Restoring Barrel Tile Roofs, Stucco and Arched Openings

Clay barrel tile is durable, and original tile is often in better shape than the layers beneath it. When a roof needs work, the usual concern is the underlayment, flashing and wood at the eaves, not the tile itself. That opens the door to salvage: removing tile carefully, sorting what is sound, and reinstalling it over a new roofing system that meets current High-Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements.

Salvaged tile rarely covers the whole roof, so new tile has to blend in. We look for a matching profile and a colour range that sits comfortably with the aged originals, and we lay out the mix so new pieces are distributed rather than clustered. Some owners place salvaged tile on the street-facing slopes and new tile on less visible areas. Ridges, hips and eaves deserve particular attention, since that is where the roof's outline is read from below.

A careful barrel tile roof restoration also considers what the roof joins: chimneys, parapets, towers and walls. Flashing at these junctions is where leaks begin, and where a tidy, period-appropriate detail makes the difference between a roof that looks original and one that looks patched. Gutters and downspouts get the same thought, with profiles and placement that suit the house rather than cutting across its lines.

Original stucco on older Coral Gables homes was often applied by hand, with a texture that varies subtly across a wall. A modern smooth or sprayed finish will stand out immediately beside it. When we repair cracks, patch around new openings or extend walls for an addition, matching that texture is the priority.

The process starts with sample panels. Our plasterers try different techniques on a test area until the texture, depth and pattern read the same as the existing wall in daylight. Only then do we commit to the full repair. Paint matters too: older walls may have coatings that new paints do not bond well with, so compatibility is checked before colour goes on.

• Find and address the cause of cracking before patching
• Test texture on sample panels in natural light
• Feather repairs into whole wall sections, not small spots
• Confirm paint compatibility with existing coatings

Cracks deserve investigation rather than cosmetic cover. Some are surface shrinkage. Others point to moisture, failing lath or movement in the structure, and those need to be resolved first, with an engineer confirming any structural repair, or the new finish will crack again.

Arched windows, doors and loggias are the signature of the style. Unfortunately, they are also where many past renovations took the easy route, installing square units and filling the arch above with a flat panel. Reversing that kind of change, or avoiding it in the first place, is one of the most rewarding parts of restoring one of these homes.

Replacement units should follow the arch and sit at a depth that keeps the shadow line of the thick wall. Finding windows and doors that do this while carrying the product approvals required in Miami-Dade takes research, and it is worth doing before designs are finalised. Interior arches deserve the same respect when kitchens and living areas are opened up, since they often frame the views that make the rooms feel generous.

When an opening is widened or a new arch is added, structure comes into play, and an engineer confirms the lintel or beam design before we build it. Trim, sills and surrounds are then detailed to match the originals, so the finished opening looks as though it has always been there. If your home's roof, walls or openings need attention, we would be happy to look at them with you.