St Kilda faces Port Phillip, 6 kilometres south-east of the CBD, and sea air is part of owning a roof in postcode 3182. The suburb belongs to the City of Port Phillip. Metro Wide Roofing covers St Kilda for Colorbond and metal roofing, gutter replacement, roof restoration, roof washing, repointing, gutter cleaning and paved surfaces. Call 0466 477 008. The same business day you get a call back, and within the week someone inspects the roof in person.
- Postcode 3182
- City of Port Phillip
- About 6 km south-east of the CBD
Salt air, grand terraces and blocks of flats
From the 1850s to the 1880s this was a favoured address, and mansions and grand terraces were built along its hills, wide streets and waterfront. Between the big estates, smaller streets filled with modest cottages and terraces. Then came the flats. St Kilda was heavily subdivided into apartments between the wars, and its mix now runs from Victorian terraces through Edwardian and inter-war homes to post-war and modern infill. Roofs vary to match: slate and iron on the oldest, terracotta on Edwardian houses and many inter-war buildings.
The bay is the constant. Bayside air is hard on unpainted steel, and it shortens the life of gutters, valley irons, flashings and fasteners before it troubles the tiles. Rust tends to start at cut edges and laps, where you cannot see it. Wind off the water also works on ridge capping. If your home is near the Esplanade or the foreshore, expect metal parts to need attention sooner than the same parts would inland.
Services we provide in St Kilda
Colorbond and metal roofing
Colorbond Ultra is the range for coastal homes, and St Kilda is coastal. We use it for re-roofs, new roofs and tile-to-Colorbond conversions, and we replace rusted iron on verandahs and rear wings.
Gutter replacement
Gutters are usually the first metal to go near the bay. We replace them in Colorbond, with half-round or OGEE for period facades and box gutters behind parapets, plus new downpipes and fascia cover.
Roof restoration
Terracotta roofs on Edwardian and inter-war houses can be restored. We clean, re-bed and point the capping, replace failed tiles and any valleys the salt has rusted, then apply primer and two coats of Dulux Acratex.
Roof washing
Salt film and grime dull a roof near the water. Tiles are cleaned under controlled pressure, Colorbond and painted surfaces at lower pressure. In St Kilda the optional protective coat is worth a conversation.
Roof repointing
Sea wind tests the mortar on exposed ridges. On tiled roofs we re-bed loose ridge and hip capping and seal it with flexible pointing. It is a job for tiled roofs only.
Gutter cleaning
Palms and garden trees drop fronds and seed into gutters, and wet debris sitting on steel speeds up rust. We vacuum, hand clear, flush every downpipe and send photos of the cleared runs.
Driveway pressure washing, restoration and sealing
Blocks of flats usually share a concrete drive and parking area, and houses may have only a path and a courtyard. We pressure wash, fill cracks, resurface or re-colour, and seal.
Frequently asked questions
Does living near the beach shorten the life of a roof?
It shortens the life of the metal in it. Bayside air is hard on unpainted steel, so gutters, valleys, flashings and fasteners in St Kilda tend to rust before the tiles wear out. Regular washing, clear gutters and timely replacement of rusted parts all help the remainder of the roof last.
Should I choose Zincalume or Colorbond this close to the bay?
Both are available. Zincalume is unpainted, and salt air is hard on unpainted steel, so many owners near the water prefer a painted product. Colorbond Ultra is the range intended for coastal homes. We can go through finishes and colours with you when we inspect your St Kilda home.
How do I book an inspection?
Ring 0466 477 008. You are called back the same business day and a time is set within the week. The inspection is done in person at your property, and the written, itemised quote follows within two business days. Metro Wide Roofing is fully licensed and insured, and carries public liability cover.
