Roofing FAQs

Often not. Schedule 1 of the Building Act exempts replacing a building product with a comparable one in the same position. A consent can be needed if you change material, alter the structure, or replace a roof that has failed to meet the Building Code's durability requirements. Exempt work must still comply with the Building Code.

Not automatically. Whether a different roofing material counts as comparable is a judgement that depends on the job, and your council (Wellington City, Hutt City, Upper Hutt City, Porirua City or Kāpiti Coast District Council) has the final say. We check this for your house before quoting and apply for consent where it is needed.

Restricted building work is residential work that is critical to a home's structure or weathertightness, and roofing falls within it when the work needs a building consent. That work must be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner with the right licence class.

Licensed Building Practitioners can hold a roofing licence, which is split into areas of practice such as profiled metal roofing, metal tile, concrete or clay tile, membranes, and shingles or slate. Ask your roofer which areas they are licensed in, and check the public LBP register.

The main ones are E2 External Moisture, which covers keeping water out, and B2 Durability, which requires roof cladding to last at least 15 years and flashings that cannot be replaced without removing the cladding to last 50 years. The NZ Metal Roof and Wall Cladding Code of Practice sets out how metal roofs are installed to meet them.

Only if the work had a building consent. In that case the council inspects and issues a Code Compliance Certificate when it is satisfied. Exempt re-roofs do not get one, so keep the quote, invoice, product details and photos with your house records.

Published third-party figures put longrun steel re-roofing at roughly $80 to $180 per m2, depending on the source and what is included. Our roof replacement cost guide explains the factors. The only reliable figure for your house is an itemised quote after a site measure.

Roof area, pitch, shape, access and scaffolding, the material being removed, asbestos, timber repairs, the new material and profile, flashings, spouting and consent all affect the price.

Yes. We measure the roof, look in the ceiling space where we can, take photos and give you an itemised written quote with no obligation.

No. Re-roofs are paid in stages tied to progress, and the schedule is written into the quote. You should be cautious of anyone who asks for the full amount before the work starts.

Insurance usually covers sudden damage, such as a storm event, rather than wear and tear. We can provide photos and a written report on the cause and extent of damage to support a claim, but the insurer makes the decision.

Pre-painted steel such as COLORSTEEL is the most common choice for re-roofs, in corrugate or trapezoidal profiles. Concrete tiles, metal tiles and membranes are also used, depending on the house and roof pitch.

COLORSTEEL MAXAM, a single product designed for most New Zealand environments. ALTIMATE is the option for extreme marine and highly corrosive sites.

Corrugate suits villas, bungalows and traditional homes, and needs a minimum roof pitch of 8 degrees in its standard profile. Trapezoidal profiles give a more modern look and some can be laid at lower pitches. We confirm the profile suits your roof pitch before quoting.

A properly installed metal roof with underlay and a ceiling with insulation below it is not usually noisy inside. Roofs without a ceiling, such as some sheds or exposed rafters, are louder.

It depends on the product, your environment and maintenance. COLORSTEEL publishes warranties by environment category, and the Building Code sets a minimum of 15 years for roof cladding. We give you the warranty terms for your site in writing.

Look at the house, the street, any covenant, and the heat reflectance of each colour, then check physical samples in daylight. Our COLORSTEEL colours guide lists the current range.

It depends on roof size, complexity, the material being removed and the weather. A simple single-storey re-roof is usually days rather than weeks, and larger or more complex jobs take longer. You get a planned start and finish in the quote.

Yes, most people do. Expect noise during the working day and some dust in the roof space. We keep the house weathertight every night.

We watch the forecast and only strip as much roof as we can close in the same day. If rain arrives unexpectedly, the open area is covered and work pauses until it is safe.

Move cars clear of the house, take fragile items off interior walls and high shelves, and let neighbours know. If you have items stored in the roof space, it is a good idea to cover or move them.

We stop, take photos and talk to you before doing any extra work. Asbestos is tested and, where removal of more than 10 square metres of non-friable material is needed, handled by a WorkSafe licensed removalist.

A clean site, the old roofing removed, photos of the finished roof, the manufacturer's warranty information for your environment, plus maintenance notes so the warranty stays valid.