Many Canberra homes built between the 1960s and 1990s have concrete or terracotta tile roofs. The tiles themselves often last for decades, but the mortar that holds the ridge and hip capping in place doesn’t. When the bedding and pointing fail, water can get in along the ridge line — usually long before the tiles need replacing.
Here’s how bedding and pointing work, why they fail, and the signs that yours need attention.
What are bedding and pointing?
Ridge capping tiles run along the peaks (ridges) and hips of a tile roof. They sit on a bed of mortar — the bedding — and the joint is sealed with a top layer called pointing.
Older roofs typically used sand and cement mortar for both. Modern re-pointing generally uses a flexible pointing compound, which copes better with the roof’s natural expansion and contraction.
Why Canberra roofs are hard on mortar
Canberra swings from frosty winter mornings to hot summer afternoons. That constant heating and cooling makes a roof expand and contract, and over the years rigid cement mortar cracks and works loose. Summer storms, strong winds and hail add to the wear.
7 signs your tile roof needs re-bedding or re-pointing
- Cracks in the pointing along ridges and hips — fine hairline cracks at first, then larger gaps.
- Pieces of mortar in your gutters, on paths or on the ground around the house.
- Ridge caps that look out of line, loose or uneven.
- Gaps between the ridge caps and the tiles below.
- Water stains on ceilings, especially along the line of a ridge or hip.
- Damp or musty smells in the roof space after rain.
- Birds or pests getting into the roof through gaps in old bedding.
Please don’t climb onto the roof to check. Tiles break easily underfoot and roofs are dangerous, especially when wet. A pair of binoculars from the ground, or a look in the roof space with a torch, is a safer way to spot problems.
Re-bedding or re-pointing — which do you need?
If the bedding underneath is still solid and only the top layer of pointing has cracked, re-pointing alone may be enough. If the ridge caps are loose or the bedding has crumbled, the caps need to be lifted, the old mortar removed, and the caps re-bedded and then re-pointed.
An inspection will tell you which applies to your roof, and whether any cracked tiles need replacing at the same time.
Repair or replace the whole roof?
For most tile roofs, re-bedding and re-pointing — along with replacing any broken tiles — is far cheaper than a full replacement and can keep the roof watertight for many more years. Replacement usually only makes sense when a large number of tiles are failing, the battens are deteriorating, or leaks keep appearing in different places.
Get your ridge capping checked
If you’ve noticed any of these signs, we can inspect your roof and show you photos of exactly what we find. Learn more about our tile roof repairs and roof inspections, or call 0483 734 117 for a free quote.