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Roof Maintenance

Fresh Coat of Paint - Signs Your Roof Needs Attention

5 June 20246 min readBy Leaky Roof Team

Your Roof's Coating Is Its First Line of Defence

The paint or coating on your roof is not just about appearance. It serves as a protective barrier against UV radiation, rain, frost, and the general wear of Canberra's harsh climate. When that coating starts to fail, the underlying roofing material - whether concrete tile, terracotta, or metal - becomes exposed to the elements and deteriorates much faster.

Most roof coatings in Canberra last between 10 and 20 years depending on the product used, the roof's orientation, and how well the original application was done. North and west-facing roof planes, which cop the most direct sun and weather, tend to degrade faster than sheltered south-facing slopes.

Sign 1 - Fading and Colour Loss

The most obvious sign is when your roof's colour has noticeably faded or become patchy. You might notice that the colour is different on different parts of the roof - the sun-exposed sides looking washed out while the sheltered sides still hold their original colour. This uneven fading is particularly visible on homes in open, elevated suburbs like Aranda, Cook, and Hawker where there is little tree shade.

Fading indicates that the UV-protective pigments in the coating have broken down, which means the binding agents are next to fail. Once the binding agents go, the coating stops adhering to the surface and starts to peel.

Sign 2 - Chalking

Run your finger across a tile or metal sheet on your roof (if you can safely reach one from a ladder). If your finger comes away with a powdery, chalk-like residue, the coating is breaking down. This powder is the coating's pigment and resin separating from the surface, meaning the protective layer is significantly diminished.

Chalking is extremely common on Canberra roofs due to our intense UV exposure. The combination of high altitude, clear skies, and low humidity means UV levels here are higher than in Sydney or Melbourne for much of the year.

Sign 3 - Moss, Lichen, and Algae Growth

Green, black, or white growth on your roof tiles is a clear sign that the coating has failed in those areas. A healthy, well-coated roof surface is too smooth and chemically hostile for moss and lichen to establish. Once the coating degrades, the rough, porous surface underneath provides an ideal foothold for organic growth.

Moss is particularly common on south-facing slopes and in shaded areas. Suburbs with heavy tree canopy - like Weston, Duffy, Rivett, and parts of inner Canberra - see more moss growth due to reduced sunlight and higher moisture retention. Left unchecked, moss roots work into the surface of concrete tiles, accelerating their deterioration.

Sign 4 - Peeling and Flaking

When you can see visible peeling, flaking, or lifting of the coating from the ground, the failure is advanced. Water is getting under the coating, freeze-thaw cycles are lifting it further, and the exposed material beneath is degrading rapidly. At this stage, simply painting over the top is not sufficient - the old coating needs to be removed or properly prepared before any new coating can be applied.

Sign 5 - Water Absorption and Dark Patches

If your concrete tile roof shows dark, wet patches for hours after rain while surrounding tiles have dried, those tiles have become porous. A good coating prevents water absorption. When tiles start holding moisture, it means the coating has failed. In Canberra's winters, this absorbed water freezes and expands, causing cracking that worsens with every frost event.

Roof Painting vs Full Restoration

If the only issue is faded or chalking coating on an otherwise sound roof, a repaint may be sufficient. This involves cleaning, priming, and applying two coats of a quality roof membrane. However, if there are also cracked tiles, failed pointing, damaged flashings, or other structural issues, a full restoration is the better investment.

A full restoration includes all the repairs plus the recoating, ensuring the entire roof system is brought back to good condition. Painting over a roof with unresolved repair issues is like painting over cracked walls - it looks better temporarily but does not address the underlying problems.

Choosing the Right Colour

If you are repainting your roof, consider choosing a lighter colour than your current one. Light colours like Surfmist, Shale Grey, or Paperbark reflect more heat and can reduce your summer cooling costs. In Canberra where summer temperatures regularly exceed 35 degrees, a lighter roof colour can reduce cavity temperatures by 10 to 20 degrees compared to a dark colour.

Keep in mind that some suburbs in Canberra have heritage overlays or covenant restrictions that limit roof colours. Check with your local planning authority or body corporate before committing to a colour change.

Get a Professional Assessment

If you have noticed any of these signs on your Canberra home, it is worth getting a professional opinion on whether a repaint or a full restoration is the right approach. We offer free estimates that include an assessment of your roof's current condition and a detailed quote for the recommended work. Call (02) 5133 5608 or book online. We cover all ACT suburbs, 7 days a week.

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