A Craig - your roof is what is known as a Mansard style. Search 'Mansard Style roofs' on Houzz for a lot of examples that may give you some answers (see one below). Obviously this home was built pre aluminium guttering that does not rust so to replace the existing guttering with seamless aluminium should solve your problems. It would be worthwhile replacing the downpipes with aluminium too. A bigger problem you could probably have is matching the existing tiles, but from photos on Houzz it does appear you would be able to get away with a different tile or even use a slate were you to change the flat area to a slightly pitched roof. Your existing tiles can be resprayed a different colour too. Call in the experts, the more people you speak to the more ideas you will get. Afraid whatever you do will be expensive, but consider it money well spent to alleviate any future water problems - water does so much damage that will negate all other renovation work you do in the house. [houzz=]

Thanks for your thoughts, they have helped us with our decision. We're now planning on using the barramundi roof tile (it's a grey, a bit softer than the soho nights black. And not so shiny) with matching gutter and fascia. And the cladding in paperbark. I was thinking cream windows instead of the timber, so there's some lighter colours on the brick downstairs to tie it to the top. We can't match it exactly to the paperbark cladding because we aren't using aluminium windows, but I'm hoping the cream (which is supposed to be more of an off-white with this manufacturer) will look okay in the clad dormers upstairs. Fingers crossed!

It is just an aesthetic thing, but it would annoy me everytime I see the front portico. It makes the portico look like a poorly considered add-on with differing roof pitches for no good reason. It looks like the new wings either side of the portico will match into the existing house well and will be well integrated into the existing roof structure. You need to decide as soon as possible if you are going to live with it and ignore it, or halt the work on it and pay for new roof trusses that match the other roofs. The more work that is completed on the portico the more expensive it will be to change. In this case procatination in making a decision may cost you big dollars. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

(echoing others here) No, no, no NO! ............The issue isn't the brickwork nor the roof tiles.....rather it's the currently multicoloured trim of say your guttering, garage and windows etc... I'd also argue that the idea of the "award winning" example posted above, will most likely date in time.......although I like the landscaping aspect of that one - but otherwise it's too heavy tonally for my eye and the rear extension is a harsh juxtaposition formally........anyway,I digress.... On your home here I reckon you best to work within the inherent style rather than try and force it into something that it is not. Other things, some not that expensive, will go a long way here, for example, bring the trim colours into consistency, consider relocating the downpipe on the far left brick column, and focus on a proper front landscaping design (including removing the concrete aspect) and de-cluttering the verandah will also make a world of difference. Looks like you have a beautiful established (jacaranda) tree in your front yard - perhaps make that that the "hero" of your frontage / streetscape That's what I did on this project, whilst completely different style the point is it was more about the garden - the house and structure becomes supporting and complimentary to the external landscaped spaces Good luck! PD www.pauldistefanodesign.com