Is your roof looking its age? It might be time for a restoration to give your roof a facelift. What happens though if the need for a restoration arises in a heritage area? Often there are two options, you can fully replace your roof with modern materials for a longer lasting roof, or you can elect to restore the roof to its former glory to keep the heritage feel of the property. There are several things to consider when choosing to restore a heritage roof, there are the obvious issues such as cost, contractor and materials; but also, the little things some homeowners do not consider or simply don’t realise play a part in the process. The GT Roofing team have put together the most commonly forgotten restoration considerations for Adelaide heritage roofs.
Permits and Permission
Whether or not your roof can be restored or replaced often depends on the local council and whether a permit to complete the work is required. Not having the appropriate permit can be a costly exercise. Not only can fines be imposed, but in some cases, Councils can force further works at your cost to remedy the issue. To avoid the stress around the restoration project, talk to Council first; to see if you need a permit in the first instance, and to see if there are any specific conditions on the restoration, such as style or colour the local Council or Heritage Society would impose.
It is good to find this out at the very beginning before work commences, so you can plan accordingly. Your roofing contractor should also be able to provide the necessary information to Council to apply for any required permits on your behalf.
Style
Heritage is a tricky area for styling. There are so many different styles of roofing, which makes knowing the proper style for your home a little difficult. The good news is, most heritage styles are grouped together in the same area, so have a look around at the nearby homes, odds are you will all have similar roof styles and you can take some inspiration from them.
Special Features
Restoring any roof can be a delicate operation, however, heritage roof structures often have little special features that need to be treated in a specific manner when restoring. If you’re not careful they can cause a little havoc on your restoration project, so like any roofing project, it is always a good idea to talk to contractors with experience in restoring heritage roofs. A heritage roofing contractor can tell you about the special features your roof may have and add specific steps to the project to restore these features properly without damaging or compromising your roof.
Colour
There is a definite colour palette for heritage property and the roof structures that accompany them. There is a distinctive look amongst heritage villages and its important to preserve that or the property loses some of its heritage value and appeal. When talking to your roofing contractor, it’s a good idea to walk through the colour you want used, whether you go with the colour originally used on the house, or if you look around the area and find another colour that suits. It is best to keep within the colour palette of the area though, so consider your neighbouring homes for inspiration.
Sometimes a roof cannot be restored, and your money would be better used replacing the COLORBOND® roof on your home. GT Roofing Adelaide specialises in roofing restoration, replacements, roofing repairs and extensions and works with COLORBOND® Steel and BlueScope Steel throughout the Adelaide area and across South Australia. For an obligation free chat, please call George on 0434 640 550 or complete our contact form and we will get in touch shortly.