Roof leak detection and repair
We find where the water gets in, not where the stain appears. Those are almost never the same place.
Free inspection · we show you the entry point
Roofshelter · Parramatta & Western Sydney
Roof valley and flashing repairs
The most common real cause of a leaking tile roof in this part of Sydney, and usually the whole fix.
Free inspection · often the whole fix
5.0
Google reviews
Based in Rosehill
Open 24 hours
What this actually is
A valley is the V where two roof planes meet, and the valley iron is the steel gutter running down it. Every drop of water off both planes funnels through it, and it collects leaf litter that holds moisture against bare steel. Twenty five years is a good run for one.
When a valley rusts through, water goes under the tiles, runs down the sarking and appears on a ceiling somewhere else entirely. It is the classic misdiagnosed leak, and it is the reason people get quoted twenty thousand dollars for a roof that needed half a day of work.
What the job involves
- Tiles lifted along the valley Carefully, and set aside. Broken ones get replaced rather than put back.
- Old valley iron removed Along with the accumulated debris underneath, which is usually the reason it went.
- New valley laid Colorbond valley tray, correctly lapped and sized for the water it has to carry.
- Tiles re-laid and cut in Back down to the right line, cut cleanly at the valley rather than snapped.
- Flashings checked while access is open Chimneys, skylights, wall abutments. If something else is marginal, this is the cheapest time to deal with it.
What valley replacement costs
Valleys are priced per valley, by length and by access, and on a single-storey roof one valley is commonly around half a day of work. Set against the twenty-thousand-dollar re-roof that people are frequently quoted for the leak a valley is causing, it is the single best-value repair in roofing.
The free inspection tells you how many valleys you have, which of them have actually gone, and shows you the photographs.
What moves the price:
- How many valleys have failed Often one. Sometimes all of them, if the roof is of an age where they all went in together.
- Length of each valley A short valley on a small hip and a full-length one down a main roof plane are different jobs.
- Access and storeys Single-storey valleys usually need no scaffold. Two storeys is a different setup.
- Condition of the surrounding tiles Tiles have to come up and go back. Brittle old terracotta breaks more, and broken ones get replaced.
How to tell
Signs you need this
Most of these you can check yourself from the ground, before you call anyone.
- Rust streaks visible in the valley From the ground, on phone zoom, looking into the V. Brown, flaky metal is your answer.
- A ceiling stain metres from any obvious cause Water travels. The valley is uphill of the damage.
- Leaves packed in the valley line Debris holds water against the steel permanently. It is what kills valleys.
- You have been quoted a full re-roof for a leak Worth a second opinion before you spend that. It is often this instead.
Questions
Valley irons, answered
Ask us anything that is not here. We would rather talk it through than have you guess.
Call 0434 115 094How long does a valley take to replace?
Commonly around half a day per valley on a single-storey roof, depending on length and access. The inspection will tell you how many you actually have and which ones have gone.
Can you just patch it?
A patch on a rusted valley is a temporary measure and we will describe it as one. If the steel has gone, sealant buys you a season, not a repair.
Will I need scaffolding?
For a single-storey valley, usually not. Two storeys or a steep pitch is a different conversation and it will be in the quote rather than added later.
How do I know if my valley iron has rusted?
Stand on the ground with your phone camera on zoom and look into the V where two roof planes meet. If the metal has gone brown and flaky, or you can see rust streaks running down it, that is very likely your leak. It is the one roof defect a homeowner can genuinely diagnose from the driveway.
Can a rusted valley just be patched or sealed?
Sealant on rusted steel buys you a season, not a repair, and we will describe it that way if it is all you want for now. If the metal has gone, the metal gets replaced.
How long do valley irons last?
Twenty five years is a good run in Sydney. They sit in the wettest line on the roof and they collect leaf litter that holds moisture against bare steel, so they fail well before the tiles around them do. Keeping them clear of debris is the single best thing you can do to extend them.
Related
Often done at the same time
Roof restoration
The full job on a tiled roof, done in the right order. Free inspection first, so you find out whether you actually need one.
Free inspection first, then a fixed price
Storm damage and emergency repairs
Tarped and made safe first, paperwork second. This is what the 24 hour phone is for.
Someone answers, day or night
Find out what your roof actually needs.
Free inspection, photographs, and a straight answer about whether this is the job you need.
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