TL;DR: Repoint ridge caps when the old pointing cracks, crumbles or lets caps rock, and do it before you recoat the roof. Use a flexible, water-based pointing compound rather than rigid cement, because Queensland heat moves ridge caps every day. Thinking Paint's Point Protect covers 25 to 30 linear metres per pail at 3 to 5 mm, carries a 10-year warranty, and is delivered in 3 business days to Ipswich and Toowoomba.
Repoint your ridge caps when the pointing along the ridge is cracked, missing or loose, and finish the job before you paint the roof. Pointing is the exposed seal along the cap edges. Bedding is the mortar underneath that holds the caps down. Flexible pointing suits roofs in Ipswich, Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley because it moves with the caps instead of splitting, and fresh coating over failed pointing only hides a leak path for a season.
What is roof pointing, and how is it different from bedding?
Pointing is the visible finish along the edges of ridge and hip caps, and bedding is the mortar layer under them. Bedding carries the weight and holds the caps in position. Pointing keeps water, wind-driven rain and dust out of the joint. For the mortar layer and its mix, see our roof bedding article.
The two fail in different ways. Bedding fails when caps rock or slide. Pointing fails when it cracks, shrinks away from the cap or crumbles. A Hatton Vale roof can have sound bedding and dead pointing, and only the pointing needs replacing.
How do I know my ridge caps need repointing?
Look for cracks, gaps or powdery pointing along the edge of each cap. Walk the ground with binoculars first, then check up close from a safe position. After a summer storm in Ipswich or the Lockyer Valley, also check the gutters for grit and broken pieces.
Signs that point to failed pointing:
- Hairline cracks or open gaps along the cap edge
- Pointing that is missing, chalky or lifting in flakes
- Dark stains on the ceiling below the ridge line after rain
- Loose chunks of old pointing in the gutter
If more than a few caps rock when pressed, the bedding has failed too. Rebed those caps first, then point.
Should I use cement or flexible pointing on a Queensland roof?
Use a flexible pointing compound. Ridge caps expand in Ipswich summer heat and shrink overnight, and Toowoomba adds wide daily temperature swings. Rigid cement has no give, so the joint tends to crack along the cap edge and let water in again.
|
|
Rigid cement pointing |
Flexible pointing (Point Protect) |
|---|---|---|
|
Movement |
Stiff, tends to crack as caps move |
Flexible, moves with the caps |
|
Base |
Cement |
Water-based, low VOC |
|
Colour |
Usually needs painting to match |
20 colours |
|
Warranty |
Varies |
10 years |
Why repoint before I recoat the roof?
Repoint first because paint film only bridges hairline cracks for a short time while the joint keeps moving. A 10-year, 15-year or 20-year coating is only as good as the joints beneath it. On tiled roofs around Toowoomba and Ipswich, that means fixing the ridge and hip pointing, cleaning the roof, then priming and coating.
Point Protect is not a roof membrane. It seals the cap joint. The roof surface still needs its own primer and coating.
What are the specifications and application details for Point Protect?
Point Protect is a flexible, water-based, low VOC pointing compound made for ridge and hip caps. Thinking Paint has supported homeowners, tradies and roof restorers for 20 years, and these figures come from the product page.
|
Specification |
Detail |
|---|---|
|
Price |
$47 per pail |
|
Type |
Flexible, water-based, low VOC pointing compound |
|
Warranty |
10 years |
|
Coverage |
25 to 30 linear metres per pail at 3 to 5 mm, or 40 to 60 caps |
|
Colours |
20 |
|
Delivery |
3 business days to Ipswich and Toowoomba |
Application steps:
- Remove the existing pointing and clean the joint.
- Apply the compound along the ridge cap edge.
- Allow it to dry.
- Shape the finish.
Can I repoint my roof myself, and how much do I need?
Yes, if you are comfortable working at height and can do it safely. Measure every ridge and hip run in linear metres, then divide by 25. Rounding up on the lower coverage figure leaves you a margin for wider joints, which use more compound.
If the roof is steep, high or slippery, hire a roofer for the repointing and buy the compound yourself.
What do Ipswich and Toowoomba homeowners ask about roof pointing?
Q: How often does roof pointing need replacing? A: There is no fixed interval. It depends on the product and how much the roof moves. Rigid cement often cracks sooner on a Queensland roof because caps expand and shrink daily. Point Protect carries a 10-year warranty. Check your ridges once a year after storm season and fix cracks before they reach the ceiling.
Q: Can I paint over old pointing? A: Not if it is cracked or crumbling. Paint bridges hairline cracks for a short time, but the joint keeps moving and splits again. Point Protect's instructions are to remove the existing pointing and clean the joint first. Once the new pointing has dried, the roof can be primed and coated.
Q: Is pointing the same as bedding? A: No. Bedding is the mortar under the ridge caps that holds them in place. Pointing is the exposed seal along the cap edges that keeps water out. A roof can need one, the other or both. Caps that rock need rebedding, and cracked edges need repointing.
Q: How much Point Protect do I need? A: One pail covers 25 to 30 linear metres at 3 to 5 mm, or 40 to 60 caps. Measure your ridge and hip runs in metres and plan on the lower figure of 25. A pail costs $47, so buying one extra is cheaper than stopping mid-job.
Q: Can I get Point Protect delivered to Ipswich or Toowoomba? A: Yes. Thinking Paint delivers to Ipswich and Toowoomba in 3 business days. Order with your primer and coating so the whole job arrives together.
Q: Does Point Protect waterproof my roof? A: No. It is not a roof membrane. It seals the joint along ridge and hip caps. The roof surface still needs the right primer and a coating such as Roof Refresh (10-year), 15-Year Roof Protect or 20-Year Roof Protect.
The right pointing depends on how much your roof moves, and in Ipswich, Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley that is a lot. Replace cracked pointing with a flexible compound, fix any rocking caps first, and repoint before you prime and coat. Speak with Thinking Paint for practical product advice before choosing your pointing, primer or coating.