The high-quality and lasting colour of terracotta roof tiles makes them an ideal roofing option for many homeowners. These tiles are resistant to water, fire, and harsh weather conditions. However, like every roof tile, terracotta roof tiles can’t last longer without proper maintenance.
For instance, since these tiles are made of natural clay, there are chances that lichen and moss will attack and weaken them.
If not treated on time, these lichens and mosses can continue to grow and damage the quality of your terracotta tiles Melbourne, leading to broken tiles and leaking roofs. You can fix leaky roofs and prevent internal damage by opting for professional terracotta roof restoration services.
This article discusses the signs that your terracotta roof needs roof restoration and the steps involved in restoring terracotta roof tiles.
Signs Your Terracotta Roof Needs Roof Restoration
The following discussed are some major signs that you might need to restore your terracotta roof:
Water damage
Water damage is common in older terracotta roofs and can be caused due to cracked or missing tiles. A terracotta roof is designed to last for an average of 50 to 80 years.
However, weather exposure and build-up of organic substances like lichen, algae, or moss can deteriorate tiled roofs, causing holes and other damages that allow water to seep through.
Weak spots in the roof due to water damage are the main signs that your terracotta roof needs to be restored.
Cracked roof tiles
Water can seep into even small cracks in the roof tiles and run down the inside of your roof, eventually damaging your house’s ceiling.
Ceiling leaks can further damage insulation, drywall, electrical wiring, walls, and the home’s structural integrity.
Without timely restoration, you’ll require new roof installation. You can save significant bucks by considering a professional terracotta tiles Melbourne restoration.
Missing roof tiles
Although terracotta roof tiles are designed to withstand harsh climatic elements, they can become loose and fall off over time, leaving homes vulnerable to leaks.
And if the roof tiles are missing for some time, significant damage could lurk underneath the roof’s surface. It’s better to have missing terracotta roof tiles restored as soon as possible to avoid potential long-term damage.
Damaged flashing
Flashing is a waterproof material that prevents water from seeping in through openings in the roof, such as chimneys, vents, and skylights.
If your roof’s flashing has been damaged, it can expose the solar roof vent, chimney, or skylights to rainwater and, thus, let water enter your home and cause leaks.
If you suspect your terracotta roof’s flashing is significantly damaged, get your roof restored immediately to prevent further water damage.
Step-by-Step Procedure of Terracotta Roof Tiles Restoration
Here discussed are the steps involved in restoring the damaged terracotta roof tiles:
Damage Assessment
A professional roof restoration expert will first assess the terracotta roof damage. Usually, they inspect the roof’s condition and existing wear and tear.
During the inspection, the technicians analyse the structure’s interior and exterior to ensure that damages are well documented. Based on their assessment, they’ll suggest whether reroofing would be enough or if you need a completely new roof.
Inspecting the roof’s condition properly is crucial to avoid the potential risk caused by missing, cracked, or broken terracotta roof tiles.
Applying anti-fungal solution
Application of anti-fungal solution on terracotta roofs can help prevent repeated attacks of lichens, algae, and mosses on tiles while maintaining the structure’s strength and durability.
During this process, the roof restoration expert covers even minor cracks in the tiles to prevent them from becoming breeding grounds for fungus, moss, and other microorganisms.
Roof re-bedding
Often, the bedding gets poorly affected due to wear and tear of the terracotta roof. You must change the bedding to preserve and support the roof repairs made during the initial roof restoration phase.
An experienced roof restoration expert for terracotta tiles Melbourne will always use an industrial-strength cement mortar base or any other suitable base to keep the structure intact.
A professional re-bedding strengthens the grip of terracotta roof tiles, avoids gaps and cracks to provide further insulation, and ensures extra protection from extreme weather elements.
Roof repointing
Professional roof restoration contracts will make mortar by mixing flexible compounds such as polymers, blended adhesives, and reins to repoint the terracotta roof.
The mix is spread over the roof’s bedding layer to ensure a firmer grip on the tiles. This way, the terracotta roof tiles are completely sealed with the bedding.
Repointing strengthens the structure and adds a layer of protection.
With professional roof repointing, you can protect the terracotta tiles from water and mould damage, seal roof cavities, reduce the risk of rust formation, and avoid water penetration into your house.
Re-sealing, re-coating, and re-painting
Re-sealing, re-coating, and repainting the terracotta roof is the last step of the roof restoration.
There are two types of terracotta roof tiles- glazed and unglazed tiles. These two types of terracotta tiles require different types of treatment.
For instance, an experienced roof restoration contractor will not recoat or repaint the glazed terracotta tiles as a coating doesn’t stick well to such tiles. On the other hand, they make sure to re-coat or re-paint the unglazed terracotta tiles to prevent fading and help them last longer.
FAQs
Q.1 Can I paint terracotta roof tiles?
You can paint terracotta roof tiles, but it’s not advisable as they are already glazed with special paint coating.
Q.2 How do you remove algae from terracotta roof tiles?
You can remove algae from terracotta roof tiles with a low-pressure mould inhibitor.
Q.3 What is the best cleaner for terracotta tiles?
You should use soap with warm water and a sponge to clean terracotta tiles.
Q.4 How many years does roof coating last?
A high-quality roof coating can last for 10 to 20 years.
Wrapping up it all
Depending on the age of your terracotta roof and its condition, you can opt for multiple options to fix it.
During roof restoration, you can also install solar roof vent. Sometimes, homeowners opt for
DIY repairs as a cost-effective solution to improve minor roof damage roofs but cracked or broken tiles resulting in severe water damage with time, necessitate roof restoration.
