History of Australian Roof Tiles and Restorations

26 March 2020

Roof tile is considered as the majority type of roofing in the Australian household. What many don’t know is that this type of roofing has been around for many years. In order to fully understand its functionality and wide usage, one must backtrack onto how the industry developed and improved. Below is the history of Australian roof tiles and restorations.

1200’s: Production of Clay Roof Tiles

Terracotta roof tiles have been around for many years. In-fact, the first production of clay roof tiles came about in the early 1200’s.

1477: Standard Measurement for Clay Tiles

It was in 1477 that King Edward IV passed a law that plain clay tiles be 10.5″x6.25″x0.373″ in size which is still the size that is currently known as the current British standard.

1892: Terracotta Tiles in Australia

In 1892, an Australian company called Wunderlich began to import terracotta roof tiles from Marseilles, France. These were a great quality tile that is found on many houses even today. World War I put a stop to the importation of terracotta tiles and so Wunderlich began to manufacture their own terracotta tiles here in Australia.

1940: Concrete Roof Tiles

In 1940, a company named Monier began producing the first concrete roof tiles. These were a very popular choice for their durability and low price. During the 1970’s, the most common roofing material was the concrete roof tile. With many companies producing countless profiles, the concrete roof tile is still the most durable and cost effective roofing material on the market today.

1970-1980: Roof Painting

By the mid 1970’s, as the paint technology got better, roof restoration companies first attempted painting roofs. The early 80’s was when roof painting first really took off. Concrete roofs had been fading for years and the technology for painting was getting much better. Unfortunately, this trend brought about the cowboys in the industry who knew nothing about roof painting and took advantage of consumer’s lack of knowledge. Many horror stories were being told of roofs peeling and cement cracking not even one year after the restoration. This problem occurred when the applicator would not prepare the roof correctly by failing to pressure clean the tiles and not fixing the ridge capping correctly before painting. Other poor methods would include mixing lots of water with the paint, not using a primer, only applying one coat and the list goes on.

1980 – Present: Roof Restorations

The truth is that when roof restoration guidelines are followed properly, the finished product is a roof that is actually more durable than when the tiles were first laid on to your roof. They have been hardening for years and now they are painted with a great quality paint. In most cases, the tiles get one more coat than when they originally came out of the factory, providing a much longer lasting colour.

When you consult the roofing experts at Higgins Roofing in Doncaster East, Victoria, you will receive top calibre advice, guidance, choice of roofing materials and roof installation services. By engaging with these fine professionals, you will be sure to benefit from highest quality re-roofing to satisfy your exterior home updating needs. Your home will gain superior, eco-friendly roofing with excellent degrees of durability, resilience and longevity as well as a highly attractive, major element of exterior decor.