Office Roof Section Replacement — McKinnon
McKinnon, Melbourne VIC
Replacement of the front office roof section in McKinnon, Melbourne. ALTUA removed the ageing terracotta tile roof covering and installed a new metal roofing system, including roof-to-wall junction details, flashings and guttering.
Front Roof Replacement — Before & After
The original tiled roof was replaced with a metal roof system, with new detailing at the surrounding walls and roof edges.
Roof Structure & Installation — During & After
The challenge
The front office roof in McKinnon had an ageing terracotta tile covering, with existing flashings and drainage components also due for replacement. The roof sits beside masonry walls, creating roof-to-wall junctions that required careful detailing during the change from tiles to metal sheeting. This was not simply a matter of swapping one roof covering for another: the roof build-up, water collection points and wall connections needed to work together.
ALTUA assessment
ALTUA assessed the front roof section as a complete replacement area, including its supporting battens, underlay, insulation, gutters and flashings. The adjoining brickwork and box-gutter arrangement were important considerations because rainwater must be directed away from the roof and building junctions. These interfaces shaped the installation sequence and the custom flashing details.
Our solution
ALTUA removed the existing terracotta tiles and old roof-edge components, prepared the exposed structure and installed new battens, roofing underlay and insulation. New metal roof sheeting was then fitted with ridge and roof-to-wall flashings, replacement box-gutter components and drainage detailing. Purpose-made metal flashings were installed along the adjoining masonry walls to form the roof transitions.
Works completed
- Removed the existing terracotta tiles, old flashings and roof-edge components
- Prepared the exposed roof structure and installed replacement battens
- Installed new roofing underlay and insulation
- Fitted new metal roof sheeting and ridge flashings
- Replaced box-gutter components and associated drainage detailing
- Installed purpose-made roof-to-wall flashings and completed waterproofing details at the adjoining brickwork
Project outcome
The front office roof section now has a new metal roofing system in place of the previous tiled covering. The roof build-up, box-gutter components and wall-junction flashings were renewed as part of the same scope, rather than leaving old connection details in place. The before, during and after photographs show the transformation from the original roof through installation to the finished result.
Roof Replacement — Technical Considerations
Questions property owners and building managers often ask when planning a tile-to-metal roof replacement.
Can a tiled roof be replaced with metal roofing?
Yes, but the change involves more than replacing the visible covering. The existing structure, battens, roof pitch, underlay, insulation and drainage details need to be considered for the proposed metal roofing system. At this McKinnon property, ALTUA replaced the roof covering together with the associated roof build-up and junction components.
Why do roof-to-wall flashings matter?
Where a roof meets a brick wall, the junction must direct rainwater onto the roof or into the drainage system rather than allowing it behind the covering. Flashing geometry and the connection to adjacent materials are particularly important when replacing an existing roof. The McKinnon works included new purpose-made flashings along the masonry walls.
What should be checked when replacing a roof with a box gutter?
A box gutter is part of the roof's drainage system, not just an edge trim. Its falls, outlets, capacity and connections to adjoining roof surfaces need to be considered together. This project included renewal of the box-gutter components and associated drainage details alongside the new metal roofing.