Terracotta tiles have been used as a reliable method of roof construction for hundreds of years. One of the earlier examples of fired terracotta roof tiles dates back to 650 AD where the Greeks made the switch from thatched roofs. What does this mean for your suburban Melbourne home? With proper maintenance and care, your Terracotta tiles will last!

With the buildup of moss, lichen and pollution over decades, terracotta tiles can lose their visual appeal. A full terracotta roof restorations Melbourne by Casey Roof Care will restore your terracotta tiles to their former glory.

Issues with bedding and sometimes pointing are also very common with terracotta roofs. Back in the day, roofers would use a strong mix of sand, cement and aggregate – this bedding formula would last decades. Some roofs we work on still have this 40 year old bedding that has only recently failed in the past five years or so.

Recently restored terracotta roofs are also failing. This is due mostly to a weak and very basic mixture of sand and cement together with a poorly applied pointing compound. We have written articles on all of these topics which discuss these issues in depth. We strongly invite you to read and understand these issues so when you are quoted on your Terracotta roof restorations Melbourne you can gauge what services a contractor is going to provide for the money you are paying. Simply visit the articles section of the website for more information.

A question we are asked all the time is can you paint or ‘seal’ a Terracotta Roof? The answer is no. Why? You have two types of Terracotta tiles, glazed and non-glazed. On a non-glazed tile, think of how you apply paint to any piece of terracotta; it is baked on. With a glazed tile, consider painting glass, same thing not going to work. It may for a few years but will eventually peel making the roof look like a mess. Your only option then, cosmetically, is a re roof. Some small time operates put a tint through a clear coat of primer, looks great initially until the primer starts to peel then you’re in trouble. We’ve had a discussion on this in our articles sections, but please listen to us, do not paint or seal your Terracotta Roof.