What Mayfield roofs are dealing with
Mayfield grew as housing for the industry along the river, and the stock reflects it: a lot of modest cottages and semis, weatherboard and brick, on roofs that have been patched and added to over many decades rather than replaced. Layered repairs are the theme here. It is common to find three generations of work on one roof, with the oldest layer being the thing that is actually leaking.
Its position matters too. Mayfield sits near the harbour rather than the surf, so it gets salt-laden air without the full beachfront exposure, and historically it also sat downwind of heavy industry. The practical upshot is grime and staining on roof surfaces beyond what age alone explains, and metalwork that has been working in a harder atmosphere than an inland suburb would provide.
What we look at first here
Layered history and a harder atmosphere. Both mean the roof in front of you is rarely as simple as it looks.
Repairs on top of repairs
Successive patches, sealant over sealant and mismatched materials are normal on roofs of this age. Working out which layer is failing takes longer than the fix usually does, and it is the part worth paying for.
Harbour air and surface grime
Salt-laden air off the harbour plus a long industrial history leaves surfaces dirtier and metalwork working harder than the equivalent inland roof. Cleaning often reveals a roof in better shape than it looked.
Asbestos-era materials
Pre-1990 housing in this area can include asbestos cement sheeting in roofs, eaves and outbuildings. Removal is licensed work and not something to discover on the day, so it is worth establishing what you have before planning anything.
What we do in Mayfield
Pressure clean, re-bed and re-point the ridge capping, replace broken tiles, then a coating system. Typically buys another 10 to 15 years out of a sound tile roof.
Learn moreSlipped and cracked tiles, failed pointing, rusted valley irons and flashing. We find what is actually causing the problem rather than patching the wet patch.
Learn moreWhen the battens or sarking have gone, a coating will not save it. We strip the old roof and re-sheet, usually to Colorbond steel.
Learn moreColorbond steel roofing, supplied and installed. Lighter than tile, quick to install, and it holds up well to the salt air along the coast.
Learn moreRoof plumbing is its own licensed trade: metal roofing, guttering, downpipes, flashing and box gutters. If water is meant to move, this is the work that moves it.
Learn moreA stain on the ceiling or a drip during last night's rain. Call us and we will come and look at it, find where the water is actually getting in, and make it safe.
Learn more
Common questions
My roof has been patched a dozen times. Is it worth patching again?
Sometimes, and sometimes the patching is the problem. Layered sealant and mismatched repairs trap water as often as they stop it. We will tell you honestly whether one more repair is sensible or whether the money is better going toward doing it properly once.
I think there is asbestos in my roof. Can you work on it?
Removal is licensed work and we would refer you to a licensed asbestos removalist for that part. It is common enough in pre-1990 housing around here that it is worth establishing what you have before planning any roof work rather than finding out mid-job.
Does being near the harbour count as coastal?
For roofing purposes, yes, though it is a milder category than beachfront. Salt-laden air still works on fasteners, brackets and cut edges. It mostly means matching your metals properly rather than specifying for surf exposure.
The roof is filthy. Does that mean it is failing?
Not necessarily, and this is a suburb where cleaning frequently brings good news. Grime hides both the good and the bad. Once it is off you can see whether the surface is genuinely porous or just dirty, and quite often it is the latter.
Around Mayfield
We cover the streets either side of Mayfield as well, so if you are just over the boundary it is the same job and the same free inspection.
- Mayfield East
- Mayfield West
- Mayfield North
- Waratah
- Tighes Hill
- Warabrook
- Georgetown
Roof playing up in Mayfield?
Give us a call and we will come and look at it. Free on-site inspection across Newcastle and the wider Hunter, with the quote in writing before anything starts.