Why Stirling roofs need more attention
Rain most months of the cool season
Stirling sits at 496 m. Average monthly rainfall can reach 155 mm between May and August, and in June 1916 over 450 millimetres fell. A gutter that copes on the plains can overflow here.
Imported trees, one big drop
Many of Stirling's trees came from Europe and North America: maple, elm, oak and ash. Deciduous trees shed nearly all their leaves over a few weeks, right before the wettest months.
Cold, slow-drying winters
Winters average a minimum of 4 °C and a maximum of 11 °C, so roofs stay damp for long stretches. That's when moss and lichen settle in, especially on shaded, unglazed terracotta.
Older, larger homes
Stirling was established in 1854 as a residential address for English migrants who could afford it, and there are many grand old houses. Larger roofs tend to have more valleys and more metres of gutter for leaves to collect in.
Bush close by
Next door in Crafers, many homes beside bushland on the western side were destroyed on Ash Wednesday, 16 February 1983. Leaves left in gutters are fuel as well as a drainage problem.
Getting the timing right
Monier suggests cleaning gutters, downpipes and valleys at least once a year, and twice where there are lots of trees. In Stirling, the second clean matters most once the leaves are down and before the heavy rain sets in, so late autumn rather than spring.
A clean is also a cheap chance for the roofer to spot slipped tiles and rusting valleys. See gutter cleaning in Adelaide.
Leaf guard. Mesh won't stop every leaf, but it keeps the big deciduous leaves out of the downpipes. Leaf guard mesh compares the types.
Moss. Monier says moss and lichen on terracotta only affect the surface, not the tile, and it advises against pressure washers on tiles. If it's blocking water flow, a gentle moss removal is the fix.
What you can do, and what to leave to a roofer
You can
- Rake leaves off paths and drains near downpipes so water can get away.
- Watch the gutters from the ground during heavy rain. Water spilling over the front edge means a blockage.
- Look inside for stains on ceilings near valleys after a big storm.
Leave to a roofer
- Anything on the roof, especially a wet one. Mossy tiles are slippery.
- Clearing valleys and box gutters, and checking the flashings while they're up there.
- Fitting gutter guards so they don't trap water against the fascia.
How we'd look after a Stirling roof
We'd book a gutter and valley clean every year straight after the leaf drop, and add a second one in spring if the trees overhang the roof. If the house is large and old, we'd ask the roofer to check the valleys and any internal gutters on the same visit, since that's where overflow ends up inside.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.