Sydney Roofing Repairers - Right and Wrong Roofers

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Little roofing tips that can save you time and money

“ ... All I want is a good and reliable roofer to repair my leaking roof. I don’t know what they do when they get up on my roof... so I have to trust what they do.”

We hear this statement often when we go out and provide our free quotes to do a leaking roof repair or for a colorbond metal roof replacement. And we hear this too when we visit people who are hurting from a previous relationship with a Sydney roofer who has ‘done the dirty’ on them.

So, if you are from Sydney, Australia...and you are searching for a good reliable roofing repair company to fix your leaking metal or tile roof ... or if you want to replace an old leaking roof with a new colorbond iron roof, how do you find the RIGHT ROOFER for you?

As with so many things in your life – this is not as simple as you think. You see, there is no ONE WAY. You may have success with one way and your neighbour may have success with another. You may use price, size of company, specialty, locality etc to choose your roofer.

But can I share a secret that I found.... ?

Very often, when I finish repairing a leaking roof or complete replacing a roof with colorbond roof sheeting, the client puts forward a request. “Do you know someone else good who can fix my ceilings/paintwork/rendering/gates etc”. This reaction is part of the secret that most people find to be successful in finding strangers that they can put some level of trust on. A person will ask people they know and trust for an introduction to others in their ‘sphere of influence’.

So what if you do not have anyone you know and trust ...who can introduce you to a good roofer in Sydney? Then you may need to put your trust in people who have ‘travelled the path’ that you are looking to take. You may take some guidance from ‘testimonials’ from previous clients.

... And at The Roofing Professionals here in Sydney, we do have testimonials. Some are on this page and some on other pages. And there are some that are more ‘private’. Use them to help you decide if you have finally found a reliable Sydney roofing contractor here that you want to check out further.

... But you will never find out if we are who you are looking for - until you contact us. If you want to a free colorbond metal roof quote, fix a tile roof problem or have a leaking roof, you can:

· Ring our main Artarmon office on 9439 6888

· Ring Jack Yuen (based in Strathfield) on (02)9746 0178

· Fill in the box below to place your enquiry

· Contact us via the ‘contacts’ page

CONTACT US AND EXPERIENCE THE ROOFING PROFESSIONALS DIFFERENCE

You can ring us on 9439 6888

or send us a quick email below

PS. There are more up to date information and videos on our 'LATEST NEWS' page.

Check it out

Are quotes free?

YES. They are FREE to you.

But they do cost us. These days, with time being so expensive and fuel prices sky rocketing, traffic jams, difficult access sites…..
It is costing more and more just to call in to look at your roof!

We don’t send just anyone. Only the best in our company will come out because only the best will be able to find the cause of the roof leaks or determine the best roofing solution for the customer and work out how to do the job economically and give you the best value!

It can cost us up to $500.00 to do a quote for you!

Because we do not believe that you should part with any of your hard earned money until we have earned it, we look at this cost as an investment in a potential customer who will help us grow our business. Not only that, you will like us so much that you will come back later for more and refer your friends to us because you don’t want to see them have a bad experience elsewhere.

It is our investment and your opportunity to check us out for FREE.

That is right! Just contact the Roofing Professionals and check us out at NO CHARGE!

Why a colorbond roof?

Colorbond is a brand name of a coated steel product produced by Bluescope Lysaght. This product is essentially strips (coils) of high strength steel that has been coated with zincalume and then upgraded with factory applied paint on both sides and (usually) a final finish coat on one side. These strips are formed by other manufacturers into different roofing and fencing products and sold under trade names as: corrugated, ‘custom orb’, ‘trimdek’, ‘monoclad’, kliplok’, ‘speed deck’, ‘kingklip’ ……

For many commercial roofs, the unpainted zincalume roofing sheets are used. This is because of economy. A roof with colorbond material will look better and will outlast a zincalume one. Colorbond is the choice for most homeowners because there is not a big cost difference to get to pick your colour to match the rest of the house and to have it last longer.

Colorbond roofs in the different profiles has taken the imagination of homeowners and architects looking for a difference. It is lightweight. It can be used in more situations than the traditional tiled roof and the look is very modern. For flat roofs (apart from a membrane roof), the use of metal roof sheets is the only viable roofing option. So why not upgrade to a colorbond flat roof. It can be used in pitches from 1 degree to 90 degrees and can offer better thermal qualities with the effective use of insulation directly under the roof sheets. This insulation also has the benefit of reducing the noise of raindrops – although most people do not notice this noise as being obtrusive.
More people are choosing to get rid of the dull boring tiled roof and replacing it with a colorbond one.

Just like this house!

We get many queries about the advantages of colorbond roofs over tiled roofs. While both types of roofing material have their merits, we have been replacing many tiled roofs with colorbond mainly because the tiled roofs leak. A combination of trees dropping leaves and debris onto the tiled roofs and a low pitch of 25 degrees and less is a recipe for ongoing roof leaks that only a colorbond roof can solve.

...And for more insider tips on colorbond roofs... like cost of colorbond roofs, thickness of colorbond roofs, ULTRA colorbond etc...visit our latest news page.NOW.

...And of course, when you choose the material for the hardest working part of the roof --- THE GUTTERS and DOWNPIPES, do not even think of using anything but colorbond. This is especially true for box gutters. For more on box gutters, see our latest news section.

Use zincalume on your gutters...and you will end up replacing them well before the roof. This is wasting money!

I want to replace my roof

There are many reasons to consider a roof replacement

The roof is leaking and not economical to repair.
The roof is not functioning correctly.
The roof tiles let in too much dust and is too hot.
The roof does not look good.
You are extending and want a uniform look.

Whatever your reasons, we know enough about all the various options that we can work something out to suit your needs. Over half of our work involves replacement of roofs with colorbond metal roofs.

What about gutters and downpipes?

Whilst we do not specialise in eaves gutters and downpipes, we offer this service to customers normally in conjunction with our roof repair or replacement work.

Our customers find it more convenient for us to provide this service and we get a better, integrated result.

...But if you have a box gutter, then it is a different story.

Leaking box gutters can cause a lot of damage to the interior of a building. Installation and replacement of box gutters are quite complicated and we thrive on this sort of challenging work. So if your box gutter leaks, or overflows during heavy rain... we can solve it for you.

What to do with an asbestos roof?

The logical answer is to do nothing!
Asbestos cement roofing contains asbestos fibres bonded into a cement matrix. Keep it in there and there are no dangerous fibres to breathe in.
The problem occurs when the old asbestos cement roofing starts to crack and leak. Workcover discourages repair work. So it usually means that a roof replacement job by the Roofing Professionals is the best option. A zincalume or colorbond roof is the best option for an asbestos roof replacement ... and do not forget to put insulation under the new roof!

Keep in mind that the disposal of the asbestos is very expensive and can even work out to be up to $50 per square metre to 'get rid of'...

How dangerous is asbestos?

The answer is to put into perspective the potential harm to our bodies by the exposure to asbestos fibres.
Passive and active smoking, overeating, lack of exercise, under nourishment, self induced stress, air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution………are all dangerous to our bodies. Asbestos is a natural substance with useful features. Unfortunately, asbestos fibres are not meant to be inhaled into our lungs at any great quantity. Our lungs cannot get rid of them efficiently and it clogs the tubes, leading to reduced breathing capacity. This does not kill you. It just cuts down your lung capacity much like the other types of substances that we are exposed to and have to breathe in.

Asbestos in your lungs can also cause lung cancer. Just as smoking (either active or passive) can cause lung cancer. Yet not all smokers get lung cancer. Same with asbestos.

What is the answer? Be sensible with your dealings with asbestos. Learn more about it if you will be exposed to it in large quantities. And it is no more dangerous than most other things in our lives.

How long will my roof last?

Bluescope Lysaght guarantees their colorbond for 25 years. CSR has a 50 year warranty on their concrete and terracotta tiles. In reality, we have seen roofs of lower specifications last much longer than those time periods.

Built properly, a roof usually spans almost a lifetime.
But then, we have seen roofs last only as long as it takes for the next storm to arrive! We get calls from people who have leaky roofs and when asked how old the roof is, there is an awkward silence. Then ‘brand new…..a few months old….not too old’ comes back as the answer.

The serviceability and durability of the roof depends on how the materials are put together. That is why the manufacturer’s warranties always state that their products must be installed to their specifications in order for their material warranty to be valid.

The secret to a long lasting roof? Get it done by the roofing professionals.

I have a minor leak

A minor leak may mean a minor repair is required. Or that it is a sign that some major repair work will soon be required.

Do not wait for it to rain before you contact us. When it rains, it seems like everyone is reminded that they have not attended to the minor problem that they know they have. And that they hope will go away by itself! We get so many calls after a storm that we have to set priorities and we will take a long time to get back to you. You could end up getting less attention and paying a higher price.

Don’t wait for the next rains. Contact us as soon as possible, and if it is in a dry period, you will quite likely get a better deal.

Sometimes a minor leak is a sign of something more sinister. It will not go away. It can only get worst!

Often, what seems quite OK on the surface is hiding something underneath. We find one major problem causing premature roof failure is caused by the incorrect use of different materials together....

to find out MORE click here to go to roof repair - electrolysis

What about a commercial roof?

A roof is a roof. We do lots of roofs for shops, warehouses, strata units etc.
Most of these roofs are metal and it is in this area that we really excel. We work either through a managing agent or directly with the owner. Our main aim is to keep the occupant's business running with minimum disruptions.

Do I need my roof cleaned and painted?

It depends.
If you want it to last longer, then a clean and paint will be wasting most of the money you spend.
If you have money to spare and want a good looking roof, then by all means get it done professionally. Do not get a cheap job. It will end up costing you more money in the long run.

Can slate roofs be repaired?

It depends.
Most slate roofs are very old because there are not a lot of slate roofs being installed nowadays due to the high cost and lack of flexibility. When slates get old they lose their hardness, especially at the point where they are nailed to the support battens. The slates then work themselves loose and slide out of their spot, leaving a hole in your roof! They can be pushed back into their original position but will need alternative ways of holding it in place. Copper wires, metal hooks and even the trusty silicone sealant have been used successfully.

It is when a lot of slates start slipping and the slates are so soft that it breaks and cracks underfoot that a repair becomes uneconomical. It is usually time for a new colorbond roof.

I can’t keep leaves out of my gutters

This is a problem when you have trees over or near your roof.
Do not use the plastic coils that are sold in hardware outlets. They keep the leaves in your gutters and prevent the efficient flow of rainwater. You need special gutters or effective gutter protection that covers the end of the roof before the gutter and over the top of the gutter to allow the wind to work in your favour by blowing the leaves off the roof. Let The Roofing Professionals handle that for you.

What is a box gutter?

A box gutter is so called because it is usually boxed into the middle or edge of the roof where it collects water and discharges it into a downpipe system. A good box gutter will have an emergency overflow so that when the downpipes block up or the capacity of the box gutter is exceeded, the backed up water can escape outside the roof area. Without an overflow, the excess water will flow back into the roof area and inside the building!

The box gutter is the weakest link and care must be taken that it is draining correctly and does not become blocked. The best decision for a box gutter is to use a better material than the roof. This usually means a colorbond or stainless steel box gutter.

See our 'latest news' page for more on box gutters....

What is bedding and pointing?

A tiled roof has capping that covers the joints between the different sides of the roof. These are called ridge capping and they are held down onto the cut roof tiles by cement mortar. The cement mortar is called bedding because it holds the capping in a straight line. Once the bedding hardens and the ridge capping is supported, a layer of coloured material is applied over the exposed bedding to give the roof a cosmetic finish. This material is called the pointing.

In the old days, pointing was just coloured cement mortar which cracks with the natural movement in the tiles. Nowadays, a flexible pointing (a manufactured compound that comes in various colours) is used. It is flexible and is resistant to cracking and bonds to the tiles and ridge capping very well. This means that the ridge caps are a lot more securely bonded to the tiles and the movement of the ridges are eliminated.

When roofers refer to ‘Flexipoint’ is it a brand name that they use to represent a whole range of flexible pointing compounds manufactured by numerous companies.

And if you are looking for more technical information about 'Flexipoint', visit their website and check out their 'How to flexipoint your roof - 4 steps to success'

Now you can watch how this bedding and pointing works (in HD if you want) on You Tube.

How does roof painting cause leaks?

Of the many ways that painting of tile and metal roofs can cause leaks, the main culprit is the blocking of the designed drainage channels that are supposed to get rid of water drawn in via capillary action.

That is the difference between a professional and an amateur job.

What is the best sequence to replace roof elements?

If things are done in the right sequence, it is easier, cheaper and produces a better result.
We see many errors like re-pointing a tiled roof before the valleys and gutters are changed, putting a new roof on before making a decision of how to insulate under the roof .. etc.

Consult The Roofing Professionals first and get it done right the first time.

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