The Housing Industry Association (HIA) Renovations Roundup Report revealed a combination of low interest rates and growing real estate prices have lead to more renovations.
One renovation option that home owners should consider before selling a house is restoring or replacing the roof.
Roofs can be a great selling point and are a crucial feature due to function and aesthetic dominance of a home, taking up about 30% of the external facade.
The profit margin of a home can also rise with a new roof if it raises aesthetic appeal or provides advanced benefits.
“Most renovators will have the option to either replace a tiled roof entirely, or restore it,” Harry Tanner, Boral product manager said.
Renovators wanting to spruce up their home ahead of a sale may prefer to restore existing roof tiles.
“Restoration can be a cost-effective and relatively quick option for rejuvenating a home’s exterior. However, the aesthetic benefits may be shorter lived when compared to a re-roof.
“Restoration typically involves cleaning and painting existing tiles,” he said.
Replacing a roof could be valuable to home buyers. The benefits of new roof also extend beyond aesthetics.
“Sarking can only be installed during construction and can contribute to improved thermal performance and comfort in the home. The reflective foil insulation is laid beneath tiles to enhance weather proofing and energy efficiency,” Mr Tanner said.
The condition of an existing tiled roof will also guide the decision to replace or restore it.
“In some cases, homeowners may not have a choice. Where a roof is completely dilapidated by heavy weather or extreme age, for example, a re-roof may be the only option,” Harry said.
Apart from damage, a roof may need updating if it contains dangerous materials such as asbestos or if it’s aesthetically displeasing.
One way to measure this is to compare your aesthetic appeal to the other surrounding houses.
“Those undertaking a renovation are encouraged to have tiled roofs checked by a roofing professional, especially if original materials have been in place for 25 years or more.
“This can identify any damage or potential issues, and the installer can provide advice on options for repair or replacement,” Mr Tanner said.
CSR Monier have released a new range of roofing options called Elemental Series.
Drew Spiden, General Manager of CSR Monier said these roof tiles were originally developed for the aerospace industry with strong and lightweight material made from advanced fibre-reinforced engineered composite.
“This latest roofing innovation offers performance features including rust resistance against marine and corrosive environments as well as a long-lasting UV colour fast coating system and a strong resilience against dent and impact damage,” Mr Spiden said.
