Carlton immediately adjoins the city centre, 3 kilometres north of the CBD in the City of Melbourne, postcode 3053. It was founded in 1851 and is known for its Victorian architecture and its garden squares. Metro Wide Roofing services Carlton for gutter cleaning and replacement, metal roofing, roof restoration, roof washing, repointing and paved courtyards. The sequence is simple: you ring 0466 477 008, we call back the same business day, and an inspection in person follows within the week.
- Postcode 3053
- City of Melbourne
- About 3 km north of the CBD
Victorian terraces around five garden squares
Apartments are now the most common form of housing in Carlton, at about four in five dwellings. Much of what remains is terrace housing, attached and semi-detached, which multiplied in the Victorian era. Drummond Street has some of the finest examples: Lothian Terrace dates from 1865 to 1869 and Rosaville from 1883. Many terraces sit within heritage overlays. Roofs of that age are commonly slate or corrugated iron, set behind a parapet at the front, with chimneys shared between neighbours.
Nearly three quarters of the housing here is rented, so the person who owns the roof often does not live under it. Trouble in a hidden gutter can go unreported until a ceiling stains. A photo report gives a landlord a record of what the gutters and roof looked like on the day. Houses facing the garden squares collect leaf fall as well, and a parapet gutter has nowhere to overflow except inward.
Services we provide in Carlton
Gutter cleaning
For a rented terrace in Carlton, a twice-yearly clean with a photo report is simple upkeep. We vacuum, clear by hand and flush every downpipe, on single and two-storey homes.
Gutter replacement
Parapet and box gutters do the hard work on a terrace. We replace them in Colorbond or Zincalume, along with verandah gutters in OGEE or half-round, and fit new downpipes.
Colorbond and metal roofing
Rear skillions and verandah roofs in old iron are common on terraces. We re-roof them in Colorbond or Zincalume, and can cover a courtyard with polycarbonate or fibreglass sheeting.
Roof restoration
Tiled and metal roofs both qualify. Weathered iron can be cleaned, primed and coated in Dulux Acratex, and a later terracotta roof gets ridge work and new valleys first. On a heritage street, pick the colour carefully.
Roof washing
City air leaves a film on roofs this close to town. We wash painted iron and Colorbond at lower pressure, and tiles under controlled pressure. Expect to repeat it every three to five years.
Roof repointing
Repointing is for tiled roofs, which in Carlton usually means a later house or a terrace re-roofed in terracotta. The ridge and hip capping is lifted and re-bedded, then sealed along its edges with flexible pointing.
Driveway pressure washing, restoration and sealing
Terraces here have courtyards and rear lanes, not driveways. We pressure wash and seal paved courtyards, paths and the concrete in front of a lane garage, filling cracks first.
Frequently asked questions
I rent out a terrace in Carlton. How do I keep track of the roof?
Book gutter cleaning twice a year and keep the photo reports. Each one shows the gutters and downpipes on the day, including parapet gutters nobody sees from the street. If the photos show rust or sagging, we can inspect in person and send a written, itemised quote within two business days of that visit.
Why do parapet gutters cause so much trouble?
They sit behind the front wall, out of sight, and they have no outer edge to spill over. When leaves block the outlet, water backs up and finds its way inside. Many Victorian terraces in Carlton are built this way. Regular clearing and a gutter in sound condition are what prevent water entry.
Do you work this close to the city centre?
Yes. The crew travels anywhere in metro Melbourne, and Carlton is 3 kilometres from the CBD. No street address is published because every inspection and job happens at the customer's property. Access to the roof is looked at during the inspection, before the quote is written.
