When it comes to roof materials, tile roofs prove to be a very popular choice in Ipswich.
Aside from an attractive appearance, tile roofing is highly durable.
Tiled roofs are highly effective as thermal insulation especially for hot climates such as Queensland.
However, despite the durability of a tiled roof, because of the constant exposure to the elements, the tiles can deteriorate over time and real to cracked tiles or even broken tiles.
So, when you have a cracked tile on your roof, how do you fix your roof tiles when this happens? Here’s our guide to help you with tile roof repairs.
Replace broken tiles
Leaving broken tiles unfixed can lead to a leaking roof. Rainwater is able to get in and damage the roof structure and the inside of the house.
This makes roof repair more difficult and a lot more costly as well, when you consider potential damage to the inside of your house too!
You can conduct a visual check from the ground level and scan your roof for any visible damage.
Firstly, you’ll need to know the extent of the damage on your tile roof: assess your roof and check for broken tiles, how many, where, how badly broken.
Check for fallen debris such as tree branches or other objects from nearby buildings. The impact of these objects may cause tiles to break.
Replacing a few broken tiles is a small roof repair job which a roofer can do with a modest budget. If you can reach the broken tiles area with a ladder, and are experienced in doing so, you may be able to replace them. You will need the following:
- Your safety gear which includes non-slip shoes, gloves, and harness
- Hammer
- Pry bar
- Flashing cement
- Roof Tile adhesive
- New tiles
To remove the broken tiles and the nails holding them you can use a hammer. A pry can help you lift the top tiles to remove the broken tiles underneath.
Apply the flashing cement than the roof tile adhesive to install the new tiles properly.
Doing the roof repair job by yourself is cheaper. But it is highly advised to consult a qualified roof restoration service.
This is due to the safety risk that this job can impose due to heights, equipment and potentially making costly mistakes when trying to repair it yourself.
Realigning Roof tiles
Roof tiles can be misaligned due to the corrosion of the nails that hold them over time. They sometimes slide and may fall off all together.
It is easy to find any displaced tiles since they are the ones not in line.
After identifying them, see if you’re able to take a closer look using a ladder. Determine if you only need to reattach the roof tiles or if they are broken.
Reattach the tiles using flashing cement and adhesive then align them properly. Ensure that there are no gaps between the tiles where water can seep in and flow into the rafters and ceilings.
Re-pointing ridges
This is also known as ridge capping or re-bedding. Ridge capping provides safe roofing even in extreme weather. It ensures sealed, leak-proof, and a long-lasting roof. Over time the cement under the ridge capping deteriorates and needs replacement.
Re-pointing ridges include removing the ridge caps and laying a new bed of mortar mix. Once the mortar is completely dry, next is the pointing process. See to it that there are no openings where water or dirt can enter.
There are times that the ridge caps are not checked. Therefore, in doing a complete tile roof restoration, it is also important to inspect the ridge caps.
Sealant and paint
The next step is the sealant application. This provides added protection to your roof. It also acts as a bonding agent of your roof tiles and paint.
Try to find a penetrating sealant for a better grip. Apply more coats if necessary, to add extra protection. If you have an older roof, the more sealant application it needs.
Wait for the sealant to dry before applying the first coat of paint. Then when the paint is dry, apply the second coating to complete the roof restoration process. You can apply a third coat depending on your resources such as budget and time and size of the area that needs painting.
You may come to the conclusion that roof painting is better done all at once, this will enable a more cohesive look.
Select a roof colour based on your area. If you reside in a hot climate region, choose light colours. Light colours deflect the sunlight and regulate cooler temperature. On the other hand, if you live in a cold and shaded place, you can select dark shades to help absorb more heat.
Choosing the right roof colour improves the energy efficiency of your home.
Tile roof restoration is obviously preferred over roof replacement as it is inexpensive when compared to the cost of roof replacement. But if you think that doing the tile roof restoration is too risky for you because you don’t have experience in doing it, we recommend hiring a professional roofer to do the job because there have been countless accidents that have happened due to DIY roof restoration.
Contact your local roofer to get a tile roof restoration quote.
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