Free roof inspection and an obligation-free quote.
Roof Restoration Kew
Terracotta and concrete tiled roofs in Kew, Kew East and Studley Park — restored and replaced by roof tilers who began as terracotta tile manufacturers in the 1930s.
Kew has some of the largest and steepest tiled roofs in Melbourne, on some of the oldest houses. Both of those facts change the job.
What Kew roofs are made of
Studley Park and the Sackville precinct hold grand Victorian, Federation and Edwardian houses, many with original Marseille-pattern terracotta and decorative ridge capping. These are complex roofs — multiple planes, valleys, turrets and chimneys — and the detail is most of what makes them worth keeping.
Central Kew runs into interwar stock, Californian bungalows and Tudor revival under Wunderlich and early Monier terracotta.
Kew East is later again, with more postwar concrete tile. Concrete of that era is usually better recoated than replaced, and we will say so.
Steep sites and complex roofs
Kew falls away toward the Yarra, and a lot of the older houses sit on sloping blocks with two and three storey elevations. That matters for two reasons.
Access and scaffolding cost more here than on a flat Balwyn block, and we would rather price that honestly at the inspection than discover it on day one. And the roofs themselves are rarely simple — the more valleys and junctions a roof has, the more places it can fail, and the more matching is needed when tiles are replaced.
Heritage overlay
Much of Kew sits under a Boroondara heritage overlay, and the Sackville Ward precinct is among the more closely watched in Melbourne.
Like-for-like replacement in terracotta usually attracts far less scrutiny than changing material or profile. Going from tile to metal is where owners meet objections — one reason we do not offer metal at all. See our heritage roof restoration page.
What usually fails first
Bedding and pointing on the ridges, as everywhere, but there is far more ridge line on a complex Kew roof than on a simple hip.
Valley irons. The more valleys a roof has, the more rusted unlined steel there is to find. On a big Federation roof this is often the actual leak.
Box gutters behind parapets on the grander houses. These are hidden, they hold water, and they cause damage inside long before anyone looks.
Tree litter. The mature oaks and elms through Studley Park fill valleys and gutters fast — see gutters, fascia and downpipes.
Restoration or replacement
Where the battens are sound and most tiles are intact, restoration is right and much cheaper. Where battens have failed, re-roofing is honest — and on a terracotta roof we lift and relay the originals rather than strip and substitute.
We inspect and photograph before quoting. On a large Kew roof that matters more than usual, because you cannot see most of it from the ground.
Working in Kew
We are in Burwood, about twenty minutes away. Kew is inside our core service area — see the coverage map on our service areas page.
Terracotta and concrete tile only. No metal, no Colorbond, no slate.
Some of our recent projects
WHAT FAILS FIRST
Signs a Kew roof needs attention
On these roofs the tile usually outlasts everything holding it down.
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Ridge mortar dropping out
More ridge line on a complex Kew roof than on a simple hip, so more of it to fail.
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A leak nobody can find
Often a rusted valley iron or a failing box gutter behind a parapet rather than a cracked tile.
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Staining on upper walls
Frequently a flashing or parapet junction, not the roof surface itself.
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Pests
Many people face small pests crawling into their space. All they need is a small crack to enter. It is something that requires immediate attention from the roofing experts.
There were common signs that your home needs solar roof vents or others to keep it safe from future damages and cost you a big amount.
WHY US
Why call us for a Kew roof
We know the profiles
Complex roofs are normal for us
Heritage overlay experience
Tile only, and we say so
5. Maintenance
Related Services
Roof Restoration Kew
Frequently asked questions
Can you match original terracotta on a Studley Park house?
Usually. Most of the older Kew stock is Marseille-pattern terracotta, with Wunderlich and early Monier through the interwar streets. Those profiles are out of production, but we hold both current brands and know which sits closest. On a very unusual profile we will tell you honestly how close we can get before you commit.
Our house is in the Sackville precinct. What will council accept?
Like for like in terracotta is the straightforward path. Changing material or profile is where applications run into trouble. We are not planning consultants, but we can tell you what Boroondara is likely to accept before you spend on an application.
The house is three storeys on a slope. Is that a problem?
Not a problem, but it changes the price — access and scaffolding cost more on a steep Kew block than a flat one. We assess that at the inspection and quote it properly rather than adding it later.
We have a box gutter behind a parapet. Do you do those?
Yes. They are common on the grander Kew houses and they are often the actual source of a leak nobody can find. They hold water by design, so when they fail the damage is internal and advanced before it shows.
Do you work on slate?
No. Terracotta and concrete tile only. A number of the larger Kew houses are slate and we are simply not the right roofer for those.
Restoration or full re-roof?
On a Kew roof the tiles usually outlast the bedding, valleys and flashings. If the battens are sound, restoration is right and far cheaper. We photograph what we find so you can see which case you are in.
Tiled roof in Kew that needs looking at?
If you have a tiled roof in Kew, Kew East or Studley Park and you want it assessed properly, we will come and look at it.
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.
