Five kilometres east of the CBD, Kew is bordered by the Yarra River on its west and north-west sides. It belongs to the City of Boroondara and uses postcode 3101. Metro Wide Roofing services Kew for repointing, gutter replacement, gutter cleaning, roof washing, roof restoration, metal roofing and driveway sealing. Ring 0466 477 008 to begin. We call back the same business day, look at the roof in person within the week, and send a written, itemised quote within two business days of that visit.
- Postcode 3101
- City of Boroondara
- About 5 km east of the CBD
Tall gables, tall chimneys and a river on two sides
Crown land here was sold and subdivided in the 1850s, and the area quickly became a sought-after address. Studley House dates from 1857 and Villa Alba from before 1863. In the Sackville Ward, streets such as Alfred, Rowland, Wellington, Grange and Sackville hold Victorian and Edwardian houses alongside contemporary designs. Homes of the Edwardian years commonly carry terracotta tiles, and earlier ones often have corrugated iron over verandahs and rear wings. Roofs like these are complicated: many hips, several valleys, tall chimneys. Every junction is a place where water entry can start.
Not every roof in Kew is a century old. Contemporary houses stand in the same streets, and designs of that kind tend to use low-pitched metal roofing with box gutters set behind a parapet. A box gutter that blocks has nowhere to spill except inward, so it needs regular clearing. Toward the river and Studley Park the tree cover thickens, and leaves arrive in quantity each autumn. The suburb sits about 58 metres above sea level.
Services we provide in Kew
Roof repointing
Long terracotta ridges on Edwardian houses depend on mortar laid generations ago. Where the tiles are sound, we lift the ridge and hip capping, bed it again and finish with flexible pointing. The clay itself is left uncoated.
Gutter replacement
Ornate facades suit OGEE or half-round gutters, and contemporary houses usually take box or squareline. Both come in Colorbond or Zincalume, fitted with downpipes and fascia cover. Allow one to two days for most homes.
Gutter cleaning
Box gutters behind parapets and high gutters on two-storey villas are both awkward to reach. We clear them by commercial vacuum and by hand, run water through every downpipe, and photograph what we found.
Roof washing
Terracotta under riverside trees picks up lichen on its shaded slopes. Tiles are cleaned under controlled pressure. Painted iron and Colorbond receive a lower-pressure treatment, and a protective coat is there if you want one.
Roof restoration
When tiles on a later Kew home have lost their surface, a full restoration follows the inspection: pressure clean, ridge work, new tiles and valley irons where the old have failed, then a Dulux Acratex membrane over primer.
Colorbond and metal roofing
Verandahs, rear wings and garages roofed in old iron can be re-sheeted in Colorbond or Zincalume. For a contemporary low-pitched roof we supply Classic, Contemporary, Matt and Metallic finishes, with sarking and insulation as options.
Driveway pressure washing, restoration and sealing
Long driveways beside large houses collect leaf stain and tyre marks. We pressure wash pavers, exposed aggregate and concrete, fill cracks, re-colour or resurface where it is needed, and seal the surface afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
My Kew house has several chimneys, valleys and gables. Does a complicated roof change the job?
It changes where we look. Valleys, chimney flashings and the ends of ridges are the usual points of water entry on Victorian and Edwardian roofs. Each one is checked at the inspection in person, and each item appears on its own line in the written quote, so you can see what a complicated roof involves.
What is a box gutter, and why does it need more attention?
A box gutter sits inside the roofline, often behind a parapet, which is a common detail on contemporary homes in Kew. When it blocks, water backs up toward the ceiling instead of spilling over an edge. Clearing it twice a year, before winter and before bushfire season, is the usual routine. Box is also one of the profiles we install.
Will the price change after I accept the quote?
No. After the inspection you receive a written, itemised quote with a set price, within two business days. Each part of the work is listed separately, so you can proceed with all of it or only some. The job also carries a 12-month workmanship warranty in writing, and photos are sent once it is finished.
