Maintaining My Home

Manufacturers’ literature frequently states that the tile colour may fade or become duller over time. Colour does not contribute to waterproofing, so the weather protection of the tiles is not compromised. If you find the level of fading acceptable, no specific action is required

where concrete roof tiles adopt a slightly cloudy white colouring, this may be the result of efflorescence. This occurs when salts within the concrete roof tile move to the surface. Efflorescence is usually temporary and gradually become less noticeable over time as rain washes it away

if the fading of the roof colour is not acceptable, spray coating is often possible, although older tiles with a loose or friable surface may not be suitable for this treatment. Coating/recoating tiles should be undertaken by an experienced specialist, not a builder or maintenance contractor. This work is done for the roof appearance – in most cases, painting a concrete tile roof has no impact on the weathertightness of the roof. Once a concrete tile roof has been painted it needs to be periodically recoated to maintain its appearance

with a very old concrete tile roof, it is a good idea to get a quote for reroofing before committing to having the existing roof coated. This at least gives you an idea of the comparative costs/benefits of the options

with any work on tile roofs, take great care not to crack or damage the tiles

work at height is dangerous and requires particular care. Always let someone know when you are working on a roof. You can find more details on the BRANZ Level website, and in the WorkSafe document Working on roofs – Good practice guidelines

the roof can be cleaned with a low-pressure water blaster. Always work from the top down and take care not to drive water into the roofspace through tile joints. If water is collected from the roof, disconnect the system before starting work

any moss or lichen on the roof should be killed with a proprietary cleaning solution before it is removed – follow the manufacturer’s directions

with any work on tile roofs, take great care not to crack or damage the tiles

work at height is dangerous and requires particular care. Always let someone know when you are working on a roof. You can find more details on the BRANZ Level website, and in the WorkSafe document Working on roofs – Good practice guidelines

if you decide to use a contactor to do the work, look for an experienced practitioner with the right equipment – inexperienced people can damage the roof

the colour of an older concrete tile roof is likely to still be duller than its original appearance even after it has been cleaned. Manufacturer's literature frequently states that the tile colour may fade or become duller over time. Colour does not contribute to waterproofing, so the weather protection of the tiles is not compromised. If you find the level of fading acceptable, no specific action is required. If the fading is not acceptable, see the guidance in the first repair above