If your house was built anytime between 1950 and 1970, there’s a fairly good chance that the roof has decramastic tiles. Those steel tiles with the gritty chip finish were everywhere across Auckland, and for good reason. They were lighter than concrete tiles, could stand up to NZ weather, and looked pretty sharp when they were new.
But of course over time, Auckland’s rain, wind, humidity, and the odd salty blast in coastal suburbs have seen many of these roofs now well past their prime.
The Better Roof team has been restoring and replacing decramastic roofs for decades, so we’re the team to call if you’re not sure where to start. But first, let’s cover some of the most common questions we get about decramastic roof repairs.
Why Decramastic Roofs Start to Cause Trouble
Decramastic tiles have a pressed steel core, which is protected by a coating and finished with stone chips. So, it’s not surprising that as long as they’re intact, the system is pretty hard-wearing.
Where things start to go wrong is when those surface layers break down. If the stone chips loosen or the coatings thin out, moisture gets closer to the steel than it should. The rust can then start spreading beneath the surface long before any damage becomes visible from the ground.
Flashings and fixings can be an issue too, creating weak points where leaks can start. And of course, the elephant in the room – older decramastic tiles were made with coatings containing asbestos. And while that doesn’t automatically mean the roof is unsafe, it does change how repairs or restoration need to be approached.
Ultimately, though, because decramastic roofs are made from such solid materials, a lot of the time they can be repaired or restored. As long as the steel is sound, rust is limited, and leaks are isolated, there’s no need to jump straight to replacement.
What Happens During a Repair or Restoration
When we arrive to inspect a decramastic roof project, it always starts with getting the full scope of the job. We’ll get up on the roof and check for rust, chips, loose fixings or flashing, and any signs that water has gotten where it shouldn’t.
Once we’re ready to start, we clean the surface. Moss and lichen can be a real problem in some of Auckland’s leafy, shaded streets, so we’ve got to clear that away, usually either with a soft-wash or pressure-clean, depending on the roof.
The type of decramastic tile roof repairs that follow might include replacing damaged tiles, treating rust, or resecuring fixings and flashing. Finally, once the roof is sound, we can resurface, re-chip, and apply a protective top coat to suit the environment.
Of course, if the roof’s age puts asbestos on the table, that will be tested upfront, so that we know what we’re working with. On projects where we confirm asbestos, we’ll often recommend using an overlay system, which can help avoid the cost of removal, disposal and replacement.
Take the Next Step
If it’s time to bite the bullet on your roof repair or replacement, rest assured it’s probably not as disruptive a job as you might think. Small decramastic roof repairs in Auckland might take a few days, while full restorations will usually take a week or more, depending on the size/pitch/height of the roof, as well as the weather and how much prep is needed.
If you’re comparing quotes, check that cleaning, repairs, coatings, and warranties are mentioned, and that the contractor has experience specifically working on decramastic roofs. Or just skip the search and come straight to the team that does it best.
Book an inspection with Troy and the Better Roof lads for reliable, professional advice.