There was a time when tiled roofs were king and corrugated iron was old-hat.

But when was the last new tile-roofed home you saw in the Colour City?

Local specialist roofer Jeff Adams has seen it all come and go in his 40 years in the industry.

Moving to Orange from the Hunter Valley last year, he specialises in top-of-the-line re-roofing, gutter repairs, and roof replacements for Orange home-owners.

“We’re talking about roofing, re-roofing, repairs, new gutters, putting Leaf-Screen in, everything to do with your roof,” Jeff said.

“I’ve been doing this 39 years, since I was 15... my old man was a roofer, and so am I,” Jeff said proudly. “The important thing is to be clean and tidy, and do a good job the first time.

“You do it right, you don’t have to come back, because no-one remembers how cheap a job was or wasn’t, but they remember a bad job.”

With this in mind, he mostly deals directly with his clients rather than through contractors so as to provide the best service available.

“I do most of my work with established home-owners or owner-builders, it’s about looking after your customer and you can do this better if you are dealing directly with them and not through other parties,” he explained.

Although with the full range of roofing skills, it is the corrugated iron roofs that are taking up an increasing amount of his work.

“Colourbond roofs are increasingly popular, but I can do everything, I’m both a tiler and roof plasterer and slater as well; I’m doing a quote for a slate roof right now,” he said.

Modern insulation is making the case for the return of old-style metal-based roofing even more compelling, he said. “Colourbond, corrugated iron, the old ‘tin roof’... ask yourself this question when deciding on the benefits for your house and your walls – do you want 10-tonne of tiles or one-and-a-half tonne of tin?

“And with modern insulation – we’re talking about top-grade insulation – it’s simply better to live under. It’s cooler in summer and warmer in winter, it’s that simple,” he said.

Growing up in western Sydney in the 1980s, he moved to the Hunter Valley before making the move west last year.

“I like the country lifestyle, the climate’s a lot cooler, and the people are very friendly here,” he said.

For owner-builders, he advises to look to the roof first rather than as an afterthought once most of the other work has been done.

“We’re usually the last person that they call. But for any home, whether you’re building or doing renovations, call the roofer first!” Jeff said.

Jeff Adams. JK Adams Roofing. Mobile 0407 151 419. Email: adamsjeff351@gmail.com