Fixing a Leaky Roof

Practical people can learn how to find and fix a roof leak.  But it is not easy!

Finding the source of a roof leak.

Yes! Time to get up into that roof space

 

Clambering up through the manhole from the top of a shaky old step ladder is how most DIY “handymen” get into their roof space.  After a quick look they normally come back down to grab a torch and some old clothes to cope with the darkness, dust and spider webs.

Properly equipped and back in the roof space, the search for tell-tale water stains begins.  The idea is that water stains will lead to the source of the leak – simple in concept, but not always so easy in practice, as discussed below.

 

foot-thru-ceiling
Hazards of balancing on narrow ceiling joists.

But even if following a trail of water stains were easy, doing it in a roof space while balancing on narrow timber joists to avoid putting a foot through the ceiling “raises the bar” somewhat.

Quite apart from such difficulties, finding the source of a leak can be very time consuming – even for experts.  Stains may reveal that water has been dripping from a certain point on a rafter, for example, but because the rafter slopes downward, the source of the leak may be much higher up and not even close to the rafter, depending on the shape of the roof.

Dripping water would make the source of a leak more obvious, but that requires either rain, or a friend on a ladder hosing the roof while your search.  So normally, the search is for stains left previously by water from the leak.  On surfaces such as wood or plaster board, those stains may be easy to find, but on tiles or metal surfaces the water may have left no stains.

ladder to roof
High up, moving from ladder to roof

For the DIY householder, finding the source of a roof leak can be extremely time consuming and frustratingly difficult.  But that difficulty pales by comparison with the danger involved in getting onto the roof to fix a leak.  Unless you are experienced and fit, climbing to a genuinely dangerous height on a ladder and carefully – ever so carefully – moving from the top of the ladder onto the sloping surface of a roof is a scary experience.

 

Expert roof repair – free quote: 0410-655-033

Why roof leaks must be found and fixed quickly

Despite the challenges, roof leaks must be found and fixed early.  The consequences of procrastination include serious damage to a property and its value and significant danger to the lives of its occupants.

electrocutionWhen water leaks into roof spaces or down in between walls, it can come into contact with electrical wiring.  The consequences can be catastrophic short circuits, fires, costly damage to electrical devices and even electrocution of people attempting to use the electricity.  And even if none of those occurs, roof leaks can stain and deform the plaster board in ceilings and walls, driving down the value of the property.

For these reasons, roof leaks need to be detected and fixed at an early stage before they can cause major safety hazards or significant property damage.

Common causes of roof leaks

ridge cap cracked mortar
Cracked mortar on the ridge capping

 

Loss of ridge cap mortar and cracked roof tiles.  Direct sunlight, extremes of temperature, strong winds and driving rain cause roofing materials to deteriorate.  The upside-down V-shaped ridge cap at the top of a tiled roof, for example, sits in a “bed” of mortar (sand and cement), which cracks easily.

 

 

ridge cap mortar loose
Ridge cap mortar that fell out

 

After a few years of withstanding Australian weather conditions, the mortar used to bed the ridge capping begins to work loose and pieces start falling out.  Those same conditions make roof tiles more brittle, so they crack when someone walks on them to fix ridge capping, or fix loose tiles, or roof flashing.

 

flashing around chimney
Flashing around a chimney

 

 

Flashing deterioration. Flashing is what roofers use to place a waterproof seal around things that penetrate the roof, such as chimneys, roof vents, skylights etc..  As weather causes flashing nails to work loose or caulking to dry out and crack, flashing will need to be repaired.

 

 

Gutter cleaning unsafe
Very unsafe gutter cleaning

Clogged gutters and downpipes.  Leaves and other debris can clog gutters and downpipes and cause water to overflow into eaves and flood roof spaces. It is vital to regularly clear debris from the roof, clean out gutters and use a hose to test that water flows quickly and easily off the roof, along the gutters and down through all downpipes.  The amount of work involved can be reduced considerably by installing gutter guard that keeps the guttering relatively free of debris.

 

Holes in the roof. Obviously, all holes in a roof must be properly sealed. Holes can be caused when items such as TV antennae are removed. Finding small holes in a roof can be difficult and time consuming for the average DIY “handyman” as noted at the beginning of this article. The painless solution is to call in the experts at Reliance Roofing ACT.

Free roof inspection: 0410-655-033

Commercial Roofing

Commercial Roofing 01 294x212

With over 10 years in the industry, the commercial roofing team at Reliance Roofing ACT are tradesmen you can trust.

Commercial Roofers, Canberra
Commercial roofing contractors organized to protect your profit margins

Our quality control protects your profit margins by:

  • thorough project assessment,
  • cost-effective solutions,
  • fast quotes (48 hr turnaround),
  • installation on time and on budget,
  • excellent workmanship.

 Commercial roofing 02

Our business thrives
on caring for
your bottom line

 

 

One of our recent commercial projects –

The new shopping centre in Coombs – a suburb of Canberra

 

Roof of shopping centre in Canberra suburb of Coombs
Coombs shopping centre from the South
Shopping centre in the Canberra suburb of Coombs
Coombs shopping centre from the North

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shopping centre in the Canberra suburb of Coombs
Coombs shopping centre main entrance
Shopping centre in the Canberra suburb of Coombs
Coombs shopping centre from the East

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shopping centre in the Canberra suburb of Coombs
East side of Coombs shopping centre
Shopping centre in the Canberra suburb of Coombs
Coombs shopping centre info board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call 0410-655-033 for rapid service

Reliance Roofing ACT

Tradesmen You Can Trust

Colorbond® Roofing – Why it’s so Popular

Colorbond Roof Rotate 5We install Colorbond® steel roofing because it is one of the world’s most advanced building materials.  It has a strong, corrosion resistant Zincalume steel base and a durable, exterior grade, backed on, topcoat that resists chipping, peeling and cracking and is designed to be low maintenance and to look good for years.

Colorbond® Steel is lightweight and flexible.  It suits homes of all ages and styles.  It can also be moulded and shaped for dramatic and individual effect (see the example on our commercial roofing page).

The Colorbond® Colour Ranges

Corner house colorbond roofEach of the 22 designer colours shown below provides a durable, exterior grade paint finish, resistant to peeling, flaking and blistering. So you can be sure that your  Colorbond® steel roof, gutters and downpipes stay looking newer for longer.

Colorbond Colourchart 10x6

Click here to visit the Colorbond online colour visualiser, an ingenious tool that allows you to select a home that looks like yours and then select the different colour combinations for its roof, gutters and downpipes.  You can then test how you and your partner or friends feel about the visual impact of various alternatGreen metal roof many hipsives and achieve a really stunning finish for your home.

All Colorbond® roofing, gutters & downpipes are backed by a BlueScope Steel Warranty of up to 20 years from the date of installation.  Fascia is not covered by the warranty.

Colorbond® roofing – five layers of protection:

Colorbond 5 layers

  1. The steel base is manufactured to meet relevant Australian Standards, ensuring strict adherence to the required grade and strength.
  2. The base is then coated in BlueScope’s industry leading metallic coating incorporating Activate® technology, to provide enhanced corrosion resistance.
  3. A thin pretreatment layer is applied to optimise the adhesion of further coatings.
  4. A corrosion inhibitive primer is baked onto the surface.
  5. A topcoat of specially developed, exterior grade paint is baked on to provide resistance to chipping, flaking and blistering and to ensure the finish retains its look for longer.Colorbond® roofing provides five layers of protection:

When you’ve chosen your colour scheme, Reliance Roofing ACT will be pleased to help you with every detail of putting your plans into action painlessly and professionally.

Free Colorbond® roofing consultation:  0410-655-033

Stylish Colorbond® Roofing

Contemporary
Hips gables front entrance 5x3
Colorbond® colours enhance homes of all styles and ages

There are many roof types – numerous forms of tiled roofing, a slate roof and a variety of metal roofing, including corrugated iron.  None, however, is as cost-effective, stylish, durable and well-suited to our climate as Australian-made Colorbond® roofing.

Colorbond® steel is designed to last for decades, not just years!  And it is modern roofing at its best.  Whether your property is brand new or outdated and in need of re roofing, our savvy designers will help you use Colorbond® colours to style its external features in ways that increase your property’s asset value.

A tile roof adds less value and needs maintenance every ten years or so.  Colorbond® roofing, gutters, downpipes and fascia deliver superior performance with practical advantages such as:

  • Colorbond testing in harsh environments 3x2
    Colorbond testing in harsh environments

    strength – designed and tested to deal with Australia’s extremes of weather

  • endurance – long-life performance proven over many decades in really tough conditions
  • design flexibility – not limited to conventional flat surfaces
  • stylish – a wide range of classic and contemporary Colorbond colours.

Colorbond® steel has been tested in some of Australia’s harshest climates over the last 45 years and demonstrated superior anti-corrosion performance.  It is one of the world’s toughest, most advanced and thoroughly tested building materials.

Colorbond® roofing, gutters and downpipes are manufactured in Australia to Australian standards by Australia’s leading steel roofing company, BlueScope steel.  Depending on the product and its installed environment, BlueScope’s Warranty can last up to 36 years from date we install.

BlueScope provides a very user-friendly warranty estimator tool that makes it easy to understand the factors affecting your warranty. Click here to try it.

Street Appeal – the Colorbond® Roofing Advantage

red metal roof and verandah 5x3
Classic street appeal and just the right Colorbond® colour

 

Your property can enjoy unique street appeal.  You can set the tone of its whole appearance and complement other building materials, by subtly highlighting features with just the right Colorbond® colours for your new roof, gutters, downpipes and fascia.  Choose from the Classic or Contemporary colour ranges below.

 

Colorbond® Colours

Colorbond Colourchart 10x6

At the end of this paragraph you’ll find a link to Colorbond’s online Colour Visualizer.  But first some helpful hints for getting the most out of this very smart tool.  When you arrive at the site look for the image labelled “residential homes”.  Click that image to select a home that looks like yours.  Next, choose different colour combinations for the roof, gutters, downpipes, etc.  Experiment until you have styled your property for maximum value and street appeal.  Now you’re all set, just click here to visit Colorbond’s online Colour Visualiser.

Choosing Tradesmen You Can Trust

When you’ve chosen your colour scheme, Reliance Roofing ACT will be pleased to help you with every detail of putting your plans into action painlessly and professionally.

Metal roof and red door 5x3Initial Consultation:

If you’re thinking about a new roof installation, we’d be happy to share our years of experience by sitting down with you and discussing your plans.  At Reliance Roofing ACT we recognize your many other responsibilities by taking a professional approach that values your time.  Just make an appointment at a time convenient to you and an experienced roofing specialist will listen carefully while drawing out your requirements.  Together, you will be able to discuss the range of factors that enable us to exceed your expectations.

Options that won’t break your budget:

After careful consideration, our consultant roofer will give you affordable options. Not a sales pitch, but an education on your roof installation and gutter installation, including down pipes.

Beginning Work:

We will be ready to start work at time convenient to you. You’re busy!  And we know you’ll have to schedule other things around this installation, so we will ensure our tradesmen arrive on time and complete the work as agreed!

Quality Control and Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction GuaranteeOur qualified and experienced roofing specialists will complete your installation. After that, our roofing services extend to a thorough quality control review to make sure your job is completed to Australian standards before we stamp it with our seal of approval.

From start to finish of every project, Reliance Roofing ACT is focused on quality control and customer satisfaction. We are committed to ensuring that you experience a superior standard of customer service and the highest levels of quality workmanship.

Call now for a free quote:  0410-655-033

Reliance Roofing ACT

Tradesmen You Can Trust

Roof Restoration and Roof Repair

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Galvanised metal roof
Roof restoration enhances asset value

Roof restoration and roof repair protect your property and increase its value.

On the other hand, failing to find and fix roof damage can inflict serious harm on the property and its value and leave the lives of its occupants exposed to danger.

When water leaks into roof spaces or down in between walls, it can come into contact with electrical wiring.  The consequences can be catastrophic short circuits, fires, costly damage to electrical devices and even electrocution of people attempting to use the electricity.  And even if none of those occurs, roof leaks can stain and deform the plaster board in ceilings and walls, driving down the value of the property.

For these reasons, roof damage needs to be detected and fixed at an early stage before it causes major safety hazards or significant property damage.

Take it from the experts …

… a good roof is the foundation of your home!

Roof restoration enhances your asset valueMaking sure your roof is sound and secure is incredibly important, yet many homeowners neglect their roof. Like everything in your home, it requires regular maintenance. If a leaky roof warps and stains ceiling sheets, for example, the ceiling may need to be replaced and, generally speaking, a roof repair is considerably more economical and less invasive than a ceiling replacement.

Roof restoration and roof repair are a low-cost ways of ensuring that your home – and your family – stay safe.  If you haven’t had your roof inspected recently, we suggest you take up our offer of a free roof inspection today.  This is how it works:

1.  Initial Consultation

Our professional tradespeople will make an appointment at a time convenient to you. They will carry out a thorough roof inspection and report for free.  If you prefer a detailed written report with digital photographs a statement of what is required the $159 charge is fully deductible when you have the repairs done by Reliance Roofing ACT.

2.  Options that won’t break your budget

Our tradespeople will give you affordable options. Rather than just handing over a report, we’d like to sit down with you and explain the exact state of your roof.  Not a sales pitch – it’s an education on your roof’s condition.

3.  Work begins at a time convenient to you

Our staff finalize your order and make a time convenient for you to begin the work. We know your busy, so we make sure our tradespeople arrive on time.

4. Finally, we are 100% committed to your satisfaction

Satisfaction Guarantee Reliance Roofing ACT Canberra

 

Reliance Roofing ACT guarantees all our work from start to finish. This ensures that you receive a superior standard of customer service, combined with an equally high level of quality workmanship.

 

Free inspection and quotation:  0410-655-033

Reliance Roofing ACT

Tradesmen You Can Trust