Free roof inspection and an obligation-free quote.
Roof Tiling Melbourne
We are roof tilers. It is the only thing we have done since the 1930s.
Camberwell Potteries works on tiled roofs across Melbourne — terracotta and concrete, restoration, repointing, repairs and full replacement. We do not do metal, slate or decramastic. That narrowness is deliberate: a tiled roof behaves differently to a sheet roof, and the difference between a job that lasts and one that does not is usually in the detail of the pointing, the valleys and the flashings.
Our workshop and showroom are in Burwood, and most of our work is across the eastern and south-eastern suburbs.
What a roof restoration involves
A restoration is a whole-roof treatment for a roof that is structurally sound but tired. It covers:
- Inspection — establishing whether the roof is a candidate at all. A roof with failed sarking or rotten battens needs replacing rather than restoring, and we will tell you if that is what we find.
- Cleaning — removing moss, lichen and built-up debris from the tiles and valleys.
- Replacing broken tiles — individually, matched to your profile where it is still in production.
- Repointing — removing the failed mortar from the ridge and hip capping and repointing with flexible pointing rather than rigid mortar.
- Sealing and recoating — applied to both terracotta and concrete roofs.
- Gutters and valleys — cleared as part of the job, so the roof drains properly once it is finished.
Terracotta and concrete restore differently
We restore both, and it is worth understanding why the result differs.
Concrete tiles carry their colour as a surface coating. Both manufacturers we supply treat fading on concrete as normal weathering rather than a defect, and neither warrants concrete for colour. So on a concrete roof, recoating makes a visible difference to how the roof looks.
Terracotta tiles have their colour fired through the clay. Monier warrants terracotta for colour retention and Bristile offers a Colour for Life warranty, so colour loss is rarely the issue on a terracotta roof. Restoration there is mostly about the pointing, the valleys, the flashings and cleaning, with sealing to finish.
We will tell you which of those your roof actually needs rather than quoting the same treatment for both. See terracotta roof tiles and concrete roof tiles.
Restore, repair or replace
Restore when the tiles and the structure are sound but the roof looks tired across the whole surface and the pointing has gone.
Repair when specific things have failed — a leak, a section of pointing, storm damage. See roof repairs.
Replace when the sarking, battens or fixings have reached the end of their life. See re-roofing.
What a restoration will not fix. It does not renew the sarking, the battens or the fixings, because those sit underneath the tiles. If they have failed, a restoration puts a good finish on a roof that still needs replacing. That is the most important thing to understand before buying one, and it is why we inspect before we quote.
Areas we cover
We work across all of Melbourne from our base in Burwood, with most jobs through the eastern and south-eastern suburbs — Camberwell, Burwood, Glen Iris, Hawthorn, Kew, Balwyn, Malvern, Caulfield and Brighton, and through the bayside suburbs including Mentone, Highett and Beaumaris.
Related services
- Heritage roof restoration — period roofs where the original profile is out of production
- Gutters, fascia and downpipes — replaced while we are already on the roof
- Pergola and carport roofing — tiled to match the house
- Service areas — the suburbs we cover across Melbourne
IS IT TIME?
Signs your roof may be ready for restoration
What these mean for your roof depends on what a tiler finds once they are up there. The sarking and battens decide between restoration and replacement, and neither is visible from the ground.
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Widespread Cracked Tiles
Isolated damage is a repair. Cracking and chipped edges across the whole roof point to a roof that has aged as a unit, which is what restoration is for.
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Failed Pointing
Cracked, crumbling or missing mortar along the ridge and hip lines. Visible from the ground, and the commonest reason a tiled roof starts letting water in.
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Moss, Lichen and Staining
Common on south-facing pitches and under trees. It holds moisture against the tiles and in the mortar. On concrete roofs the surface coating breaks down and the colour goes patchy.
THE PROCESS
How a roof restoration is done
Inspection First
Clean
Replace Broken Tiles
Repoint
Seal, Recoat and Finish
Related Services
Roof Improvement Services
New Roofing
Being the roofing specialist Melbourne, we aim to deliver exceptional services and provide support for quality living.
Re-Roofing
We value the customers and provide quality services to maintain the roof for a longer duration.
Roof Maintenance
Regular Roof maintenance is essential
for longevity.
Questions we get asked
Is a restoration the same as a re-roof?
No. A restoration cleans, repoints and refinishes the existing tiles. A re-roof strips the roof back to the timbers and replaces the sarking, battens and tiles. Restoration is a refresh; re-roofing resets the clock.
How much does a roof restoration cost?
Every roof is different, so we will not quote a figure we would have to walk back. What moves the price is the size and pitch of the roof, access, how much of the pointing has failed, and how many tiles need replacing. We inspect and give you a written quote.
Do you restore terracotta roofs?
Yes, and concrete. The work differs between them — on concrete, recoating restores colour that has weathered, while terracotta colour is fired through the clay so the work is mostly in the pointing, valleys and flashings. We will tell you which yours needs.
Will a restoration stop my roof leaking?
Often, if the leak is coming from failed pointing or a blocked valley. If it is coming from failed sarking or flashings, a restoration on its own may not — which is why we find the cause before quoting. See roof repairs.
Are gutters included?
Yes. Gutters and valleys are cleared as part of a restoration so the roof drains properly once the work is done. We also repair, replace and install guttering as a separate job.
What is the guarantee on a restoration?
We guarantee our workmanship on a roof restoration for 7 years. The tiles themselves carry the manufacturer’s warranty, which differs between Monier and Bristile.
Do you do slate or metal roofs?
No. We work on terracotta and concrete tiled roofs only.
Can you restore a roof in a heritage overlay?
Usually, and restoration is often the better option on a period home because it keeps the original tiles. If the work would change the roof’s appearance significantly your council may have a view, and we will flag it at inspection.
Not sure whether your roof needs restoring or replacing?
It is not something you can judge from the ground. We will get up there, show you what we found, and tell you what your roof actually needs.
Free roof inspection and obligation-free quote
03 9888 7088 — Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Or request a quote online.
