Kensington has two kinds of street. The older ones hold Victorian and Edwardian terraces in timber and brick. The newer ones cover the former Newmarket Saleyards. Both are in the City of Melbourne, postcode 3031, 4 kilometres north-west of the CBD. Metro Wide Roofing services Kensington for gutter cleaning, roof restoration, repointing, roof washing, gutter replacement, metal roofing and driveways. Phone 0466 477 008. Your call is returned the same business day and we inspect within the week.
- Postcode 3031
- City of Melbourne
- About 4 km north-west of the CBD
Timber terraces and the saleyards estate
Well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian terraces, in timber and in brick, line Ormond Street, McCracken Street, Rankins Road, Bellair Street, Lambeth Street and Parsons Street. Timber houses of that age commonly have corrugated iron roofs, and Edwardian ones often have terracotta tiles. The suburb is hilly in sections and has established tree-lined streets, which is pleasant to live with and hard on gutters. Leaves from mature street trees collect in valleys and behind chimneys as well as along the eaves.
The saleyards operated until 1987. The land was then redeveloped by the state government, and the area is now known as Kensington Banks. Homes built after the yards closed are up to a generation old. Their roofs, commonly concrete tile or Colorbond, are reaching the point where colour has faded and ridge pointing has started to crack, though the structure beneath is sound. It is ordinary ageing, and it is simpler to deal with early.
Services we provide in Kensington
Gutter cleaning
Tree-lined streets are the reason this comes first in Kensington. We vacuum and hand clear the gutters, flush every downpipe and send photos. Two cleans a year suit most homes, one ahead of winter and one ahead of bushfire season.
Roof restoration
Faded concrete tiles on the newer estate and weathered iron on older terraces can both be restored. After cleaning and ridge or valley work, the roof gets primer and two coats of Dulux Acratex.
Roof repointing
Ridge pointing on tiled roofs cracks with time, on Edwardian terracotta and on estate concrete tiles alike. We re-bed the ridge and hip capping and repoint with a flexible compound.
Roof washing
Shade from street trees keeps roofs damp, and lichen follows. We clean tiles under controlled pressure and metal at lower pressure. Where branches hang over the house, the usual interval of three to five years gets shorter.
Gutter replacement
Timber terraces often need fascia cover when the gutters are replaced, because old boards weather. We fit Colorbond or Zincalume in quad, OGEE, squareline and other profiles, with leaf guard where trees overhang.
Colorbond and metal roofing
Old iron on a timber terrace can be replaced with Colorbond or Zincalume in the same corrugated profile. We also handle tile-to-Colorbond conversions and patio roofs in polycarbonate or fibreglass.
Driveway pressure washing, restoration and sealing
Newer homes on the old saleyards land are more likely to have a garage and driveway. We pressure wash, fill cracks, re-colour and seal concrete, exposed aggregate and pavers. Terrace owners can book courtyards and paths.
Frequently asked questions
Our house was built on the old saleyards land. Is the roof due for attention?
Quite possibly a wash and a ridge check. The yards closed in 1987 and the housing followed, so the earliest of those roofs have had decades of weather. Concrete tiles fade and their pointing cracks. Colorbond needs a lower-pressure wash. We inspect in person and quote only what the roof needs.
Do timber terraces need different gutter work from brick ones?
The gutters are the same, but the timber behind them matters more. On a weatherboard terrace the fascia board carries the gutter, and old boards weather. Kensington has many Victorian and Edwardian timber terraces, so we check the fascia at the inspection and can quote fascia cover with the new gutters.
What happens between the inspection and the start of work?
You receive a written, itemised quote with a set price within two business days of the inspection. Read it, ask questions, and choose what to go ahead with. Once the job in Kensington is finished, photos of the completed work are sent to you along with a 12-month workmanship warranty in writing.
