Thorndon sits on the northern end of the narrow coastal plain at the heart of Wellington, and it was the city's elite residential area until the 1960s. Its villas are concentrated at the north end of Tinakori Road and along Hobson Street, with cottages on the slopes behind the Tinakori Road shops and around Calgarry Avenue and Sydney Street West.
The character houses typically have painted rusticated weatherboard walls and corrugated iron roofs, sit close to the street with narrow side yards, and rely on street parking. That makes access and scaffolding a big part of any roofing job here, especially on the steeper streets south of Harriet Street, where very large and very small sites sit side by side. We measure on site for free and put the quote in writing, line by line.
Roofing Services in Thorndon
Every roofing service we offer in Thorndon, and what each one covers:
- Re-Roofing: A full re-roof replaces your old roofing, underlay and flashings with a new COLORSTEEL roof built to today's Building Code.
- Roof Replacement: When repairs no longer make sense, we replace the roof completely and leave you with a roof that is good for decades.
- Tile to Metal Re-Roofing: Swapping heavy concrete tiles for lightweight steel removes weight from the frame and ends the cycle of cracked tiles and leaks.
- Asbestos Roof Removal: Older Super Six and fibre cement roofs can contain asbestos.
- Decramastic Roof: Decramastic tiles lose their chip coating and rust from the inside.
- Roof Repairs: Leaks, loose sheets, failed flashings and cracked tiles repaired properly, with photos of what we found and fixed.
- Roof Leak Repairs: We track a leak to its source, which is often nowhere near the stain on your ceiling, and fix the cause.
- Emergency Roof Repairs: Storm damage made safe fast, then repaired with the photos and reports your insurer needs.
- Tile Roof Repairs: Cracked and slipped tiles replaced, ridges rebedded and repointed, and leaks under tiles traced and sealed.
- Roof Flashing Repairs: Flashings around chimneys, skylights, walls and valleys cause most leaks.
- New Roofs: New roofs for new builds, extensions and minor dwellings, installed to plans and signed off for your Code Compliance Certificate.
- Metal Roofing: Longrun COLORSTEEL roofing in corrugate and trapezoidal profiles, rolled to length for your roof.
- Membrane Roofing: Flat and low-pitch roofs, decks and gutters waterproofed with butynol and modern membrane systems.
- Skylights: Roof windows and skylights installed or replaced with proper flashing kits, so the light comes in and the water does not.
- Spouting and Gutters: New spouting, gutter replacement and repairs in steel and PVC, sized to carry heavy downpours.
- Gutter Cleaning: Gutters and downpipes cleared by hand, flushed and checked, with before and after photos of what we found.
- Downpipes and Fascia: Downpipes and fascia replaced or repaired, often alongside new spouting or a re-roof.
- Roof Painting: Roof painting that starts with proper preparation: wash, treat, repair and prime, then two coats of roof paint.
- Roof Cleaning: Moss, lichen and grime removed with the right treatment for your roof type, without damaging the surface.
- Roof Inspections: A detailed roof report with photos and honest repair or replace advice, for owners, buyers and insurers.
- Roof Ventilation: Roof and ceiling space ventilation that reduces condensation, mould and heat build-up.
- Commercial Roofing: Re-roofs, repairs and maintenance plans for commercial, industrial and multi-unit buildings.
Thorndon Homes and Their Roofs
Thorndon's villas and cottages traditionally have corrugated iron roofs, and a re-roof in longrun corrugate keeps that character. Older roofs can hide original chimneys, lapped flashings and timber details that need repair before new sheets go on. Multi-unit developments scattered through the area add low-pitch and membrane roofs, often with box gutters behind parapets.
What Thorndon Conditions Mean for Your Roof
Thorndon is close to the harbour, and parts of it fall within 500 metres of the sea, the highest sea spray zone in NZS 3604, so we confirm the steel grade and fixings for each address. Steep, forested Te Ahumairangi Hill rises about 300 metres behind the suburb, and fixings and flashings need to suit the wind zone for the site. If your home is in a District Plan character precinct, check with Wellington City Council before changing the roof profile or colour.
Roofers Thorndon FAQs
Can I keep the corrugated iron look on my Thorndon villa?
Yes. Longrun corrugate in COLORSTEEL keeps the classic wave profile, and we match ridging and barge details to suit the house. If the house is in a character precinct, confirm any requirements with the council first.
How do you scaffold a Thorndon cottage with no side yard?
Narrow side yards and street parking mean scaffolding is planned around the neighbours and the footpath, and some sites may need a permit to use the road or footpath. We assess this during the free measure and show access as a separate line on the quote.
Do old chimneys cause leaks?
They are a common cause. Chimney flashings on older houses are often lapped metal that has moved and cracked over the decades. When we re-roof we either reflash the chimney properly or, if it has been taken down below the roof, close the opening and roof over it.
Should I replace the spouting at the same time as the roof?
If the spouting is rusting or sagging, doing it with the re-roof saves putting up scaffolding twice. We price both separately so you can decide.