Roof Restoration vs. Roof Replacement: What You Should Know

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Roof Restoration vs. Roof Replacement: What You Should Know

18

February

Roof Restoration vs. Roof Replacement: What You Should Know

If your roof looks like a mess, you’re likely not looking forward to the bill. A new roof is a major expense that most people want to put off for as long as possible. But here is the other good news: you may not have to rip the whole thing off. There is a vast distance between the roof that simply needs a “facelift” and the one that is legally dead. Choosing between restoring and replacing mostly comes down to determining whether your roof is just ugly or if the “bones” are rotting.

What is a roof restoration?

Think of a restoration as adding fresh armor and giving your house a professional deep clean. You aren’t tearing anything down. Instead, a squad arrives to high-pressure wash all the moss, dirt, and disgustingness away. They replace a handful of damaged tiles, repair the joints, then spray on a stratum of gunky black goo. It ends up looking brand new. This is the smart play if your roof is sturdy but just appears past its prime. It will give you another 10 or 15 years easily without the enormous cost of a complete rebuild.

When you just have to replace it

A restoration is great, but it’s not magic. It can’t fix a leaking, rotting roof from the inside. If you walk up into your attic and find sagging or drooping wood, water stains covering the rafters, then a new coat of paint is not going to change anything. A tear-off means stripping the house down to its frame and beginning anew. It’s noisy, it’s chaotic and it’s costly. But if your shingles are starting to chip, or the wood deck is beginning to experience issues due to its age, it’s your only real choice. You can’t just slap a “band-aid” over a structural defect and think that wind is going to hold it.

The real cost difference

Money is usually the big decider. Restoration is much cheaper, which makes it an easy choice for most budgets. But you have to be careful. If you pay for a restoration on a roof that actually needs to be replaced, you are just throwing money into the wind. You will end up paying for that full replacement in a year or two anyway. A total replacement is a “once in a lifetime” cost, and it actually adds a lot of value to your house if you ever decide to sell.

Comparison Table

The Choice

Roof Restoration

Roof Replacement

The Work

Cleaning and coating

Total tear-off

Time

2 to 3 days

A week or more

Price

Affordable

Heavy investment

Result

New look, seals leaks

A brand new structure

Making the final call

The most effective way to decide is to look at the wood below the shingles. If that wood is dry and the roofline straight? Yeah, go for the restoration. It is a win for your wallet. But if the roof is sagging or leaking in more than one place, you’ve got to bite the bullet and replace it. Or at least it seems that way until the next big storm and your cheap fix is no longer looking like such a great deal.

Not sure if your roof is a candidate for a restoration? Contact Roof Revival today. We will give you a straight-talking, honest look at your roof and help you figure out the best way to protect your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RESTORING AND RE GUTTERING?

We have been working in the Roofing and guttering industry since 2007.

DO YOU HOLD A BUILDER’S LICENCE?

Yes roof revival does hold a valid builders licence our builders licence number is BLD328061.

ARE YOU INSURED?

Roof revival is most definitely insured with public liability that covers us as tradesman and any damage to your property Aswell.

HOW MANY DAYS DOES A ROOF RESTORATION IN ADELAIDE TAKE?

A full restoration takes about 3-4 working days. We need the proper weather conditions to achieve the
best result. For high pressure cleaning roofs or installing gutters rain is normally not an issue.
However, for flexi pointing caps and painting we will need there to be know no rain to be forecasted
and anything over 33 degrees a job will have to be painted over two consecutive days. Please be
patient in the winter months as we like to make sure all work is undertaken in right weather conditions.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS AFTER I ACCEPT THE QUOTE?

After a quote is excepted. The deposit of 20% is required to be paid to lock in a starting date. Prior to
the starting date we double inspect as a safeguard to ensure that the desired level of quality, accuracy
and compliance is achieved. Once the materials are ordered and delivered to the desired location a
30% progress payment is to be made. We then will give you a rough estimation of starting date for the
work to be undertaken. On the day of completion, the remaining balance will be paid with the desired
method of payment.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF A ROOF RESTORATION IN ADELAIDE?

INSPECTION Your roof and gutters are inspected by a qualified Tradesman.
REPLACE Damaged tiles are replaced.
CLEAN The roof is cleaned using high pressure water.
RE-BED All ridge capping is re- bedded where needed.
RE-POINT Ridge capping is then re -pointed with a flexible acrylic pointing mixture.
ANTI FUNGAL The roof is sprayed to prevent moss and lichen growth.
PRIMER The entire roof area is coated with a sealer/primer to ensure strong adhesion of the roof
membrane.
PAINT X2 topcoats of colour membrane is applied.

WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU USE?

We only use the top of the range products to ensure longevity and quality!
Our materials:
Acryloc Roofing Membrane: This product is a water based and long lasting. It is made in South
Australia and designed for South Australia’s weather conditions. It doesn’t fade as quick as other roof
membranes.
Stratco:
Made with thick gauge Colorbond steel in a variety of colours and finishes. We also offer
coloured downpipes.

WHAT WARRANTY DO I RECEIVE?

Workmanship Warranty of 5 years which covers all workmanship and materials. Acryloc Roofing
membrane offers a 10-year warranty covering

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF ME?

Roof revival will require access to front and back of your property. Access to electrical power and
water tap is needed to run our machinery. While commencing work all valuables, bikes, cars, clothes
washing etc should be kept out of harms way. Surrounding neighbours should be notified of work
been undertaken.

I HAVE A LEAKING ROOF DO I HAVE WARANTY ON FIXED LEAKS?

We regret to inform you that we cannot provide a warranty specifically for roof leaks. Roof leaks can
be exceptionally challenging to detect and diagnose due to a variety of factors, including:

1. Complexity of Detection: Roof leaks often originate from hidden or unexpected areas, making it
difficult to pinpoint the exact source without comprehensive and sometimes invasive investigation.
  
2. Environmental Factors: Roofs are exposed to various weather conditions, such as heavy rain
and wind, which can unpredictably impact the roof's integrity over time.
3. Material Aging and Wear: Over time, roofing materials naturally age and may develop
weaknesses that are not immediately apparent during inspections. Can be very difficult and time
consuming to detect.
4. Previous Repairs and Installations: The condition and quality of previous repairs or installations
can significantly influence the occurrence and detection of leaks, adding complexity to warranty
coverage.
Despite these challenges, please be assured that our team is committed to addressing any roof leaks
that may arise. We will always work to our best ability to identify and solve roof leaks promptly and
effectively, ensuring the longevity and performance of your roof.

I WANT TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS WHATS THE BEST PROCESS TO HAVE MY ROOF FIXED BEFORE SOLAR IS INSTALLED?

The best process to do this is to have your roof high pressure washed first. After this is done contact
your solar company and ask them to install rails and wiring. When this is finished, we will fully restore
the roof and leave you with spare coated tiles and touch up paint. The solar company final task to
connect the panels to the railing.

MY ROOF HAS SOLAR PANELS ON THEM. CAN MY ROOF STILL BE RESTORED?

Yes, he majority of roof we restore now days do have solar panels. We high pressure the roof and
rinse all panels. When it’s time for painting we cover all panels with a plastic film and paint underneath
the panels, so all visible tiles are coated with primer and colour.

MY ROOFTILES ARE PORUOUS HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE A GOOD PAINT FINISH?

If your tiles are porous this means that they are retaining water which adds significant weight to your
roof and roofing timbers, leading to potential leaks and structural issues. To prevent this we apply a
maxi build primer to the rooftiles when painting. This Ensures that the tiles are coated very thick. All
cracks and rough surfaces on the tiles are filled in turn giving the finish much more appealing and
bolder.

WHY DO MY SOLAR PANNELS NEED REGULAR CLEANING?

All solar panels rely on a clean surface to be able to work to their optimum capacity. When the surface
gets dirty it restricts the panels’ ability to capture sunlight efficiently and will therefore not produce as
much electricity. Regular cleaning is not only advised for productivity of the panel but also in most
cases to adhere to warranty requirements Aswell.

WHATS THE PURPOSE OF WHIRLY VENTS?

Whirly vents help your roof space breathe, in turn saving you money on your energy costs.

What’s the average cost for roof repair in Adelaide?

Roof repairs typically start from $250 for minor tile fixes, while more extensive jobs or full restorations can range from $2,500 to $10,000 depending on roof size and condition.

How do I know if my roof needs restoration or just repair?

If your roof has multiple issues like leaks, tile damage, faded paint, or rusted valleys, a roof restoration is often more cost-effective long-term.

Is Roof Revival licensed for roof repairs in Adelaide?

Absolutely. We’re licensed, insured, and trusted by hundreds of Adelaide homeowners for quality roof repair and restoration services.