Roof pointing is designed to be durable and long-lasting, but unfortunately it does deteriorate over time. Factors such as exposure to inclement weather conditions, destructive habits of insects, birds, falling branches and age will affect the longevity of your roof. A structurally sound roof provides security and safety so there are many good reasons why homeowners should consider repointing a tile roof when visible damage has occurred.
Regular roof maintenance is essential if you want to extend the life of your roof and keep it in good condition. We chat about what’s involved in repointing and re bedding your roof and the benefits of doing this sooner than later.
Tiled roofs are generally repointed every 10 years unless you’re really good at performing routine seasonal maintenance. Issues like broken tiles or cracking mortar can result in costly roof repairs if left unchecked. Roof maintenance like repointing and re-bedding are very important tasks. This will keep your building in good condition and avoid any water damage or leaks from water penetrating the roof cavity.
A roof that has not been maintained properly not only looks aesthetically neglected and effects property value negatively, but it can cause damage, requiring costly repairs. Maintaining your roof will go along way in increasing property value and preventing unnecessary repairs.
What is Re bedding and Re Pointing?
Re-bedding and re-pointing is the process of resealing the ridge capping mortar by removing any cracked or damaged cement and resetting the ridge caps to hold them in place. This prevents any water from penetrating the roof, that would otherwise result in water damage & mould and mildew occurring in the roof cavity.
What Does It Involve To Re-Bedding And Re-Point a Tiled Roof?
Re-bedding:
When a tile roof is first laid, bedding (a line of sand & cement mixture) is set along the ridges and used to secure the ridge tiles on it. While the mortar is still wet, a 6mm steel rod is used to ‘poke’ weep holes on the top (horizontal) ridges for drainage.
During a restoration process if any ridge tiles are loose, they are removed, old bedding mortar is scraped off and new mortar is provided to re-set (or re-bed) the loose ridge tiles on to.
Re-pointing:
When the new bedding mortar has cured, re-pointing is carried out; the material used is a pre-mixed acrylic-cementitious pre-mixed compound sold by various suppliers. It is a highly flexible material, applied by trowel and takes a lot of skill & practice to harness the application. Care must be taken to ensure weep holes are again poked while the compound is still fresh. In some instances where the previous applicator did not poke the weepholes, a masonry drill has to be used to drill them. Repointing helps seal the ridges & roof. Re-Pointing requires a clean surface to adhere to, hence it’s done after the roof is pressure-cleaned; another option is to wire brush the old pointing, if the roof is not being cleaned, to achieve good adhesion.
A blower is used to blow away loose material & mortar.
What are the Benefits of Roof Re Pointing?
Taking advantage of a professional roof pointing service has several benefits.
- Re pointing provides long-term protection from mould and water damage.
- Broken mortar and cracked tiles allow water to penetrate the roof cavity that will, with time, cause internal beams to rot. A professionally sealed roof mitigates all these risks.
- The result of a poorly maintained roof prevents the roof to do what it’s meant to: keep the house and contents free from weather elements and especially water that will cause damage and costly repairs.
- Water penetration can weaken the structural integrity of a property; routine roof maintenance can detect early any underlying issues and save a lot of money in repairs.
Make sure your roofer is willing to back their work. Brisbane Roof and Paint has a 10 year guarantee on re pointing and over 30 years of experience, so don’t feel like you need to settle for the first quote you receive. Your roof is an integral part of your home and you should expect high quality workmanship.
