Kew's Victorian, Edwardian and interwar homes deserve careful hands on the roof. We repair terracotta tiles, rebed and repoint ridges and recoat where it suits the house, always with our owner on site and a clear written quote first.
No Fees. No Obligation. Open 7 Days a Week.
Few Melbourne suburbs have as many grand old homes as Kew. From the mansions around Studley Park to the Edwardian and interwar houses along the leafy streets off High Street and Cotham Road, roofs here are often a feature in their own right, with Marseille-pattern terracotta, ornate cappings and finials topping the gables. Many sit within heritage overlays.
Roofs like these need someone who will take the time to do the job carefully. Period roofs across Kew are what we inspect, repair and restore, and we always start with a thorough on-roof inspection, photos and a plain-English explanation. Our written quote covers only the work the roof needs, whether that is a handful of replacement tiles or a full restoration.
No obligation · Same-day response · Open 7 days
Age is the obvious factor. Many Kew roofs are around a century old, and while terracotta can last a very long time, it does not last forever. Tiles grow brittle and develop hairline cracks, and the surface can flake where tiles have absorbed water over many years. The original lime-based bedding under the ridge cappings has often crumbled away almost entirely.
Period rooflines add complexity. Steep pitches, multiple hips, turrets and valleys all create more joins where water can sneak in. Chimneys, often several per house, rely on flashings that may have been patched many times over the decades. Trees complicate matters further. The leafy streets and large gardens drop leaves into valleys and gutters, and the Yarra corridor keeps parts of the suburb damp through winter. On a roof like this, finding the true cause of a leak takes patience and experience.
Our repairs respect the character of your home and are done carefully to avoid damaging tiles that are not always easy to replace.
Every inspection is carried out on the roof, with extra care taken on older tiles. We check the condition of the terracotta, ridge cappings, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and photograph everything worth discussing.
Afterwards, we talk you through the photos, tile by tile if need be, and send an itemised written quote. If your home is in a heritage area, we can talk through options such as keeping the natural terracotta finish. The inspection is free and carries no obligation.
If cracked tiles, failing ridges and worn flashings are spread throughout the roof, a full restoration is often the best way to bring it back to sound condition while keeping the original tiles in place.
A restoration begins with a careful pressure clean. Broken tiles are changed, the ridge cappings are re-set on fresh bedding and pointed, and valleys and flashings are repaired or renewed. Depending on your preference and any heritage requirements, we can then seal the tiles or apply a primer and coating in a chosen colour. Either way, the spend is modest beside re-roofing, and it protects a roof that is part of the home’s character. Learn more about our roof restoration services, or ask us how the process would apply to your particular roof.
Period homes are not the place for rushed work. Our owner, a roofer of 25-plus years, works on each Kew job personally. Workmanship is quality assured, and our licence and insurance are current.
Kew is a fair way from our Cairnlea base, so we plan the work in full before the first day. Call 0421 990 207 to arrange a free inspection, and let us know if your home is under a heritage overlay so we can plan the right approach.
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.