Roof Repointing Necessary?

Discussion in 'Repairs & Maintenance' started by FrivolousPanda, 23rd May, 2017.

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  1. FrivolousPanda

    FrivolousPanda Well-Known Member

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    Hi everyone,

    I've had gutters cleaned as there was a water stain on the ceiling and gutters had not been cleaned for about 2 years. The maintenance company has also advised to get the roof repointed using Brown Starpoint.

    Is it a good idea to repoint a roof and could it resolve the water ingress?
    Is a quote for $400 reasonable?

    Properties are in Perth and are 1970's single storey duplexes ~ 60sqm each.

    Thanks
     
  2. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    Pointing of ridge cappings is usually done if the existing mortar on the cappings is cracked, broken, missing or the cappings are loose/have moved.

    $400 sounds reasonable but so would $1000 or $5 as we don't know how many metres, condition, height, access, location or the depth of your pockets.
     
  3. WestOz

    WestOz Well-Known Member

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    I had this done recently on same, cost me $700 including replacing 38 cracked tiles on an 80's model.

    Yours being older, who knows what's been going on up there, previous Tradies/people not walking on them correctly etc, I'd be surprised if yours didn't also need some replaced.

    Thing is, unlike myself not many owners get up on their roof, when I seen the repointing I reckon I could have done a better job.
     
  4. beertank23

    beertank23 Well-Known Member

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    Did mine myself for about $300 including buying replacement tiles. Painted the roof myself for about $500.
     
  5. FrivolousPanda

    FrivolousPanda Well-Known Member

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    Thanks everyone. I had a feeling I was asking a "how long is a piece of string" question with cost estimate. I couldn't include more details about the repair work as the quote didn't have much in it but assume they aren't replacing cracked tiles as I would think they would state that in the quote. Unfortunately I'm unable to do it myself so will have to pay someone to do the work.
     
  6. Paul@PAS

    Paul@PAS Tax, Accounting + SMSF + All things Property Tax Business Plus Member

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    Loads of people blame gutters and other issues for water. Have you determined the actaul source for water damage...A tiler may be better than a company who have a revenue stream based on identifying roof repairs. Let me guess when they get upto do the $400 repoint they find broken tile and need to do more work....Shock. A $4000 job.

    Typically capping covers a 1 inch gap over the tile joints on tne ridge and isnt a source of many leaks unless the capping has jumped up moved and now has a gap.

    Aftre a recent hail issue I went up on our roof and found our capping was perfect but sometiles had moved. Two tiles had slid. Fixed. Three tiles had been cracked. Replaced . Capping had hairline cracks in joints. That is normal. Tiler cost me $200 to confirm what I fixed. Sweet. While up there I painted some bitsand used Karcher to clear gutters.
     
    charlie01 and WestOz like this.
  7. WestOz

    WestOz Well-Known Member

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    Sealants deteriorating around vents etc can also an issue
     
  8. charlie01

    charlie01 Well-Known Member

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    What's the relation between "water stain on the ceiling" and "gutters hadn't been cleaned for about 2 years"? If they are not related, then alternative cause(s) of the water stain should be found and fixed.
     
  9. FrivolousPanda

    FrivolousPanda Well-Known Member

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    I have read if gutters are blocked, then it could overflow into the roof cavity causing a water stain on the ceiling. I am pretty sure the gutters needed a clean anyways as it's been 2 years and there are some trees near the property. The maintenance company went on the roof to investigate the water leak and they are saying that repointing is required.

    I take Paul's point that a maintenance company may not be the best to consult for roof leaks so will look for a tiler to investigate.

    I'm unable to go to the property to investigate myself, also not exactly keen on walking around the roof when I don't know what I'm looking for or have any experience walking on roof apart from roof top bars. This is unfortunately why I need to pay someone to do this work for me.
     
  10. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    [​IMG]

    Unless water flows uphill, eaves will sit below the ceiling line.

    Investigate further.
     
  11. charlie01

    charlie01 Well-Known Member

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    It can be difficult, possibly have to wait until it starts raining.