The ACR Roofing Employee of the Month for June 2023 is Christian Wright aka ‘Bub’. Bub is is one of our Directors, and has been with the company for over 30 years. Bub is a strong worker and a key player for the ACR Roofing Team. Bub took the time to answer a few questions for us…

1. How long have you worked with ACR Roofing? 30 + years
2. What do you enjoy most about your job? The office banter, the laughs that we have
   What is your favourite:
3. Food? Japanese
4. Song? Where the streets have no name – U2
5. Sport? AFL
6. Beverage? Kronenbourg 1664
7. Football Team? Richmond
8. What is your pet peeve? People being late
9. If you were famous what would you want it to be for? Kicking the winning goal in the grand final, to see the tigers beat the blues by 1 point
10. If you could meet anyone, who would it be? Neil Armstrong
11. What is your top tip for construction brilliance? Try to handball to Paul

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What is the minimum roof pitch?

The minimum roof pitch in Australia is dependent on the roofing profile installed.

For water to flow on a flat deck roof, the minimum roof pitch is 1°. A deck roof sheet consists of three wide spans and high ribs. If the roof pitch is too low, water on the roof will not be able to flow down the roof surface and into the gutters. Therefore, forming water ponding on the roof, which then leads to roof leaks and deterioration.

The roof pitch required for a corrugated roof, is a minimum roof pitch of 5°. With low ribs and small spacing, a higher pitch is required to ensure the water does not pond in the one area. As a result this may cause the water to leak through the lapping roof sheets and into the building below.

The roof pitch to install a monoclad roof is in between a deck and corrugated roof; at a minimum roof pitch of 2°. Not to be confused with a deck roof, monoclad roof sheets have 5 ribs, with slightly smaller spacing in between. Therefore, requiring a higher roof pitch to ensure water on the roof will flow down the sheets, and not overflow over the ribs.

Making the roof compliant

ACR Roofing Melbourne take the right steps to correct a non-compliant roof fall. After installing all necessary safety equipment, the existing metal roof is removed. Next, metal or timber battens are installed to regrade the entire area, therefore ensuring the roof structure is at a the minimum requirement.
Safety mesh and insulation blanket are installed, before installing the new Colorbond or Zincalume roofing profile.
In addition, all gutters, downpipes and flashings are also installed.

Above all, it is always best to check the manufacturers specifications and speak to a roofing professional.
The ACR Roofing team provide free quotes and are available to chat with on 03 9555 0955
Alternatively, request a free quote for your roof replacement project now!

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The ACR Roofing Employee of the Month for November 2019 is Matt Clarke. Matt is is one of our roof plumbers, and has been with the company for 3 years. Matt is a strong worker and a key player for the ACR Roofing Team. Matt took the time to answer a few questions for us…

1. How long have you worked with ACR Roofing? 3 years
2. What do you enjoy most about your job? The crew and being outdoors
   What is your favourite:
3. Food? Tuna and rice
4. Song? Anything by Ed Sheeran
5. Sport? AFL
6. Beverage? Coffee
7. Football Team? Collingwood
8. What is your pet peeve? Tardiness
9. If you were famous what would you want it to be for? Inventing something
10. If you could meet anyone, who would it be? Leonardo da Vinci
11. What is your top tip for construction brilliance? Never stop trying to learn

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We’ve broken down the process of an asbestos roof replacement into Seven Simple Steps to Asbestos Removal; to simplify the process for our clients and provide peace of mind.

1 Engage ACR Roofing-

Our team are all licensed asbestos removalist and roof plumbers. We organise site meetings/briefings, for you and your staff. After that, learn how the asbestos roof removal & replacement takes place.

2 Notification-

Our Team will notify WorkSafe and the neighbouring businesses/properties of the works we are completing.

3 Preparation-

We install all safety equipment; hand rail, scaffold, access tower, crane and load all materials onto the roof area/site. In addition, all relevant permits will be applied for.

4 Removal-

We remove a section of asbestos each day and decontaminate all. In addition, we engage an independent hygienist to issue a clearance certificate.
After that, the asbestos roofing materials are disposed of correctly, as per EPA Standards.

5 Replacement-

Installation of all new materials; safety mesh, roof insulation blanket, gutters, metal roof sheeting, translucent sheeting.
An area is removed and replaced each day, therefore the roof remains watertight throughout the asbestos roof replacement.

6 Completion-

The final asbestos clearance certificate is issued and received, new roof installed and completely caped/watertight.

7 Hand Over-

ACR Director completes a final inspection. Our client receives EPA waste dockets, BlueScope Warranty, VBA Plumbing compliance certificate.

Asbestos Removal Melbourne

Our Team are licenced & certified in non-friable asbestos removal. Non-friable asbestos is defined as: asbestos fibres that have been mixed with other materials. For instance, this includes cement roofing. If an asbestos roof is damaged or broken, it may release the fibres into the air. Therefore, our team take extreme care when removing asbestos.

Asbestos is still found in Australian homes & commercial buildings, lurking in the cement roofing materials

Our team treat the asbestos roof removal very seriously. We comply with both WorkSafe and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) standards, for all asbestos roof removal projects. We take care on each work site, wearing special protective clothing on every asbestos roof.
Once ACR Roofing have removed an area of asbestos roofing, a hygienist visits site to provide an Asbestos Removal Clearance Certificate.

Contact ACR Roofing an asbestos removal or metal roof replacement quote.

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral fibre and up until the mid-1980s, Australia had one of the highest rates of asbestos use per person in the world.
Asbestos has not been used in building materials since the 1980s but it was not until 31 December, 2003 that asbestos and all products containing asbestos were banned throughout Australia. It is illegal to import, store, supply, sell, install, use or re-use these materials.

Above all, the process of an asbestos removal & replacement project can seem complex to our clients. However, by providing simple steps to asbestos roof removal, we hope to help by simplifying the process.

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The ACR Roofing Employee of the Month for July 2019 is Luke Thompson. Luke is is one of our roof plumbers, and has been with the company for 12 months. Luke is a great worker and has been a great addition to the ACR Roofing Team. Luke took the time to answer a few questions for us…

1. How long have you worked with ACR Roofing? 12 months
2. What do you enjoy most about your job? Being outside
   What is your favourite:
3. Food? Pizza
4. Song? Down with the sickness – Disturbed
5. Sport? Baseball or football
6. Beverage? Scotch & Coke
7. Football Team? Essendon
8. What is your pet peeve? Unnecessary loud noises
9. If you were famous what would you want it to be for? Curing a disease or sports person
10. If you could meet anyone, who would it be? The Rock, or Barry Bonds
11. What is your top tip for construction brilliance? Measure twice cut once

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The ACR Roofing Employee of the Month for September 2018 is Terry Muller. Terry is the newest member to the ACR Office Team as Assistant to Operations. He has been with the company for four months and in that time has fit in well and has been a great addition to the ACR Team, both in the office and onsite. Terry took the time to answer a few questions for us…

1. How long have you worked with ACR Roofing? 4 months
2. What do you enjoy most about your job? Working all around Victoria, getting to know new suburbs and learning new skills
   What is your favourite:
3. Food? Fish and chips with the kids in the park
4. Song? I don’t think I have one, I like all types of music
5. Sport? Football & motorbikes
6. Beverage? Beer & bourbon
7. Football Team? Western Bulldogs
8. What is your pet peeve? Sleeping through my alarm and peak hour traffic
9. If you were famous what would you want it to be for? Kicking the winning goal in the AFL Grand Final
10. If you could meet anyone, who would it be? Johnny Cash
11. What is your top tip for construction brilliance? Hard work and be on time always. Ask if you don’t know, rather than pretending to know something.

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The ACR Roofing Employee of the Month for June 2018 is Kyle Brophy. Kyle is one of our roof plumbers, and has been with the company for 3 months. Kyle took the time to answer a few questions for us…

1. How long have you worked with ACR Roofing? 3 months
2. What do you enjoy most about your job? Working in a great team environment and producing high quality work
   What is your favourite:
3. Food? Japanese & Mexican cruisine
4. Song? At the moment it’s “Stay Away” by Charles Bradley, followed closely by “Calypso Beach” – Northeast Party House
5. Sport? Skate/Snowboarding
6. Beverage? Nothing beats a nice Shiraz at this time of year (winter)
7. Football Team? St Kilda
8. What is your pet peeve? Spelling misteaks
9. If you were famous what would you want it to be for? Would be good to have Steve Jobs or Elon Musk type of fame. Pushing the boundaries of innovation
10. If you could meet anyone, who would it be? Satoshi Nakamoto
11. What is your top tip for construction brilliance? WANT to be the best. Be flexible, learn to adapt, work consistently hard and consider quality and communication paramount.

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Showcasing a large-scale commercial asbestos removal we completed in Thomastown and highlighting the importance of being asbestos aware. Read the three page spread below…

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Asbestos Awareness remains high on the agenda for roofing experts

Despite asbestos no longer being used in building materials, facility and property managers need to be aware of its history. CHRISTIAN WRIGHT explains. Although asbestos is not used in building materials today, asbestos products weren’t banned in Australia until 2003.

In the past, asbestos was commonly used for roofs, in particular, due to its fire resistant and durable nature. Since asbestos roofing can last for over three decades, many buildings that were originally constructed with asbestos roofing have the same roofs today. While asbestos isn’t dangerous unless airborne, property or facility managers should never try to touch or replace asbestos containing products on their own. Only asbestos roof specialists should handle asbestos containing materials because they can cause major health risks if not treated properly.

As your roof plays such an important sheltering role, and because it encompasses such as large area, any harmful materials released in the area will have a wide impact. If you think you may have asbestos in your roof, here are some things you need to know:

HOW DO EXPERTS IDENTIFY ASBESTOS?

Many property or facility managers won’t recognise asbestos roofing when they see it. If you think the materials that make up your roof could potentially contain asbestos, such as building materials from the 1980s or earlier, never attempt to touch or remove them.

ACR ROOFING CASE STUDY: ORORA, THOMASTOWN – VICTORIA

This asbestos replacement project presented ACR Roofing with one its biggest challenges. The large-scale packaging factory in Thomastown, which is owned by 360 Capital and tenanted by manufacturer Orora, required the removal of ageing asbestos from the saw-tooth roof, as well as numerous glass panels.

After efficiently removing the asbestos from the 7500-plus-square metre roof, the Melbourne roofing company laid an entirely new BlueScope Zincalume steel roof, complete with clear plastic skylights, which dramatically increased the light inside the factory. Added insulation was also installed to the roof space.

With major construction taking place below the entire roofline of the building during the project, ACR Roofing was faced with a restricted timeframe.

Despite weather conditions potentially limiting how much of the roof could be removed and replaced each day, the asbestos removal specialists completed the project within the agreed project timeline, satisfying the operations of tenant Orora. Manufacturing of food packaging, in particular baby formula sealed bags, made the project more sensitive than the usual warehouses ACR Roofing replaces.

However, at no stage was Orora required to shut down its operations, as a small section of the roof was isolated each day to ensure production was maintained below. Working seven days a week provided ACR Roofing with access over the sensitive equipment and an uninterrupted scope of works. According to ACR Roofing director Christian Wright, the building owner and tenant benefited from engaging a roofing contractor that takes over the entire site and project manages all works.

“Our staff remove and replace the asbestos, with no downtime. In a project of this size, at an operational site that had to remain watertight at the completion of each day, this was a major task and non-negotiable to the client,” Wright explains. “It is important to note that the ACR personnel who remove the asbestos also replace the roofing. The work method is continuous with a low likelihood of weather related problems and eliminates the risk that comes with hiring subcontractors.”

Given the fragile nature of both building materials, ACR Roofing ensured that all of the usual health and safety standards were implemented. Following the success of the project ACR Roofing is now the preferred roofing contractor for 360 Capital.

If you know the manufacturer, it is advisable to contact them to learn which materials make up your roof, but the only way to know for sure if a material contains asbestos is to call an asbestos roofing specialist.

The asbestos specialist will likely send a sample of the potential asbestos containing
materials to the National Association of Testing Authorities. This analytical laboratory will determine if the material contains asbestos. Common roofing materials that may contain asbestos include concrete, asphalt and gypsum.

If the material does contain asbestos, the specialist will assess whether the material should be removed or replaced. Until it is certain that a building does not contain asbestos, do not perform any renovations, demolitions or maintenance.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUSPECT ASBESTOS?

How you should deal with asbestos depends on where you find the asbestos and what condition it is in. Most buildings aren’t affected by asbestos unless it becomes airborne. If the material is friable, the asbestos could quickly become airborne and cause health risks. Non-friable asbestos won’t pose a health risk unless the material is cut, sanded or sawn. If a roof is in a solid state, it may not need to be removed at all. Non-damaged asbestos material doesn’t pose a health hazard.

However, the materials will need to be monitored for signs of deterioration or damage. If a material containing asbestos is damaged, call for an asbestos removal in Melbourne immediately. Sometimes damaged asbestos materials may not need to be removed, with isolation or repair also considerations. For instance, an asbestos specialist can likely repair a small tear in the flashing or underlayment. However, repairing or isolating asbestos are only temporary solutions. Natural weathering and ageing will eventually cause damage to asbestos. If the asbestos roofing specialist determines that the roof poses too great a threat to those inhabiting a building, they will likely recommend an asbestos roof removal. Once the specialist removes the asbestos from your property, he or she should take an air sample to ensure the building doesn’t contain airborne asbestos. The roof can then be replaced with a modern version that doesn’t contain carcinogens.

TEN QUESTIONS BUILDING MANAGERS SHOULD ASK A ROOFING CONTRACTOR

With the decision to replace or repair a roof being such a significant investment, it is vital for management to ensure they engage the right roofing company. Here are 10 questions to ask a Melbourne roofing company, according to ACR Roofing:

1. Are you licensed and insured?

You need to ensure that anyone undertaking roofing at your property is licensed to perform the work and has all the appropriate insurances to finish the job safely and properly. If they aren’t willing to prove they are licensed and insured, then turn them away.

2. What sort of communication can you offer me?

A good roofing contractor will be happy to hand over a business card or a phone number that you can call whenever you
need to. Ideally, they should also supply the name and phone number of the project or company supervisor. WorkSafe, as well as neighbouring properties, must be notified of any asbestos removal of 10 square metres or more.

3. Will you completely remove my old roof or just put the replacement on top?

The easy option for any contractor is just to fi x the new roof to the old one. Obviously, this isn’t how a quality operator
will undertake a project. A quality operator will insist on completely removing the old roof to check for structural damage to the frame. It is not advisable to install a new roof over an asbestos roof as drilling into asbestos is forbidden.

4. Are you prepared to give me a detailed quote and honour it?

This goes without saying, but you should never trust anyone that is only prepared to give vague details as to how much the final cost will be. A good roofing contractor will have a depth of experience and be able to come up with a very accurate estimate and quote as to how much everything will cost.

5. What are your contingency plans?

It’s easy for a roofing contractor to finish a job in perfect conditions. But what if a freakrainstorm blows through? You need to be sure that your contractor has the know-how to deal with whatever challenge is thrown at them and be able to work in a way that will limit damage to your home. ACR Roofing removes and replaces sections of asbestos
roof at a time to eliminate the potential of damage due to inclement weather.

6. Do you have employees or do you subcontract?

A company that uses subcontractors isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you just have to keep in mind that you need to ask subcontractors the same questions as you asked the initial contractor. All of ACR Roofing’s personnel are full-time employees with many years’ experience with the team. The company’s plumbers are also asbestos removalists.

7. What post-job care can you offer me?

Any quality contractor will be confident enough in their skills to offer a comprehensive warranty on their work. An excellent contractor will provide you with post-care service including post-completion check-ups and an offer to provide minor repairs. Building owners are entitled to a six-year plumbing warranty; however, ACR Roofing issues an extra four years on top – guaranteeing the roof for 10 years.

8. Do you have a folio?

Contractors should have a sizeable folio demonstrating the quality projects they have completed in the past. It’s even better if they can pass on a sample of what past clients have said about their work.

9. What’s your ABN?

If the company doesn’t have an ABN it means they aren’t a registered company, so steer clear of them.

10. What products and suppliers do you use?

A contractor should have a list of quality suppliers with whom they have good relationships. These relationships will
allow your contractor to purchase the best products at reduced prices and pass these savings on to you.

A tip: always ask for Australian BlueScope products.

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If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start on your list of odd jobs, then why not start with the most important thing of all – your roof.

If there’s a problem with your car, you’ll notice because you drive it everyday. If the tiles in your bathroom are chipped, you’ll notice on your way to the shower and if the freezer has packed it in you’ll notice because your ice-cream will be melted. Unfortunately, we never look at our roofs and the only way we know there is something wrong is when it starts to leak during a downpour. So, as a way of reaching out to the forgotten hero that is your roof, get up on a ladder and follow these roof maintenance tips to make sure it’s still in good order.

Inspect Your Roof

The first thing you need to do is carry out a thorough inspection of your roof. You need to look for debris and a build-up of leaves in the roof or in the gutters. You should also be looking for holes, dips in the roofs or areas that look a little worse for wear. Check the flashing around any vents, chimneys and skylights to ensure that they are all still watertight. Gaps in flashing are one of the most common ways for a leak to start, and it can be costly to call someone out to fix a roof leak.

A roof inspection should go further than just the outside of the roof. After you’ve checked the outside of your roof, take your ladder inside and have a look underneath the roof. Check along all your ceilings for any evidence of leaks or sunlight poking shining through. Colorbond roofs are built tough, but if you’ve had severely wild weather lately, there’s a chance that something may have infiltrated your tiled roof.

Clean Your Roof

It goes without saying that any debris has to be cleaned off your roof and gutters. This is especially important if you live in a fire-prone area. Cleaning your roof will also help it to look it’s best for longer. If you’ve had rain recently, then your Colorbond roof should be looking pretty good. But, if it’s been dry, a light hose-down will do the job. If you notice that any dirt or grime has adhered to the surface of the roof, just grab a bucket of warm, soapy water and a sponge and lightly scrub the affected area. Make sure you rinse all the soap off to prevent any staining.

Look For Damage

Look for any animal or insect damage. Termites won’t affect your Colorbond roof, but the roof is a great vantage point to check for any woodwork damage. Wasps can build nests under your eaves and birds can cause a huge mess if they have built their nests on (or under) your roof. If wasp or bird nests become a constant problem, get in contact with a Melbourne roofing company to see how you can prevent this problem.

Clear Your Roof

It’s important that there are no branches hanging over your house. Even if they have been there for years, a strong wind could cause a branch to snap with potentially deadly consequences for your family. It’s not worth taking the risk, so grab out the chainsaw and ensure that there is a substantial clearance between your home and any tree branches.

So, there’s your guide to giving your roof a thorough once-over. It may cost you an afternoon, or a session in front of the cricket, but proper roof maintenance could save you a big call out bill. Look after the thing that looks after you and give your roof a bit of attention this festive season.

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That’s why it’s important to understand how to protect your home from these weather extremes. Your roof is your first line of defense from the wintery weather we’re experiencing at the moment. Preparation, the type of roofing materials used, and roof installation and ongoing roof maintenance are key to surviving any weather extreme.

In most cases, your roof will have to contend with wind, hail and rain all at the same time (particularly given that hail occurs only when strong winds carry raindrops high up into the atmosphere). Your roof has to be able to stand up to the strong winds or it won’t be able to protect your house.

If you live in an area that is prone to high winds, then your roof must be designed accordingly. Flat roofs, for example, are more susceptible to wind damage (due to upward forces) than pitched roofs. A well-designed roof will force the wind down the walls and to the ground. If you live in an old house, it’s important that you check your roof is securely bolted down. Chances are, you’ll find that your roof is not actually up to modern standards. Spending a bit of money upgrading your old roof with a roof replacement will save you a lot of money in the long run.

If you live in an area that is prone to hailstorms, as Melbourne can be during the winter months, then your choice of roofing material is important. Hailstones can be the size of golf balls, so if they puncture your roof it leaves your house susceptible to water damage.

Here at ACR Roofing, if you want a roof for your home or factory that is going to stand the test of time, then we always recommend a steel or Colorbond roof. The advantages of Colorbond are numerous:

• Colorbond offers a high degree of security in terms of wind protection; roof tiles are much more likely to blow off your roof in gale force winds than a properly installed Colorbond roof.
• Water quickly and easily runs off Colorbond roof sheeting. Unlike tiled roofs, that can experience the pooling of water in areas which may be damaged, cracked, or improperly installed, the ridges in Colorbond sheeting are designed to wick away rainwater. There is less change of leaks inside your home with Colorbond.
• Virtually no maintenance is required for Colorbond roofing. The colour is literally bonded to the metal, which means that painting is not required as often as other metal roofing materials.

Regular roof and gutter maintenance is another key aspect when it comes to preparing your property for extreme weather. If you live in high-rainfall areas you need to ensure your roof and gutter system is able to keep water from entering the house.

An obvious thing to do is to ensure that your gutters and pipes are cleared of any debris. You should clean out your gutters and downpipes every three months to en sure they’re in good working condition. If they’re not, replace them.

The best way to check whether your roof needs some TLC is to climb into the roof space underneath. From there, you can easily see areas where light filters through, you can check wooden frames for sign of sagging, and you should be able to see any cracks, holes and water-damage.

Preparation and maintenance is the key to ensuring your roof is equipped to do its job, which is protecting your house and belongings from Melbourne’s wild, wintry weather.

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