Signs your roof needs replacing

No roof lasts forever. The trick is knowing the difference between a roof that needs a repair and a roof that has reached the end of its life. Here is what to look for, from the safety of the ground.

Signs on a tile roof

Concrete tile roofs are common on Brisbane homes built from the 1960s to the 1990s. As they age, look for:

• Faded, rough or crumbling tiles. When the surface wears away, the tile absorbs more water and gets weaker.
• Cracked or missing ridge bedding. The mortar along the ridges and hips cracks and falls away, letting water in.
• Moss and lichen. It holds moisture against the tiles and speeds up wear.
• Lots of broken or slipped tiles. One or two is a repair. Many, spread across the roof, points to a roof that is wearing out.

Signs on a metal roof

Older corrugated iron and early metal roofs show their age in different ways:

• Rust, especially at the laps where sheets overlap, around screws and along the bottom edge of sheets.
• Loose or popped screws, which let water in and make sheets rattle in the wind.
• Rusted or lifting flashings around chimneys, walls and skylights.
• Sagging or uneven lines, which can mean battens or framing underneath need attention.

Signs inside the house

You can often see roof problems from inside before you see them from outside:

• Water stains or bubbling paint on ceilings
• A musty smell in the roof space or upstairs rooms
• Daylight visible through the roof from inside the ceiling space
• Damp or stained insulation

If you see these, do not wait for the next storm. Water damage to ceilings and frames usually costs more than the roof itself.

After a storm

Brisbane storms are hard on old roofs. After a big one, check from the ground for:

• Tiles or sheets that have moved or are missing
• Bent or lifted flashings and ridge capping
• Debris in valleys and gutters
• New water stains inside

If a storm has damaged the roof and you plan to claim on insurance, take photos before anything is moved and contact your insurer. We can provide a written quote for your insurer. Your insurer decides what the policy covers.

Repair or replace?

A repair makes sense when the damage is limited and the rest of the roof is in good shape. A replacement usually makes more sense when:

1. Problems are spread across the whole roof, not in one spot
2. The roof has been patched many times and keeps leaking
3. The tiles are porous or the iron is rusting through
4. The roof is old and you are renovating or planning to stay long term

The cost of patching an old roof year after year adds up, and every leak risks damage to ceilings and frames.

Get it checked properly

If you are not sure, have the roof inspected. We look at it, tell you honestly what we see, including when a roof still has life left in it, and send a written quote if a replacement is needed.