What is roof repointing?

Roof repointing is the process of removing deteriorated mortar and flexible pointing from ridge caps and replacing it with new material. Ridge caps are the curved or angled tiles that sit along the apex and hips of your roof. They are the highest point of the roof and take the full force of rain, wind, and UV every day.

Ridge caps are held in place by two things. A mortar bed which is the sand and cement base the ridge cap sits on, and a flexible pointing compound which seals the joint between the mortar and the tile. When either of these deteriorates, the ridge cap becomes loose and water can get in underneath during rain.

Re-bedding vs re-pointing - what is the difference?

Re-bedding means removing the old mortar bed entirely and laying a new one. Re-pointing means removing the old flexible pointing and applying new pointing over the existing mortar. A proper job does both. Re-pointing alone over deteriorated or cracked mortar is a short-term fix that will fail again within a few years.

Why repointing matters on the Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula is particularly hard on ridge cap mortar and pointing for a few reasons. Salt air from Port Phillip Bay and Western Port is corrosive and accelerates the breakdown of cement-based mortar faster than inland areas. The temperature variation between summer and winter causes constant expansion and contraction which cracks mortar over time. And the wind exposure, particularly on south and west-facing properties, puts constant mechanical stress on ridge caps that are even slightly loose.

A ridge cap that looks fine from the ground can be completely loose and letting water in every time it rains. We see this on almost every roof we climb on that has not been maintained in the last 10 to 15 years.

Signs your ridge caps need repointing

  • Cracks in the pointing - visible cracking along the join between the ridge cap and the tile below
  • Missing chunks of mortar - sections of mortar that have fallen away leaving gaps
  • Loose ridge caps - caps that move when pushed or that you can hear shifting in the wind
  • Staining on ceiling - water stains appearing on ceilings near the top of the roof are often caused by failed ridge caps before anywhere else
  • Moss and lichen around ridge caps - organic growth around the ridge cap base indicates persistent moisture which means water is getting under
  • Age over 10 years with no maintenance - on the Peninsula if your ridge caps have not been attended to in 10 or more years they almost certainly need repointing

What does repointing cost?

Repointing as a standalone job is priced based on the linear metres of ridge capping your roof has and the condition of the existing mortar bed. Here are typical price ranges for Peninsula and Melbourne homes.

Home size Approx ridge length Price range
Small home
Up to 15 linear metres
$1,200 - $1,500
Average home
15 - 30 linear metres
$1,800 - $2,400
Large home
30 - 50 linear metres
$2,500+
Very large / complex
50+ linear metres
$3,000+

When repointing is done as part of a full roof restoration the cost is included in the overall restoration price. Standalone repointing is a cost-effective option when the tile coating is still in reasonable condition and only the ridge caps need attention.

Note on pricing: The final cost depends heavily on the number of individual ridge caps your roof has and their size. A hip roof with caps running in multiple directions will have significantly more caps than a simple gabled roof of the same size. The only way to get an accurate price is to have someone on the roof counting and assessing the caps directly.

What the repointing process involves

  • Remove old pointing - all existing flexible pointing is ground out and removed
  • Inspect mortar bed - the underlying mortar bed is inspected and replaced where necessary
  • Re-bed where required - any sections with failed or cracked mortar are fully re-bedded with new sand and cement
  • Apply flexible pointing - new flexible pointing compound is applied over the mortar bed along the full length of all ridge caps
  • Inspect and finish - all caps are checked for movement and the finished pointing is inspected before leaving

Should I just get repointing or a full restoration?

The honest answer depends on the condition of your tile coating. If the coating is still providing reasonable protection but the ridge caps have failed, standalone repointing makes sense and stops the water ingress immediately at a fraction of full restoration cost.

If the tile coating has also deteriorated to the point where water is penetrating through the tile surface as well, doing the repointing without addressing the coating is a short-term fix. A full restoration which includes repointing as part of the process becomes the better value option.

We assess every roof individually and give you an honest recommendation based on what it actually needs, not the more expensive option by default.