South Melbourne was advertised as Emerald Hill when its first land was sold in 1849, and it is one of Melbourne's oldest suburban areas. It sits 3 kilometres south of the CBD in the City of Port Phillip, postcode 3205. Metro Wide Roofing covers South Melbourne for roof restoration, metal roofing, gutter replacement and cleaning, repointing, roof washing and paved areas. Phone 0466 477 008. A call back comes the same business day, followed by an inspection in person within the week.
- Postcode 3205
- City of Port Phillip
- About 3 km south of the CBD
Emerald Hill's terraces and iron cottages
During the gold rush a tent settlement called Canvas Town stood in the swamp here. It was soon replaced by modest terraces and cottages, often single storey, including many prefabricated overseas in timber and corrugated iron and imported in the early 1850s. A handful of those survive. By the 1870s wealthier residents favoured St Vincent Place. The predominant housing today is still terraced or semi-detached Victorian, and the terrace and cottage areas are extensive and mostly heritage-listed.
Corrugated iron has been on roofs here for as long as there have been roofs, so it looks right on a South Melbourne cottage. That helps when old sheets need replacing: new corrugated steel keeps the profile the street is used to, and colour becomes the main decision. Larger terraces tend to carry slate, with iron over the verandah and rear wing. The small laneways, most of them cobbled in bluestone, are often the only way to the back of a house.
Services we provide in South Melbourne
Roof restoration
Iron that is sound but weathered can be restored instead of replaced: cleaned, primed and finished with two coats of Dulux Acratex. Later tiled roofs get the same finish after ridge and valley work.
Colorbond and metal roofing
Replacing corrugated iron with new corrugated Colorbond or Zincalume keeps the look of a cottage roof. Sarking and insulation can go in while the old sheets are off, which older houses often lack.
Gutter replacement
OGEE and half-round gutters suit Victorian verandahs and eaves. We fit them in Colorbond or Zincalume, replace box gutters between attached houses, and add downpipes and fascia cover. Profile matters on a heritage streetscape.
Gutter cleaning
Attached cottages share gutter lines, so a blockage rarely stays one owner's problem. We clear by vacuum and by hand, flush each downpipe and photograph the result for your records.
Roof repointing
Some Edwardian and later houses here have terracotta tiles. If the ridge mortar is cracked but the tiles are fine, we re-bed and repoint the capping with flexible pointing. Iron roofs do not need it.
Roof washing
Painted iron needs a gentle hand. We use the lower-pressure treatment on metal and painted surfaces, and a controlled pressure clean on any terracotta or concrete tiles.
Driveway pressure washing, restoration and sealing
With lanes in place of driveways, the surfaces that need care in South Melbourne are courtyards, paths and garage aprons. Concrete and pavers are pressure washed, crack filled and sealed.
Frequently asked questions
Will new metal roofing look out of place on a Victorian cottage in South Melbourne?
Corrugated iron was used here from the early 1850s, so a corrugated profile is in keeping with the housing. The choices are finish and colour: Colorbond in its Classic, Contemporary, Matt or Metallic ranges, or unpainted Zincalume. On a heritage streetscape that choice deserves care, and we can show you the options.
My cottage shares a box gutter with next door. Can it still be replaced?
It can be inspected and quoted like any other gutter. Shared gutters are common where terraces and cottages are attached, as they are across much of South Melbourne. We look at the gutter in person, photograph its condition and list the work in a written quote you can show your neighbour.
Is Metro Wide Roofing insured for work on attached houses?
Metro Wide Roofing is fully licensed and insured, with public liability cover, and has been in business for 10 years. That applies to every job, attached house or not. You also receive a 12-month workmanship warranty in writing and photos of the completed work.
