A roof restoration brings a tired tiled roof back to a watertight, like-new condition without replacing it. Royce Roofing cleans, repairs, rebeds and repoints, replaces rusted valleys and, where it suits the roof, recoats it. Every restoration comes with a 7-year warranty, a fixed written quote, and tiles from our own yards.
At a glance
- For roofs with sound tiles and frame but failing pointing, valleys, tiles or coating
- Clean, repair, rebed and repoint, valleys, then coat where it suits the roof
- Typically 3 to 7 days on site, depending on size, pitch and weather
- 7-year warranty on every restoration
- Usually a fraction of the cost of a new roof
What a roof restoration is
A restoration fixes everything that wears out on a tiled roof while keeping the tiles and frame you already have. The tiles on most Melbourne roofs outlast the parts around them: ridge bedding cracks, pointing fails, valleys rust and coatings fade. Restoring those parts makes the roof watertight again and extends its life, usually at a fraction of the cost of a roof replacement.
Done properly, a restoration typically lasts 15 to 20 years, and longer with good maintenance.
Signs your roof needs restoring
These are the things we look for. One on its own is often a repair; several together usually point to a restoration.
How we restore a tiled roof
- Free inspection and fixed quoteWe inspect tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, gutters and the roof space, and give you a fixed written price before any work starts.
- Safety set-upOur own temporary safety rail and ladder guards go up first, with skylight protection where needed.
- Pressure cleanThe whole roof is cleaned at 4,000+ psi with the method matched to the tiles, and gutters are vacuumed out. Usually 1 to 2 days.
- RepairsCracked tiles replaced from our yards, ridges and hips rebedded and repointed with flexible pointing, rusted valleys replaced with new Zincalume. Usually 1 to 2 days.
- Coating, where it suits the roofOur 4-coat system: one primer coat, two full-colour coats and one protectant coat, using the Dulux Acratex range. Usually 1 to 2 days.
- Clean up and handoverAll waste removed, gutters cleared, and a walk-through of the finished roof.
Most restorations take 3 to 7 days on site. Larger, steeper or double-storey roofs take longer, and wet weather adds days.
Is your roof due for a restoration?
Free inspection, a straight answer, and a fixed written quote.
Before and after
Terracotta and concrete restorations
| Terracotta | Concrete | |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | Restores the natural clay colour | Removes moss, lichen and loose surface |
| Coating | Optional; colour is fired into the clay | Usual on faded roofs, to restore colour and protect the surface |
| Ridges | Rebed and repoint where bedding has failed | Rebed and repoint where bedding has failed |
| Broken tiles | Replaced with matched terracotta | Replaced with matched concrete, including discontinued profiles |
Not sure which you have? Terracotta is clay coloured right through; concrete is grey on the back. See terracotta roof repairs and roof painting.
Restore or replace?
If the tiles and frame are sound, restoration is almost always the better value. If tiles are porous or crumbling across most of the roof, or the sarking and battens have failed, replacement is the honest answer. We tell you which, and why, after the inspection.
On a 30-year-old cement tile roof, our crew found the tiles and frame still solid, so the owner restored rather than replaced. Read roof restoration vs roof replacement.
What affects the cost of a restoration
What restorations cost on the market. Published Melbourne figures put a tiled roof restoration at:
| Low | Typical | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiled roof restoration | $4,200 | $7,900 | $11,550 |
| Ridge rebed and repoint, full roof | $840 | $2,300 | $3,675 |
hipages rates quoted by Canstar run from about $17 to $22 per square metre for larger roofs to $28 to $38 for smaller ones. Read the full roof restoration cost guide.
These are market ranges from published Australian price guides, not Royce Roofing prices. Every roof is different. We give you a fixed written quote after a free inspection.
Sources: What’s The Damage: Roofing costs in Melbourne (October 2026); Canstar: How much does a roof restoration cost in 2026? (citing hipages).
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Roof size | More area to clean, repoint and coat. |
| Height and pitch | Double-storey and steep roofs need more safety set-up and take longer. |
| Ridge capping | A full rebed and repoint costs more than a repoint only. |
| Valleys | Whether rusted valley irons need replacing. |
| Broken tiles | How many need replacing, and whether the profile is still made. |
| Coating | Whether the roof is being recoated, and in what colour. |
Every quote is fixed and written after a free inspection.
Safety on every job
WorkSafe Victoria’s compliance code for housing construction puts edge protection such as guard railing ahead of harnesses and ladders when controlling the risk of falls from a roof. Our crews set up our own temporary safety rail, ladder guards and, where there are old skylights, safety nets before anyone works on the roof. Every crew member holds a working at heights qualification.
Sources: WorkSafe Victoria: Prevention of falls in housing construction.
Common questions
How long does a roof restoration take?
Most take 3 to 7 days on site: about 1 to 2 days to clean, 1 to 2 days of repairs, and 1 to 2 days of coating where the roof is being recoated. Larger, steeper or double-storey roofs take longer, and rain adds days.
How long does a roof restoration last?
Done properly with quality materials, a restoration typically lasts 15 to 20 years, and longer with good maintenance. Every Royce restoration also comes with a 7-year warranty.
What warranty do you give?
Every Royce Roofing restoration is backed by a 7-year warranty. Your written quote sets out exactly what work is included before anything starts.
Is restoring cheaper than replacing a roof?
Usually by a wide margin, because the existing tiles and frame are kept. If the tiles and frame are sound, restoration is almost always the better value. We will tell you honestly if replacement is the better answer.
Do I need to paint my roof as part of a restoration?
Not always. Faded concrete roofs are usually recoated to restore their colour and protect the surface. Terracotta colour is fired into the clay, so a clean often brings it back without paint. We recommend a coating only where it serves the roof.
Do I need to be home during the restoration?
Not usually. As long as we have safe access to the roof and an outdoor tap, our crew can work while you are out. Tell us about any rainwater tank so it can be disconnected during cleaning and coating.
What products do you use?
We clean with industrial pressure equipment at 4,000+ psi, finish ridges with flexible pointing, replace valleys with Zincalume, and coat with our 4-coat system using the Dulux Acratex range: a primer, two full-colour coats and a protectant coat.
Do you restore roofs across all of Melbourne?
Yes. We work across the Melbourne region from our office and tile yard in Mulgrave, with a second yard in Doveton. The inspection is free wherever you are.
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