Roof Replacement Project

The cornice was damaged suggesting that some of the roof joists had sagged and there was a slight depression in the surface of the roof tiles which needed looking at.

The timber that was used to make the old roof was very thin and has a lot of "waney edge" (the area where the tree bark grew) this is the weak area of a sawn log and makes the timber twist when it dries causing the roof tiles which are not nailed on to move and leak when it rains. Taken from inside side of the roof with daylight visible through the large gaps between the tiles. This is the part of the roof where some replacement roof tiles were recently fitted. However the real problem wasn't addressed. Due to a concrete ceiling above the kitchen and veranda the water ingress was not noticed. Rain water lying on the ceiling would collect and eventually run to the lowest point making the render fall off on the outside wall above the veranda and running down the inside ceiling rotting the ceiling and first floor.

Carpenters prepared the new roof timbers the dimensions of which are almost 3 times the size of the old, kiln dried so they stay straight and it also has the benefit of killing anything that has survived the sawmill process and may be living within the wood. Once it's treated on the outside with wood worm preventative the roof will outlast us all.

Because the house was in a rural village a traditional looking, modern roof tile which locks together is frost proof and will provide a dry strong roof for many years to come. The tile has a coating which gives an aged appearance so that the house doesn't look like its wearing a "new hat".

As you can see from the photographs this house/roof has a bend in the middle as it curves around a footpath. After a little head scratching the tiles were set out to accommodate this with a very attractive result.