Sun Cement Tiles Pty Ltd

Trading Name	Sun Cement Tiles Pty Ltd
Years of Operation	1935 to 1977
Company Number
Address	135 Neerim Road Carnegie from 1935 to 1957 30 Hargreaves Street Huntingdale from 1957 to 1976.
Council Lot No.
Coordinates
Current Use	Light Industrial

One of many cement tile manufacturers in the area, this company originally operated from Neerim Road in Carnegie from 1935 until 1957 before moving to 30 Hargreaves Street in Huntingdale where it operated, not far from Masonry Veneer, until the mid to late 1970s.  There were two brothers, Hopetoun Robert Whitelaw and Mervyn Murray Whitelaw.  Mervyn’s wife Valma and Hopetoun’s wife Rita were also partners in the business, as was Ian Ritchie, an accountant.

Starting at the height of the great depression, this company was one of several that began in Neerim Road, along with another couple on Dandenong Road Carnegie.  The high cost of producing terra cotta roofing tiles led to the establishment of these companies.  The premises in Hargreaves street were not large and the parners lived nearby.

Operating as a partnership until the move to Huntingdale, the partners formed a limited company in 1956.  They continued until 1976 when profits were so low as to make the company non viable.  They ceased trading in 1977.

I have written in detail about cement tiles on the Masonry Veneer post. So here, I will talk about using cement tiles.  They are cheaper than terra cotta as they are easier to make, but can be more difficult to install, especially along ridge-lines and valleys.  A special saw, requiring skill to use is needed to cut them properly.

Cement tiles will generally last between thirty to fifty years according to most sites on the web.  Something to bear in mind is that cement tiles continue to harden with age and become less porous.  This means that they will often last longer.  There are many houses in my area with cement tiles that are over sixty years old.  The Romans used concrete over two thousand years ago and it is still in good condition.  This is because concrete absorbs carbon from the atmosphere, making it stronger. 

Some problems have occurred as a result of the battens and flashing being incorrectly fitted.  Sometimes the battens need to be replaced before the tiles due to inferior timber being used, especially on houses built in the 1950s and 60s before treated timber became available.

Cement tiles will fade naturally with age as a result of air pollution and ultra violet rays.  Roof coating is usually only a cosmetic solution.  Re-coating is generally needed.  These coatings will eventually fade and peel and cannot be walked on.  Blending in replacement tiles creates a colour-matching problem. Concrete tiles do not absorb water although some clay tiles will with age.   Some salts will precipitate from the cement leaving a whitish discolouration but this does not affect their performance.  This “efflorescence” will dissipate over time.

Material used to make cement tiles are non toxic and water collected from a roof   is usually safe to drink, but deposits left by our various avian friends may affect this, so be careful.  If you look at a lot of terra cotta tile roofs, especially in Melbourne, lichens grow quite extensively.  These do not create a problem and add character to the roof.  They can easily be cleaned using proprietary cleaning products.  Sometimes they may clog drainage channels.