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Invercargill, Southland

Invercargill roofsWind off the strait, and rain more days than not.

Invercargill gets rain on 213 days a year and gusts over 61 km/h on 109, so roofs here seldom get a quiet spell. That works fixings loose, keeps spouting busy and lets moss settle in. Tell us the job and we'll look for an Invercargill roofer who specialises in that work, and say so straight away if there isn't one near you.

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What Invercargill weather does to a roof

Westerlies funnelled through Foveaux Strait

NIWA says the city gets a relatively high share of strong westerlies, partly because air is channelled through Foveaux Strait. There are 15 days a year with gusts over 94 km/h, and the record, 142.7 km/h from the west-south-west, came on 16 May 1994. Roofing screws, ridge capping and the windward edges of iron take the brunt.

A roof that seldom dries

Invercargill Aero averages 1,149 mm a year, and 157 days bring at least 1 mm. January (115 mm) and May (114 mm) are the wettest months. NIWA also says UV is lower here than further north, so sun fade matters less than the moss and lichen that thrive on a damp roof.

Hail, and plenty of it

Hail falls on about 30 days a year, which NIWA says is considerably more often than at the other Southland stations it lists. On 7 January 2010, hailstones up to 0.8 cm across brought nearly 40 flooding callouts in 45 minutes. Skylights, clear roofing and spouting outlets are what to check afterwards.

Snow is rare, but heavy when it comes

On 17 and 18 September 2010 about 14 cm of dense snow settled on the city. Its weight collapsed the roof of Stadium Southland and caused roofs to collapse or sag at six other businesses. Snow only falls on about 5 days a year, but the metal roofing Code of Practice says snow straps and extra fixings on spouting and flashings are normal in snow-prone areas.

Frosty mornings

The minimum drops below 0 °C on 41 days a year. A frosty roof is as slippery as a wet one, and roof coatings need a dry, mild day, so painting is very much a summer job here.

The estuary counts as coast

Southern Invercargill sits on the New River Estuary. NZS 3604 puts homes within 100 m of a tidal estuary, or 500 m of the open sea, in exposure Zone D, and MBIE says the BRANZ maps are conservative near estuaries, so the zone should be checked site by site.

The jobs Invercargill homes need, and why

Wind damage and loose fixings. Lifted iron and popped screws are what a strong westerly leaves behind. See roof repairs and popping nails and failing screws.

Spouting that works most days. Our Invercargill spouting page covers sizing, snow straps and estuary salt.

Moss and lichen. With that many rain days, moss treatment is routine upkeep rather than a one-off. The moss and lichen guide explains what works.

Re-roofing when the iron is finished. If rust has gone right through, read repaint or re-roof before spending anything on paint.

Invercargill houses, and the asbestos question

The 2023 Census counted 19,440 separate houses among Invercargill's occupied private dwellings, against 2,580 joined ones, so most roofs here sit on standalone homes. WorkSafe says a home built before 2000 may contain asbestos, including in roofing, spouting and downpipes. If yours might, don't let anyone water-blast it, and start with is my roof asbestos?.

Invercargill City Council issues building consents in the city, and Environment Southland is the regional council. Replacing roofing like for like, with a comparable product in the same position, is usually exempt under Schedule 1. Changing the roofing type, or replacing a roof that failed early by letting in water, can need consent.

Consented roofing work on a house must be done or supervised by an LBP, who hands you a Record of Work when it's finished. You can look any LBP up on the public register; our LBP guide shows how.

Wind, frost and hail safety

Stay off the roof after a storm, a hail burst or a frost, and look from the ground instead. On a wild day, keep clear of the eaves in case loose iron lets go. If water is reaching lights or fittings, turn the power off at the switchboard.

What we'd do in Invercargill

We'd treat the roof as something that needs a yearly check, not a once-a-decade job. Spring brings 32.3% of the city's strong winds, so we'd have fixings and flashings looked at in late winter. Near the estuary, we'd ask the roofer to confirm the exposure zone in writing before ordering steel.

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Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.

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Where we come in

We're a referral service, not roofers. We pass your job to one checked roofer who works in Invercargill if we have one, and tell you plainly if we don't. Stay warm out there.

Services

Roofing jobs in Invercargill

Spouting in InvercargillSpouting in Invercargill: hail, snow straps, westerlies and estuary salt, plus what to ask before you agree.
Questions

Straight answers.

Does Invercargill need snow straps on spouting?
Snow isn't frequent, about 5 days a year, but September 2010 showed what 14 cm of dense snow can do. The Code of Practice calls snow straps normal in snow-prone areas, so ask your roofer whether your spouting and site warrant them.
What should I check after a hailstorm?
From the ground, look at skylights, clear roofing and whether water is still running from every downpipe. Have a roofer look if anything's cracked or water is backing up, and talk to your insurer first if it's sudden storm damage.
Does the wind affect how a new roof should be fixed?
It can. With 109 days a year of gusts over 61 km/h, ask your roofer about the wind zone for your site and the fixing pattern they'll use.

Ready for a roofer to look at it in Invercargill?

Your postcode and three quick questions. We match you with a local roofer who specialises in your job, and tell you straight away if we don't have one near you.

Related help

Helpful next

Spouting in InvercargillSpouting in Invercargill: hail, snow straps, westerlies and estuary salt, plus what to ask before you agree.Roofers in SouthlandWesterlies, hail, snow load, council consent and storm-chasing door-knockers: roofing in Southland.Roof repairsLifted iron, popped nails, cracked tiles and tired flashings. When a repair is enough, and what to ask.Moss and lichen on your roofFast washes, slow sprays and the water-blaster trap: dealing with moss and lichen safely.Popping roof nails and failing screwsWhy roof nails pop and screws fail, how a roofer fixes them, and when failing fixings mean a re-roof.How to check a roofer is an LBPHow to look up a Licensed Building Practitioner, and when your roofing job actually needs one.

Where this information comes from

Every fact and rule on this page comes from the sources above, checked on the dates shown. How we write and check these pages.

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