Twice a year: gutters and downpipes

Spring and autumn. That's the simplest schedule. Eucalyptus leaves and seed pods build up fast and block downpipes, which forces water back under the tile laps and rots battens. Most of the "leak" callouts we get are actually gutter problems.

If your property is shaded by big gums, you may need quarterly cleans. If you've got gutter guards, check them — they reduce frequency but don't eliminate it.

After every major storm: visual inspection

Walk around the house after southerly busters or east coast lows. Look up at the roof from every angle. You're looking for: tiles out of line, ridge caps that look loose, anything sitting on the roof that shouldn't be (branches, debris), and water marks on the ceiling inside.

If you spot anything, don't climb up yourself — wet tiles are dangerous. Take photos from the ground and call a roofer. Our emergency roof repair service covers the whole Illawarra and South Coast for active leaks.

Annually: a proper roof check

Once a year, get someone up there. Ideally a licensed roofer, but if you're handy and have proper safety gear, you can check yourself. Look for cracked tiles, broken pointing, rusted flashings around skylights and chimneys, and any signs of moss or lichen taking hold.

Most South Coast homes will need minor repairs every 2–3 years between restorations. A broken tile here, a flashing there. Catching them annually keeps them as cheap individual jobs instead of bundled into a bigger repair list.

Every 5–7 years: a coastal salt wash and clean

On the open coast, salt residue builds up steadily on every horizontal surface and eventually breaks down the protective coating on tiles. A proper wash — soft pre-treatment for moss, then controlled high-pressure clean — knocks it back and adds years of life.

Properties within a kilometre of the ocean usually need this every 3–5 years instead of 5–7. Don't just blast it yourself with a domestic pressure washer — see our roof cleaning guide for why that causes more damage than it fixes.

Every 15–25 years: full restoration

Even with perfect maintenance, tile roofs reach a point where the coating has worn off, the pointing's let go, and the bedding needs replacing. That's when you do a full restoration — clean, replace tiles, rebed and repoint ridges, prime, and recoat.

Done at the right time, a restoration adds another 10–15 years. See our roof restoration cost guide for what to expect to pay, and our list of signs your roof needs restoration if you're not sure where you're up to.

What to avoid

Don't paint over moss. Don't let unlicensed handymen "patch" pointing with quick-set mortar — it cracks within months and you're back to square one. Don't ignore small leaks; the timber framing damage costs more than the original repair would have. And don't climb on a wet or steep roof yourself.

Need a quote or just an honest second opinion? Willows Roofing covers Kiama, Gerringong, Berry, Nowra and the wider South Coast. Call 0436 443 898 or use the quote form.