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Local know-how

Roofers in NorthlandCyclone season, sea spray and hardly any frost.

Northland roofs rarely see frost or hail, but they take storms of tropical origin about once or twice a year, the odd damaging tornado, and salt from a very long coastline. Building consents come from your district council, and the national rules on LBPs, contracts and insurance apply here too.

What Northland's weather does to roofs

Storms from the tropics

NIWA says storms of tropical origin reach Northland about once or twice a year, mostly from December to April, bringing heavy rain and strong easterlies. Ahead of Cyclone Gabrielle, a precautionary state of emergency was declared on 12 February 2023.

Rain by the bucketload

The 28 to 30 March 2007 rainstorm dropped up to 450 mm in 36 hours in some areas, an estimated 150-year event, and left a number of houses uninhabitable. Undersized spouting and tired valley flashings are where that much water finds its way inside.

Gales

On 26 and 27 July 2008 gusts over 130 km/h left about 25,000 Northland homes without power, and Marsden Point recorded 154 km/h on 28 June 1977. Loose iron and ridge capping are what go first.

Tornadoes

NIWA noted seven damage-causing tornadoes in Northland from 2001 to 2012. One in Kaitaia on 4 July 2009 removed roof tiles and smashed windows on about 20 houses.

Sun, and very little frost

Most of Northland gets about 2,000 hours of bright sunshine a year, and parts of the east coast more than 2,100. Air frosts are rare. The sun is what fades paint and ages plastics up here.

Salt from every direction

The metal roofing Code of Practice sorts sites from category A (Mild) to F (Extreme Marine), F being right by breaking surf, and says the main effect of salty air reaches a few hundred metres inland, depending on wind and terrain. NZS 3604 puts homes within 500 m of the coast, or 100 m of a tidal estuary, in exposure Zone D.

Whangārei District Council issues consents in and around Whangārei; elsewhere, your own district council does. Northland Regional Council is the regional council. Like-for-like roofing with a comparable product in the same position is usually exempt under Schedule 1. If a re-roof does need consent, the council has 20 working days to decide a standard application, and the roof must be done or supervised by an LBP who gives you a Record of Work.

Rules worth knowing after a storm

Your private insurer covers storm damage to the house; the Natural Hazards Commission covers storm and flood damage to land only. Photograph everything and talk to your insurer before permanent repairs. Our storm damage claims guide covers the steps.

If someone knocks on the door offering to fix the roof and you agree there and then, that's an uninvited direct sale, which you can cancel within 5 working days of receiving your copy of the agreement. Larger jobs legally need a written contract and disclosure statement; see our contracts guide.

If your house was built before 2000, WorkSafe says it may contain asbestos. Don't let anyone water-blast an old roof until it's been checked.

Our advice for Northland

Before December, we'd get the roof, flashings and spouting checked and any loose iron fixed. Near the coast, we'd have the roofer confirm the exposure zone and use materials and fixings rated for it. After a storm, we'd ring the insurer before signing with anyone who turns up unasked. We pass jobs to one checked roofer where we have one, and tell you straight away if we don't.

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Cities in Northland

Whangārei roofsWet winters, tropical storms, harbour salt and strong sun: what Whangārei roofs face, and the jobs that follow.
Questions

Straight answers.

Is my Northland home in a sea spray zone?
If you're within 500 m of the coast or a harbour, or 100 m of a tidal estuary, you're likely in exposure Zone D. Ask your roofer to confirm it for your address before choosing roofing or fixings.
What should I do before cyclone season?
Get the roof and spouting checked in spring, fix loose iron and flashings, and clear the spouting. Tie down loose outdoor items when a storm is forecast, but never go up on the roof yourself.
Related help

Helpful next

Whangārei roofsWet winters, tropical storms, harbour salt and strong sun: what Whangārei roofs face, and the jobs that follow.Storm damage roof claimsRoof damaged in a storm? What to do first, who pays, and how to keep the claim on track.Emergency roof repairsStorm damage or water coming in? What a make-safe involves, and what to tell the roofer.How to check a roofer is an LBPHow to look up a Licensed Building Practitioner, and when your roofing job actually needs one.Do you need a building consent to re-roof?When a re-roof is exempt, when it needs a consent, and how to find out for your house.

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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