SF ROOFING
Repairs & restorations

Your roof is the most important part of your home’s exterior. When your roof is in good condition it protects the people living in your home’s from the weather, improves the efficiency of air conditioning systems and increases your home’s value. This is why restoring or rejuvenating your roof is a good investment by ensuring it protects you in the future.

Depending on the age and condition of your roof, restoring it can involve general repairs and clean-up, performing maintenance, removal of organic growth and other processes that will ensure your roof is in good shape.

Roofs that are in poor condition can leak, shelter harmful growth (such as mould), become a home for animals, and potentially cause problems if you need to make an insurance claim. When your roof is no longer new and requires more than minor repairs, it is a good time to perform a professional roof restoration.

In some cases, a roof may be so old or dilapidated that a roof restoration is not recommended. This is typically the case when a roof has suffered significant pitting and erosion (and has become porous), where the material your roof is made of has reached the end of its useful life, the underlying structure (or substrate) of the roof has deteriorated to a significant degree or the cost of restoration is more expensive than replacing your existing roof with a new one.

If your roof is still in relatively good condition, however, rejuvenating your roof with restoration will extend its effective life and is a much less expensive option than replacing your roof with a new one.

A roof restoration focuses on repairing any areas where problems exist as well as refurbishing them and performing any required maintenance. The type of work required and methods used depend on the type of material your roof is made of and the extent of any damage identified. A roof restoration typically involves the following:

• The roof is thoroughly cleaned using a high-pressure spray process that removes any moss, dirt, mould or algae.
• Any damage found being repaired, depending on the material your roof is made from, can involve fixing or replacing broken tiles, repairing metal sheets and repairing any damage that is causing leaks.
• Depending on the type of your roof it can also include re-mortaring, re-pointing or re-flashing work.
• After necessary repairs have been made your roof is painted with a primer (required for older tiled roofs), and then repainted with your desired colour.

Rejuvenating your roof can extend its effective life between 15 and 20 years as well as improve its appearance significantly and can add to the overall appeal of your home. If your roof is no longer new, has some problem areas and is looking tired, a roof rejuvenation can be a great way of improving your roof’s effective life and appearance at a fraction of the cost of a roof replacement. It’s always best to consult a professional roofer when deciding whether your roof needs to be replaced or repaired; they will have the necessary knowledge, experience and skills, to help you make the right decision for your roof.

The cost of repairing your roof will depend on several factors, not least of which is the amount of damage that it has suffered and the material it is made from. Patching some small leaks, for example, will be less expensive than having to repair an entire section of roof that has become rotten. The size, pitch and roofing material can also influence the cost significantly; complex roofs with multiple levels and edges, for example, will cost more while the price can also vary depending on whether your roof is covered with tile, slate, shake or asphalt roofing material.

In general terms, it is always best to deal with minor roof issues before they become significant problems. A small leak left unrepaired, can rot an entire roof section over time. A roofing professional will be able to give you a quote on roof repair based on the work required, how complicated it is and the material your roof is made of. It’s a good idea to get several quotes to ensure that you get a competitive rate.

The amount of time required for a roof restoration depends on the size of your roof, the material it is made of, the season and weather conditions that pertain at the time and the extent of repairs required. The extent of the work can be impacted by the following:

• The roof is leaking (shown by dark spots or mould on the ceilings)
• Issues with gutters and down-pipes
• Presence of cracked, broken or porous tiles
• Roof paint has deteriorated and the colour is faded
• The roof is obviously sagging or there is damage in roof valleys
• Other obvious degradation or damage
• The bedding, flashing, or pointing is damaged
• Corrosion (such as rust) is visible around fittings
• There is moss or other plants growing in the gutters or on the roof itself

In general terms, and depending on the work required, it can take anywhere from 3 to 10 days to complete a roof restoration. All roofs are different and you should have a thorough inspection undertaken by a roofing professional before commencing work to get a cost and time estimate for the job.

Planning permission is generally not required for changes to a roof in a residential setting although you may need to check whether other permissions are necessary if the project scope is significant or involves large-scale changes to the roofline. While planning permission from your local council may not be required you must, however, meet building regulations when making major changes or replacing your roof.

Building standards are designed to protect the health and safety of people living in a building and define standards for construction, insulation and overall energy efficiency. This means that for re-roofing projects building regulations permission may be required but not if you are only restoring an existing roof.

The outside of a house is the first thing that a prospective buyer sees and the roof has a major part to play in the appeal of a home. A tired-looking roof that has obvious signs of deterioration can lead people to think that the interior of the home will be the same. This means that a roof in poor condition will detract from a home’s kerb appeal and can scare away potential buyers.

This is why a roof restoration will add significant value to a property. A good-looking roof with a fresh coat of paint can add more value to your home than other elements that a buyer does not immediately see. It has been estimated, for example, that a new or refurbished roof can add between15 and 40 percent to the asking price of a home. When you consider the costs of restoration to the increase in your home’s value it makes good financial sense to restore your home’s roof.

The success of your roof restoration will depend on getting the right roofing professional on the job. Your home is probably your most valuable investment and you want to be sure that the company you hire is qualified to perform the work, will produce a high-quality outcome at a competitive price and offers a service guarantee. Following are some things to consider when hiring a roof restoration company:

Hire a Local. It is always best to hire a roofing company that has experience in your local area rather than from another city or state. They will be up-to-date on local building regulations and requirements and also better understand any special roofing challenges you may face in your neighbourhood. In addition, they will be available should any issues arise after the work is done.

Check Qualifications. You don’t want someone that is not qualified to perform your roofing work. No matter how long they have been in business check the certifications and qualifications of the employees that will be working on your home. Also, make sure that the roofing company is properly licensed and certified by recognised trade bodies to perform the work and that they adhere to relevant quality standards in their trade.

Assess Experience and Reputation. You’ll want your roofing company to have strong experience in the roofing industry and to have a good reputation for results and customer satisfaction. Having experience means that they have already dealt with issues that could derail a roofing project and dealing with a reputable roofing firm means you’ll have peace of mind entrusting them with your roof. In general, you should choose a company that has been in the roofing industry for at least five years and with employees that have more than three years of roofing experience.

Check Customer Reviews. Once you’ve found several roofing companies with the requisite qualifications and experience you might find it difficult to choose between them. Good customer reviews can help you to separate the specialists from those that are less than reputable no matter how good they might seem. It is easy to check online for customer reviews, testimonials and satisfaction ratings as well as reading other customers’ experiences with the company before making your decision. Always check these thoroughly before making a final choice of the roofing company you want to hire.

Insurance and Customer Satisfaction Guarantees. Even when a roofing company has all the necessary qualifications and certifications it is good practice to check whether the roofing company has insurance for its employees. This can save considerable hassle if something goes wrong on the worksite and it reduces any potential liability you may have. Finally, see if you can find a roofing company that offers a customer satisfaction guarantee for the work they have performed.