Glenroy is a post-war suburb 12 km north of the Melbourne CBD, in the City of Merri-bek, which was called the City of Moreland until 2022. The postcode is 3046. Large areas were built in the years after the Second World War, so a great many roofs here are reaching the same age together. Metro Wide Roofing covers Glenroy for restoration, repointing, gutters, metal roofing and driveways. Reach us on 0466 477 008 for a same-business-day call back and an inspection within the week.
- Postcode 3046
- City of Merri-bek
- About 12 km north of the CBD
Seventy years on: the state of Glenroy's 1950s roofs
After the Second World War, Australian National Airways, the War Services Homes Commission and the Housing Commission of Victoria developed large areas of Glenroy, and building continued rapidly through the 1950s. Many homes from that period have tiled roofs, often concrete, sometimes terracotta. At around seventy years old, the tiles themselves are frequently still serviceable. What has worn out is everything around them: the mortar bedding, the pointing, the steel valleys and the original gutters.
A smaller, older settlement grew around the railway at the end of the nineteenth century, so a few streets have earlier houses. Moonee Ponds Creek forms the western boundary and Merlynston Creek runs through the suburb. Homes beside the creeks or the Northern Golf Club tend to see more leaf fall. Where original houses have made way for newer units, Colorbond is common and the maintenance is lighter.
Services we provide in Glenroy
Roof restoration
A 1950s tiled roof in Glenroy with sound tiles is a strong candidate for restoration. We clean it, re-bed and re-point the capping, replace failed tiles and rusted valleys, and finish with Dulux Acratex.
Roof repointing
Seventy-year-old mortar is usually loose or missing in places. Capping along the ridges and hips of a tiled roof is taken up, bedded again and pointed with a flexible compound.
Gutter replacement
Original gutters and timber fascias on post-war homes are often rusted or weathered. Replacement in Colorbond or Zincalume, with fascia cover and downpipes, takes one to two days on most homes.
Gutter cleaning
Properties beside Moonee Ponds Creek, Merlynston Creek or the golf course collect the most leaves. We vacuum and hand clear the gutters and flush every downpipe.
Colorbond and metal roofing
Where tiles have reached the end of their life, a tile-to-Colorbond conversion gives the house a new roof with sarking, insulation and ventilation options. We also install Zincalume.
Roof washing
Decades of grime and lichen make an old roof look worse than it is. A controlled pressure clean shows the true condition of the tiles before you decide on further work.
Driveway pressure washing, restoration and sealing
Seventy years of wear shows on original concrete paths and driveways. We wash them under pressure, fill the cracks, and re-colour or resurface before sealing. Plan to reseal every two to four years.
Frequently asked questions
Are the original tiles on a 1950s Glenroy house worth keeping?
Often they are. Concrete and terracotta tiles from that period are usually thick and durable. If the bulk of them are intact, we replace the broken ones, renew the bedding and pointing, and coat the roof. If the inspection shows widespread failure, we will quote a Colorbond conversion instead.
Should I replace the gutters at the same time as restoring the roof?
It is worth considering if the gutters are original. Doing both together means one inspection and one quote covering each item. We will tell you plainly whether the gutters have life left in them. Replacement gutters come in Colorbond or Zincalume, in six profiles.
How soon can someone look at my roof?
We call back the same business day you contact us and inspect in person within the week. The written, itemised quote follows within two business days of the inspection. There is no depot or showroom to visit, because the crew comes to your property.
