What Wellington adds to a restoration
Mid-century tiles, and how they're held on
Heritage New Zealand says the Miramar state houses, prototypes for later state houses, had weatherboard walls and tiled roofs. The Natural Hazards Commission advises making sure roof tiles are well secured to the framing, or replacing heavy tiles with lighter roofing. A restoration crew is already working across the whole roof, so ask them to check tile fixings as part of the job.
Paint needs calm, dry days
Wellington Airport averages 110 days a year with at least 1 mm of rain, and a mean wind speed of 25.8 km/h. Spraying in a gust sends paint onto cars and neighbours, and coatings need a dry surface to bond. Expect some weather days, especially in winter, and a roofer who's honest about them.
Salt and coatings near the water
Homes within 500 m of the coast, the harbour included, are in exposure zone D. Salt collects on the parts rain rarely reaches, so a good restoration near the water includes cleaning those spots before paint goes on, and a coating system meant for coastal exposure.
A job of several days needs proper fall protection
WorkSafe treats roof restoration that runs over several days for resealing, painting or repair as long-duration work, where scaffolding or edge protection should be considered. It says single-storey homes need the same level of fall protection as two-storey ones. Make sure the quote shows it.
Restore or re-roof a Wellington roof?
| Restore | Re-roof | |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete tiles intact, just mossy and faded | Usually a good fit | Usually more than you need |
| Iron faded and chalky, no rust holes | Good fit | Not yet |
| Rust holes through several sheets | Money poorly spent | Usually the answer |
| Heavy tiles, and you want a lighter roof for quakes | Keeps all that weight up there | Worth pricing |
| Might be asbestos cement | No water-blasting; test it first | Removal over 10 square metres needs a licensed removalist |
What a restoration should include
A proper quote lists the repairs before any paint: cracked or broken tiles, ridge and hip cappings, flashings, and popped nails or loose screws. Then moss treatment, a low-pressure clean, primer where it's needed, and the number of top coats. Clearing the spouting at the end should be in there too.
The Building Code expects renewable protective coatings to last at least 5 years with normal maintenance. That's a legal floor, not a forecast, so ask for the product's own warranty in writing and what upkeep it needs.
How big the job is comes down to the number of repairs, the roof's size and pitch, tile or iron, the scaffolding or edge protection, and how close you are to the coast. If two quotes look very different, compare their repair lists line by line before anything else.
Questions for a Wellington restoration quote
- Which repairs are included before painting, and how many tiles or sheets need replacing?
- Will you check the tile fixings while you're up there?
- What paint system, how many coats, and does its warranty cover my exposure zone?
- How will you clean the roof, and at what pressure?
- What scaffolding or edge protection is included?
- What happens if wind or rain stops work halfway through?
If it were our Wellington roof
On sound concrete tiles, we'd restore, and make checking the tile fixings part of the deal. On heavy tiles near the end of their life, we'd get a lighter re-roof priced alongside, because a restoration leaves all that weight in place. And we'd take a start date with a plan for the weather over a promise to finish by Friday. Our restore or re-roof tool gives a quick first lean, and when you want a quote, we'll pass it to one checked local roofer if we have one nearby.
Want a roofer to take a look?
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.