Old terracotta has a look you cannot buy new, and it deserves a roofer who treats it gently. On Ivanhoe homes we trace leaks, match period tiles, repoint ridges and recoat only when you want the roof refreshed.
No Fees. No Obligation. Open 7 Days a Week.
From the Federation villas on the rise above Upper Heidelberg Road to the interwar bungalows and the odd Spanish Mission home further out, Ivanhoe has some of the finest period roofs in the north-east. Plenty of them still wear their original Marseille-pattern terracotta, complete with ornate ridge rolls and finials. Tiles like that can last a very long time, but the mortar, valleys and flashings around them do not.
That is good news, because it usually means your roof can be saved. When you call, our owner makes the trip over from Cairnlea, inspects every face of the roof with a camera in hand. Then you hear the honest version. Maybe it is a cracked tile, a split valley and a repointed hip. Maybe, after 80-odd years, the whole roof is ready for a careful restoration. Either way, the decision is yours, made with the full picture.
No obligation · Same-day response · Open 7 days
Good terracotta is tough stuff. The weak links on an old Ivanhoe roof are almost always the bits that hold it together. Ridge rolls were set in lime or sand and cement mortar that slowly breaks down until the caps rock loose. Valleys were typically galvanised iron, which rusts from underneath long before you see it from the ground. Lead flashings around chimneys crack and lift with age.
The setting adds to it. Big old trees along the streets and down towards Darebin Creek and the Yarra drop leaves into gutters and valleys every autumn, and shaded faces stay damp enough to grow moss. Many homes also have complicated rooflines, with bay windows, verandah roofs and later extensions, so there are more junctions where water can find a way in. And because period terracotta is brittle, a heavy-footed antenna installer or solar crew can leave a trail of cracked tiles behind them without realising.
We walk old terracotta as little as possible and always in the right places. Our repair work includes:
We go up and work slowly across the roof, checking the condition of the tiles, every ridge roll and hip, the valleys and box gutters, and the flashings around chimneys and walls. If the ceiling is marked, we head into the roof space to follow the water. Everything we find is recorded in photos.
Then we go over the findings in everyday terms and follow up with a written price for the work required. It costs you nothing and commits you to nothing.
If the pointing has failed along most ridges, several areas have cracked tiles and the valleys are rusting through, a series of patches will not serve you well. That is when we suggest restoring the roof as a whole.
With period terracotta, restoration starts with a careful wash that lifts moss and grime without blasting the tile surface. We swap broken tiles for matching ones, relay and repoint every ridge roll and hip, and renew valleys and flashings. Many Ivanhoe owners then stop there, keeping the natural, aged colour of the terracotta. Others prefer to seal and coat it for a fresh, uniform finish. We will show you examples and let you choose. Either option costs a modest amount next to a full period re-roof, and it keeps the original roof on the house. See our roof restoration services for more.
Period homes need someone who will slow down and pay attention. Our owner, roofing for more than 25 years, works on every job personally, making the calls on tile matching and pointing colour on the spot rather than leaving them to someone in a hurry.
Behind that sits a current licence, full insurance and a quality-assured approach to every task. Ivanhoe gardens tend to be established and well loved, so roses, hedges and lawns are shielded, and paths and driveways are covered. We tidy up at the close of each day rather than leaving a pile for the weekend. The quote arrives in writing, laid out line by line, with nothing on it your roof can do without.
Worried about a leak or keen to know what shape your terracotta is in? Ring 0421 990 207 and we will arrange to inspect your Ivanhoe roof at no charge.
First, we will begin with a professional roof inspection. This will help us assess your needs for roof restoration and / and repair in Albion. And also we will confirm all the conditions of all the processes and the services accordingly.
Based in Cairnlea, we provide our services to all suburbs across Melbourne. Distance is never a problem. We are open 7 days a week.
All Suburbs in Melbourne
We service properties in different suburbs throughout Melbourne.
Ensure your home’s safety by telling us when we can inspect your roof. No obligation. No fees. Here 7 days a week when you need us.
Whether you have a roofing emergency, want a free inspection, or just need honest advice, we are available 7 days a week.
Let us know how we can help you.