Free roof inspection and an obligation-free quote.
Roof Leak Repair Melbourne
A leaking tiled roof, found and fixed properly — by roof tilers who have been working on Melbourne’s terracotta and concrete roofs since 1930.
If water is coming in, ring us on 03 9888 7088. Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm.
The leak is almost never directly above the stain
This is the single most useful thing to know about a leaking tiled roof. Water gets in at one point, runs along a batten, a rafter or the sarking, and drops somewhere else entirely. We have traced leaks that appeared in a hallway back to a valley three metres away.
It is why we do not quote a leak over the phone, and why anyone who does is guessing. We get up there and find the actual entry point before telling you what it needs.
What actually leaks on a tiled roof
In rough order of how often we find it:
Valley irons. Where two roof planes meet, leaf litter holds water against the metal until it rusts through. Melbourne’s mature street trees make this the commonest cause we see.
Flashings. Where the roof meets a wall, a chimney, a parapet or an addition. On a period house the leadwork is often original and long past its working life.
Cracked, slipped or broken tiles. Sometimes from a falling branch, sometimes from someone walking on the roof who should not have been.
Failed ridge and hip pointing. When the mortar holding the capping cracks and drops out, water gets under the capping and into the roof space.
Box gutters. On a parapet building these spill inward rather than over the side when they block, so a blocked box gutter puts water straight into the building.
Sarking at the end of its life. The membrane under the tiles is the last line of defence. On a roof approaching a century old it can be brittle or gone, and that is the one fault a repair cannot fix.
What happens when you call
We come and look. We get onto the roof, find where the water is actually entering, and show you what we found — photographs if you are not going up a ladder yourself.
Then we tell you which of three things it is: a repair, meaning a valley, a flashing or some tiles and pointing; a restoration, meaning the roof is sound but everything holding it down has reached the end of its life; or a replacement, meaning the sarking, battens or fixings have gone and no amount of patching will hold it.
Most leaks are the first of those. We will tell you when that is the case rather than quoting you for a new roof.
What we do not do
We work on terracotta and concrete tiled roofs only — no metal, no Colorbond, no slate. If your roof is iron or slate we will say so on the phone rather than send someone out and charge you for the visit.
Send a photo from the street if you are not sure. Tiles are individual overlapping units with a repeating profile. Iron is long continuous sheet. Slate is thin, flat and grey-purple. We can usually tell in seconds.
While you are waiting
If water is coming in now, a bucket and moving anything valuable out of the way is the honest answer. Do not go up on a wet tiled roof — they are lethal when damp, and a cracked tile from someone walking on it is a second leak to find.
If a ceiling is bulging or sagging with trapped water, keep out of that room and tell us when you ring.
Some of our recent projects
WHAT FAILS FIRST
Signs your tiled roof is leaking
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Ridge capping mortar dropping out
The commonest fault here. On its own it is a repair, not a new roof.
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Concrete tiles gone chalky and faded
The surface coating has broken down, not the tile. This is what a restoration is for.
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Stains appearing inside
Often a rusted valley iron, and the stain usually shows up nowhere near the actual fault.
WHY US
Why call us to a leak
We are based here
You can see the tiles in person
We know both halves of the suburb
Tile only, and we say so
Related Services
Roof Leak Repair Melbourne
Frequently asked questions
Can you tell me what it will cost over the phone?
No, and nor can anyone else honestly. Water enters at one point and appears somewhere else, so the fault is rarely where the stain is. We inspect first, show you what we found, and then quote. The inspection is free.
How quickly can you come out?
Ring us on 03 9888 7088, Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm, and we will tell you honestly when we can get there. We would rather give you a real date than a promise we cannot keep.
Is a leak always a sign I need a new roof?
Usually not. Most leaks we attend are a valley iron, a flashing or failed pointing — a repair, not a replacement. The exception is sarking, battens or fixings at the end of their life, which a repair cannot fix. We will tell you which you have.
Why is the stain not under the hole?
Because water runs. It gets in at one point and travels along a batten, rafter or the sarking before it drops. This is normal and it is the reason a proper look from above matters.
My roof only leaks in certain weather. Why?
Wind-driven rain is the usual answer. A roof that is watertight in ordinary rain can let water under the capping or behind a flashing when rain is driven at it from a particular direction. It is a real fault, just one that only shows in some conditions.
Can I just have the tiles sealed or painted?
No. A coating sits on the surface and does nothing for a rusted valley, a failed flashing or missing pointing. Anyone offering to fix a leak by spraying the roof is selling you the wrong thing.
Do you repair the ceiling damage too?
No, we are roof tilers. We stop the water coming in. Plaster and painting is a separate trade, and we would rather tell you that than do it badly.
Tiled roof that needs looking at?
Water coming in through a tiled roof? We will come and find where it is actually getting in.
Free inspection and obligation-free quote. Call 03 9888 7088, Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm. Safety is always our first priority — hand-rail, scaffolding or a roof harness is used on every job and included in the quote.
