A Complete Guide to Roof Repointing and Rebedding (+ Signs You Need Them)

With modern roof tiles becoming lighter and more durable, no wonder they are a popular roofing solution for Aussie homeowners. But even with all their robustness, roof tiles have a weak point — their connections. In time, cracks will appear on the tile joints and the cement mortar under the ridge caps will start to crumble.

When that happens, it’s time for a roof repair. And roof rebedding and repointing are two important steps of this tile roof repair process.

In all honesty, roof rebedding or repointing a roof may not sound like exciting tasks. But neglect them and you might end up with a leaking roof. 

In reality, many homeowners may not know what repointing is unless their roof requires it. Another common problem is getting confused and mixing up these two processes.

For a clearer picture, let’s take a closer look at these two crucial home maintenance activities, repointing and rebedding a roof.

What Does Rebedding a Roof Mean?

Before we get into the process of roof rebedding, we need to take a glance at roof ridge caps. What exactly are these caps?

The highest point on a roof where the two sloping sides meet is the roof ridge. To cover the meeting point of tiles at this juncture and make it leakproof, ridge caps are placed on the ridge by using roofing cement.

These are the inverted V-shaped tiles you see on the rooftop. 

Ridge caps make the roof waterproof while giving it an aesthetic finish. Moreover, they also provide some support for the roof structure.

To fix the ridge caps, a layer of mortar is placed over the area that acts as a bed and secures the caps. It also acts as a weatherproof seal and prevents the ridge caps from shifting. 

Note, that the mortar will not be as durable as the tiles and will degrade in time. Imagine what can happen if this bedding gets cracked and the mortar starts coming loose.

As the mortar gets cracks or breaks, the roof may no longer remain waterproof. Rainwater leaking into the underneath layers can cause multiple water-related issues and roof damage. When the mortar is almost entirely damaged, you can lift the ridge caps off easily. With nothing to hold them in place, the tiles tend to shift and loose tiles on the roof can be a safety issue.

Coming back to what exactly is rebedding a roof, let’s take a look at the steps involved in the process.

• Rebedding starts with clearing out the damaged old mortar from underneath the tiles and cleaning the entire area from all dirt and debris. 

• Next, a new mortar mix is prepared and placed in the area by bedding racks to hold it in place. To prepare the mix, cement, sand and top-grade additives are mixed in specific ratios. Some repairers use a concrete plasticiser to create a high-strength mortar mix for better performance.

• Then, the tiles need to be properly aligned on this mortar layer and any excess mortar is removed carefully. The new bed acts as a glue that holds the ridge caps together. 

A tip for the pros — the guidelines for laying bedding material have been specified in the AS 2050:2018 – Installation of roof tiles. No need to improvise!

What Does Repointing a Roof Mean?

Once the roof bedding is complete and the ridge caps are in place, the second stage of the repairing process begins — repointing the roof tiles. This is done by using a pointing material that is applied as an additional layer over the bedding mortar. To make it clear, during a roof repair, roof pointing is done only after the roof bedding process is complete.

Traditionally, pointing was done by using cement mortar.

But, modern pointing materials made from acrylic or a mixture of silicone and sand have emerged as excellent alternatives. These formulations are made of flexible compounds that offer better durability. 

Unlike mortar, the flexible material shows better adaptability to the thermal expansion of the roof without cracking — a big plus. Besides, they are available in a variety of colours that can match the roof tiles.

The thickness of the pointing layer can be between 3 to 5 mm and it is applied carefully to fill all the gaps and cracks between tiles and the mortar bed. This layer protects the mortar layer from direct sunlight, reducing the effects of thermal expansion. It reduces the chances of the bed cracking and increases its lifespan. 

Plus, the pointing also acts as a waterproof layer. An added advantage — visually appealing ridge caps.

And remember: pointing is not just applying another top layer. It needs uniform application and all gaps should be filled carefully. A team of professionals can complete the process of roof rebedding and repointing in 2-3 days.

On the downside, flexible repointing cures rapidly. So, it needs to be applied and troweled quickly which requires an experienced hand. Keep that in mind if you are planning to DIY roof tile repointing and rebedding.

5 Signs That Your Roof Needs Rebedding and/or Repointing

In general, roofs older than 15-20 years, should be inspected periodically for signs of damage.  Additionally, there are a few signs that indicate that your roof needs rebedding. Getting to know these signs at the right time can save you from full roof restorations.

• A visual inspection of the roof will cracks or gaps in the mortar. Or else, large chunks of the mortar would have fallen off.
• Tiles may have come loose, shifted or moved out of alignment as they are no longer secured to the roof.
• Damp spots on your roof and ceiling are signs of water seepage from the roof. This calls for an inspection of the roof ridge.
• Loose pieces of mortar around your home or falling debris from the roof indicates that it’s time to rebed roof tiles.
• Noticeable vegetation growth on the roof, like algae, moss, etc. can be a sign of gaps in the bedding material.

What Is the Cost to Rebed and Repoint the Roof?

One common question is, what is the cost of repointing a roof?

The answer is the tired cliché: it depends.

The size and condition of the roof are two important factors that will determine the cost. Then again, the type of tiles on the roof, terracotta or cement, determines the costs. The height of the roof and the shape also affect the repointing costs. 

In case your building is on the higher side and the roof has a steep pitch, expect a steeper quote. The costs for repairing a roof with limited access or damaged portions will be on the higher side as well.

If only a few ridge caps have been damaged, you can pay a price per cap tile, which hovers around $10-$15 per tile as of this writing (January 2025).

In case a full rebedding and repointing service is needed, roof repairers charge a cost per square metre. This can be between $120 and $170.

To lower the costs, a DIY roof repointing and rebedding project is an option. However, you need to know what you are doing and take the right safety measures required for working at heights. 

It’s worth mentioning that the roof is one of the most important structural elements of your home. So, roof repair work should be done in the best possible manner. If you are not familiar with this task, which most people aren’t, best to get help from professionals.

Roof Repointing and Rebedding : FAQs

What is the purpose of repointing?

The purpose of repointing is to add a layer of protection on the ridge cap bedding to protect them from the effects of weathering. A mortar mix or a synthetic repointing compound is used for the task.

What is the difference between rebedding and repointing?

Rebedding is the process where the old mortar layer under the ridge caps on the roof is removed and a fresh layer is applied. Then the ridge caps are aligned on this new layer. Repointing is done after the process of rebedding is complete, by adding a new layer on top of the mortar. That said, repointing can be done independently as well.

How long does roof repointing last?

Depending on the quality of the material and the workmanship, roof repointing can last for 10-15 years. However, it is suggested that repointing of the roof should be done once every 10 years.