Bidwill Roof Repairs and Re-Roofing

A botanist, and a suburb of one vintage

Bidwill is named after the colonial botanist J C Bidwill, who was put in charge of the Botanic Gardens in 1847. The suburb belongs to the ring of estates built out around Mount Druitt from the mid-1960s, originally as public housing and now substantially privately owned.

The practical consequence is simple. The roofs went on within a few years of each other, so they are wearing out within a few years of each other. If your neighbour has just re-roofed, that is information about your own house.

The faults, in the order we usually find them

1. Ridge pointing gone. Powdery mortar, caps loose, and the first leak of the winter appears near a hip.
2. Tiles porous. The surface skin has weathered off, so the tile holds water instead of shedding it and the roof stays dark for days.
3. Valleys rusted. Usually the lower third, under years of debris.
4. No sarking. Nothing between the tile and the ceiling, so any water that gets past is in the house immediately.
5. Flattened insulation. Often the evidence that the roof has been leaking far longer than anyone realised.

What we recommend, and when

Where the tiles are still strong, a full restoration — rebed, repoint, new valleys, clean and coat — is the sensible spend and considerably cheaper than a new roof.

Where they are not, we say so. A replacement in tile or metal, with sarking and insulation done properly while the roof is open, is the better investment on a house of this age. Either way the inspection is free and the quote is itemised.

Also nearby: Shalvey, Willmot and Blackett. All suburbs we cover.

Call (02) 4705 5200 or get a free quote started.