Welcome to my blog, my name is Daisy. A few years ago, my husband and I purchased an old house which required a lot of work. We spent many weeks gutting the place and installing new flooring, painting the walls and clearing the garage space of junk. However, my favourite part of renovating the house was the roof. I loved climbing onto the roof to inspect the tiles, removing and recycling the broken ones and replacing the gaps with new tiles. I also learnt how to waterproof and maintain our roof so that we can avoid problems in the future. I started this blog to help others who are interested in carrying out restoration or repair work on the roof of their home.
Sky High: Repairing and Restoring Your Roof
Is Your Home 25 Years Or Older? You Might Need Some Minor Roof Restoration Done Soon
Hunter Prescott
Building standards across Australia have always changed along with the times and new information. The most visceral example of this for many people is asbestos; for a long time asbestos was used as an integral part of construction but now it is completely banned. While not as dangerous as asbestos, there used to be a different material used in the sealing of roofs. This was known as cement or sand mortar. Today it is widely accepted that this is inferior to more updated compounds which is why it is often advised to upgrade when possible.
What Is Wrong With The Old Material?
The old mortar that was used for decades was easy to apply and seemed to last a long time. However, as time wore on many people began to notice that the cement or sand mortar began to crack. These cracks would allow water and other grime into the mortar which would, in turn, bring mould. This mould would further deteriorate the mortar and allow more water in and so on and so forth. Eventually, the mortar would not keep water out of your home at all and many homes roofs began to leak when it rained. Still, there was no easy alternative for years until the mid-1990s which is why even if your home was built in the 1980s or early 1990s it still probably has the outdated cement and sand mortar.
Roof Repointing
Luckily, there is a very simple solution to this problem with your mortar: roof repointing. Roof repointing is the process of replacing or adding newer mortar to older cement and sand variants to reinforce them and your home. There are several different types of mortar that are used now, but the most common one is known as flexible mortar. Roof repointing uses this flexible mortar (or something more tailored to your condition) to patch up any cracks and reset the tiles on your roof. If you are starting to see leaks in the roof or have an older home, then you should definitely have an inspection of your roof done at the very least.
Is Roof Repointing Dangerous?
Working in high places will always carry some risks with it, but roofers are well versed in how to counter them. That is why you should never carry out construction repairs on your roof by yourself: always hire a professional. Roof repointing is not the biggest job in the world but it does require someone who understands the risks and has the equipment to minimise them. Most roof repointing jobs don't take too long, often only one or two days work, which means there is a lowered risk overall than a full roof replacement.
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