Short answer: Roof painting is the coating. A roof restoration is the whole job: clean, repairs, rebedding and repointing, then primer, sealer and coating. Painting without the prep peels early, so a proper paint job is really a restoration. Full restorations start from $2,490 ex GST.
What roof painting means
When most people say roof painting they mean putting a new colour on the tiles. The coating is what you see from the street, so it is what people ask for.
The problem is that paint only looks as good as what is under it. Coating over moss, chalky old paint or loose ridge mortar is how roofs end up peeling within a couple of years.
What a roof restoration includes
A restoration fixes the roof first and coats it last. On a tile roof that usually means:
- Soft wash and biocide to kill moss, lichen and algae
- Replacing cracked or slipped tiles
- Rebedding loose ridge caps and repointing ridges and hips
- Primer and sealer matched to the tile
- A UV-rated top coat made for Sydney sun and salt air
Cost: painting vs restoration in Sydney
Our prices are ex GST and confirmed after a free on-site inspection. We do not quote sight-unseen.
Roof cleaning and biocide starts from $490. Repairs and repointing start from $1,490. A full restoration with coating starts from $2,490, and most homes land between $3,000 and $15,000 depending on size, pitch, repairs and the coating chosen.
If you are quoted a cheap paint-only job, ask what happens to the cracked tiles and the ridge mortar. That is usually where the price difference went.
When a clean or repairs is enough
Not every roof needs coating. If the tiles are sound and the colour is fine, a clean may be all you need. If the problem is a leak or crumbling ridges, repairs and repointing fix it without a coat.
We tell you this on the inspection. Sometimes the right answer is the cheaper job.
When you should restore instead of replace
Restoration makes sense when the tiles are structurally sound and the wear is in the coating, mortar and surface. Replacement is for roofs where the tiles or frame have failed. Restoration typically costs a fraction of a full replacement.
Not sure what your roof needs? We inspect for free and tell you straight, including when a cheaper fix is enough.
Book a free inspection