've chosen. For Gerard Roofs it's simply a matter of confirming the installation date and giving your builder the check list below.

• Builder's Checklist (link to Builders Checklist in Building Tips section)
• Comparative Installation Timetable (link to How Long Does Installation Take, in FAQs)

For longrun products you'll also need to arrange for the roofing company to measure the trusses.

If you've chosen concrete tiles you'll need to decide whether or not to use special mortar.If you do you'll avoid a four week delay waiting for the house to settle but you?ll pay a little more.

If you don't, and use normal mortar, you'll need to ensure the fixers return to site in about a month to finish the roof.

Many roofing problems begin with the method of installation. For this reason only Gerard Certified Roofers supply and install our products. This means that we can offer you our warranty with confidence (it also takes the hassle out of roofing for the building contractor).

All Gerard Certified Roofers have excellent product knowledge and their installers are highly trained. There are over 90 Gerard Certified Roofer companies nationwide who can provide you with all the support that you need including roofing advice, colour samples, a list of houses in your area with Gerard Roofs and a free roof inspection and quote.

Click here to locate a Gerard Approved Installer.

Click here to arrange a free quotation.

Click here to view the timeline.

With Gerard products 14-21 days is notice required before roof installation begins. During the period prior to work commencing you should be provided with the relevant setup details required for your roof. See Builder Checklist.

The graph above shows the time frame for complete installation of roofing products from the time the builder has stood all trusses and fitted all necessary setup details (valley boards, ridge/hip plants, etc).