The Higgins family chose terracotta tiles from Monier Roofing to create a roof that matched their newly renovated home in Melbourne.
Jen and Brad Higgins, the owners, not only knew about renovation but also had an eye for style. Having found a rundown post-war timber cottage in Heidelberg, they saw its potential and decided to carry out extensive renovation. The house was situated in a great location on a decent-sized block of land.
Built in the 1950s, the cottage was structurally sound but ugly, and had an outdated floor plan. With three-year-old twin girls, the couple was keen to turn the house into their forever family home.
“It had an old kitchen and brick tiles on the floor,” Jen says. “It was horrific. We ripped up the floors in the lounge and dining; we ripped out the laundry; we opened the space up; we built a butler’s pantry; we changed the zoning of the bathrooms and created an ensuite for the master.
“We moved the location of the hallway. We put built-in wardrobes in; we re-carpeted. We repainted; we changed windows, doors, we did everything!”
The final design outcome after six months of intense work was satisfying, both inside and outside with the exterior featuring freshly painted charcoal-coloured weatherboards. After the stylish renovation, the Higgins couple decided they needed a roof that matched their new home.
“The house was built in the ’50s and the roof had not been updated since then,” Jen explains.
“The cement tiles were clearly decaying and the roof’s colour and quality had worn and it did not look good. They hadn’t been maintained and there was lots of dirt and mould – it was horrible.
“We had done a lot of work internally and externally and it was really bringing down the look of our house. We had painted the house; we’d redone the gardens; we’d renovated inside and the roof was kind of just this ugly thing that stuck out.
“We decided to invest in a good-looking black tiled roof.”
Jen and Brad chose Monier’s Nouveau terracotta roof tiles in Titan. The roof tiles are long-lasting and come with a 50-year warranty. The tile’s colour will never fade, ensuring that the roof looks good for a long time. Additionally, they were made locally in Melbourne.
With Brad’s brother running Higgins Roofing, they had access to great tilers, which also helped in the decision making.
“The Higgins Roofing guys checked for structural defects and anything that did need to be upgraded and they looked at replacing all the sarking,” Jen added. The new sarking helped to insulate the house, while the terracotta tiles made from natural materials are known for their thermal efficiency.
