Preston sits 9 km north-east of Melbourne's CBD in the City of Darebin, postcode 3072. It is one of the older suburbs we cover, and its roofs show it. Metro Wide Roofing restores and re-points tiled roofs here, replaces gutters and fascia cover, and installs Colorbond. Our number is 0466 477 008. You will hear back the same business day, have the roof inspected in person within the week, and hold a written, itemised quote within two business days of the inspection.
- Postcode 3072
- City of Darebin
- About 9 km north-east of the CBD
Interwar terracotta and post-war tiles: reading a Preston roofline
Preston grew in stages. It was marketed as a residential area in the 1880s, expanded quickly in the 1920s once the tram and the electrified railway arrived, and grew again after the Second World War. Each stage left its own roofs. Homes built before the war often carry terracotta tiles, which last well but go brittle and shed their glaze. Houses from the late 1940s to the 1960s more commonly have concrete tiles, now sixty years old or more.
The district once supplied clay for potteries and brickworks, so brick and tile have a long history in Preston. On roofs of this age the usual weak points are the ridge capping, the valleys and the gutters. Original mortar bedding crumbles. Steel valleys rust under trapped leaves. Old gutters lose their fall. None of this means the roof is finished. A sound frame with tired tiles is what restoration is for.
Services we provide in Preston
Roof repointing
Crumbling mortar on ridge and hip capping is the most common fault on Preston's older tiled roofs. We lift the capping, re-bed it and seal it with flexible pointing.
Roof restoration
Terracotta and concrete tiles are inspected, pressure cleaned and re-bedded. Broken tiles and rusted valleys are replaced. Primer and two coats of Dulux Acratex follow, in a colour that suits the house.
Gutter replacement
Period homes often look right with OGEE or half-round gutters, while post-war houses usually suit quad. We supply all six profiles in Colorbond or Zincalume, with fascia cover and downpipes.
Colorbond and metal roofing
Some old tiled roofs are beyond restoring. We re-roof in Colorbond or Zincalume, including tile-to-Colorbond conversions, and can add the sarking, insulation and ventilation that many older houses lack.
Roof washing
Terracotta holds lichen in its pores. A controlled pressure clean removes it along with grime and organic growth, and an optional protective coat slows its return.
Gutter cleaning
If deciduous trees line your street, the gutters fill each autumn. Leaves are removed by commercial vacuum and by hand, downpipes are flushed through, and a photo report follows. Two-storey homes are included.
Driveway pressure washing, restoration and sealing
Narrow concrete driveways on older blocks crack and stain over the decades. We pressure wash them, fill the cracks, re-colour or resurface where needed, and seal.
Frequently asked questions
Can terracotta tiles on an older Preston home be restored, or do they need replacing?
Terracotta usually restores well. We replace the individual tiles that have cracked, re-bed and re-point the capping, clean the roof and apply the Dulux Acratex membrane. If too many tiles have failed, we will say so after the inspection and quote a Colorbond re-roof as an alternative.
What gutter profile suits a period house?
OGEE and half-round profiles are common choices for older homes, and quad or slotted quad for mid-century houses. We also supply squareline and box. All come in Colorbond or Zincalume. During the inspection we look at what is on the house now and what will carry the water properly.
How long will new gutters take to install?
Most homes take one to two days, including fascia cover and downpipes if they are part of the job. Timing depends on the length of guttering and access around the house. Your itemised quote arrives within two business days of the inspection, and we photograph the finished work.
