Roof Repairs
Fast, lasting repairs to leaks, broken tiles, cracked flashing and storm damage — essential in the Highlands where high rainfall and frost cycles hit roofs hard.
Learn more →Bring your tired tile roof back to life
A roof restoration is the smart middle ground between living with a deteriorating roof and paying for a full replacement. For the ageing terracotta and concrete tile roofs that cover so much of Bowral, Burradoo and Mittagong, a proper restoration can add a decade or more of service life — at a fraction of the cost of re-roofing.
If your tiles are faded, your ridge caps are crumbling, or moss has taken over the southern slope, restoration is almost certainly the answer. We start with a free inspection so you know exactly what your roof needs.
What the restoration process involves
Every roof is a little different, but a full Highlands tile restoration generally runs through these stages:
- Inspection and quote — we get on the roof, assess the tiles, mortar, valleys and flashing, and give you a clear written price.
- High-pressure clean — years of moss, lichen and grime come off. In the cool, damp Highlands, biological growth builds up faster than on the coast, so this step matters.
- Repairs — broken, cracked and slipped tiles are replaced; flashing and valleys are checked.
- Rebed and repoint — the ridge caps are rebedded where needed and repointed with flexible pointing that copes with the freeze-thaw cycling that destroys old sand-cement mortar.
- Seal or coat — a primer and sealer (or full membrane and colour coat) waterproofs the tiles and refreshes the look.
- Clean-up — gutters cleared, site left tidy.
Signs your roof is ready for restoration
You rarely need a roofer to tell you a roof is tired, but these are the clearest signals on a Highlands tile roof:
- Faded, chalky or patchy tiles — concrete tiles lose their protective surface and start absorbing water.
- Moss and lichen on the cooler southern slopes, which trap moisture against the tiles.
- Crumbling ridge mortar or fine sandy grit washing into the gutters after rain.
- The odd slipped or cracked tile, often the first place a future leak starts.
- A roof that's 15 to 25 years old and has never been recoated or repointed.
Catch a roof at this stage and a restoration is straightforward. Leave it until water is in the ceiling and the job — and the bill — grows.
Why the Highlands climate makes restoration worthwhile
Bowral's roughly 850 mm of annual rain and its frequent winter frosts are exactly the conditions that wear roofs out early. Water gets into hairline cracks, freezes overnight, expands, and opens them wider — the freeze-thaw cycle that's far more aggressive on the Highlands plateau than on the coast. Mortar that might last decades in a warm coastal suburb breaks down far quicker up here. A restoration resets the clock — fresh pointing, sealed tiles, and a roof that sheds water the way it should.
Honest advice on cost
Restoration cost depends on roof size, pitch, the tile type, access, and how much repair work is needed before the coating goes on. As a rough guide, full tile restorations in NSW generally run from the low thousands for a modest single-storey concrete tile roof up to well into five figures for a large, steep, two-storey heritage roof with extensive ridge and tile repairs. A complex Burradoo manor roof sits at the top of that range; a tidy Mittagong cottage at the bottom.
We don't quote sight-unseen, and we won't give you a fixed price over the phone — there are too many variables to be honest about it. Instead we inspect, itemise exactly what your roof needs, and give you a clear written price with no surprises. Call (02) 5850 4811 to book your free inspection.
Local and accountable
We're a Southern Highlands team and our work is licensed and insured with a workmanship warranty on every restoration. Restoration usually folds in our ridge capping and repointing and roof painting; if the tiles themselves are failing, see tile roofing, and for isolated faults, roof repairs. We cover the whole Southern Highlands service area, including Bowral, Burradoo and Mittagong — and you can read more about us.
Ready to find out what your roof needs? Call (02) 5850 4811 for your free inspection.
More services
Explore our other services
Ridge Capping & Repointing
Rebedding and repointing deteriorated ridge caps on the steeply pitched heritage tile roofs of Bowral, Berrima and Burradoo — where cold thermal cycling breaks down mortar fast.
Learn more →Roof Painting
Specialist membrane and paint application to waterproof and re-colour faded terracotta and concrete tiles — refreshing Highlands heritage streetscapes without re-roofing.
Learn more →Tile Roofing
Supply and installation of terracotta and concrete roof tiles suited to the Highlands character — and to council heritage controls that favour traditional tile over metal.
Learn more →Gutter Repair & Replacement
Repair, reline and replace gutters and downpipes — critical in Bowral where high rainfall, autumn leaf fall from deciduous trees, and frost accelerate blockage and corrosion.
Learn more →
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
How much does a roof restoration cost in the Southern Highlands?
There is no single price — it depends on roof size, pitch, tile type, access and how much repair is needed before coating. As a guide, a full tile restoration on a single-storey Highlands home usually lands in the low-to-mid thousands, while a large, steep, two-storey heritage roof in Burradoo with extensive ridge work costs considerably more. We never quote sight-unseen; we inspect, then give you a fixed written price.
How long does a roof restoration take?
Most tile roof restorations in the Highlands take three to five working days, weather permitting. Steeper heritage roofs, larger homes, and extensive tile or mortar repairs take longer. We give you a realistic timeframe with your quote, and our cold, wet weather means we plan around dry windows.
What does a full roof restoration include?
A high-pressure clean to strip off moss, lichen and grime; replacement of broken or slipped tiles; rebedding and repointing of the ridge caps; and a sealer or membrane coat to waterproof and re-colour the tiles. We finish by clearing your gutters and cleaning up the site.
Will a restoration fix my leak?
Usually, yes — most Highlands leaks come from failed ridge mortar, cracked tiles or worn flashing, all of which a restoration addresses. If the leak is from a deeper structural issue, we'll find it during the free inspection and tell you straight.
Is it worth restoring an old roof, or should I replace it?
If the tiles themselves are structurally sound — even if faded, mossy or with failed pointing — restoration is almost always the better value, often a fraction of a full re-roof. Replacement only makes sense when the tiles are widely cracked or delaminating, or the battens beneath have rotted. We tell you honestly which camp your roof is in at the free inspection.
Can you restore terracotta as well as concrete tile roofs?
Yes. Concrete tiles are cleaned, repaired, sealed and re-coloured with a membrane. Terracotta is handled differently — glazed terracotta usually shouldn't be coated, so we clean, replace broken tiles and repoint rather than paint over the natural finish. We confirm the right approach for your tiles on site.
Free, no-obligation