FAQs
Roofing advice you can trust
Whether you’re in the planning stages, comparing options, or already halfway through your project — here are the questions we hear most often from NZ homeowners, and the honest answers we give them.
Whether you’re in the planning stages, comparing options, or already halfway through your project — here are the questions we hear most often from NZ homeowners, and the honest answers we give them.
Long-run metal roofing is exactly what it sounds like — continuous metal sheets that run from the ridge to the gutter in a single length, with no transverse joints across the roof. It’s the dominant residential roofing system in NZ because it’s lightweight, durable, weather-resistant, and designed for our variable climate. Compared with tiles or shingles, it sheds water faster, weighs around 70% less, and lasts considerably longer.
A professionally installed long-run metal roof can last 40–60 years or more with proper care. Modern coatings (like ColorSteel™ Maxx), concealed-fix systems, and high-quality steel mean today’s metal roofs are designed for long-term durability across NZ’s varied climate — from coastal salt zones through to alpine snowfall.
Not with modern systems. When installed with proper underlay and ceiling insulation, rain noise is significantly reduced — most homeowners find rain on a metal roof more pleasant than disruptive. The myth of "tin shed loud" comes from old roofs without underlay; today’s installs include an absorbent underlay layer that dampens impact noise.
Metal reflects radiant heat in summer and, when paired with insulation and ventilation, helps maintain comfortable indoor temperatures year-round. This can reduce both heating and cooling demand. Lighter ColorSteel™ colours reflect more heat than darker ones — we’ll discuss colour-vs-thermal trade-offs at the quote stage if energy efficiency is a priority for you.
Yes — on three counts. The lifespan (40–60+ years) is longer than tile or shingle, so fewer replacements over the life of your home. Steel is highly recyclable at end-of-life. And rainwater collected from a long-run metal roof is generally cleaner than from porous materials, making it suitable for tank collection where allowed.
Yes — tile-to-metal conversions are one of the most common re-roofs we do. Metal is roughly 70% lighter than concrete tile, which usually puts less stress on the framing. We’ll inspect the rafters and add purlins where needed to meet manufacturer specifications. In many cases, like-for-like roof material changes don’t require building consent — though changing profile or weight class can.
Long-run metal performs well in NZ hail conditions. Corrugated and trapezoidal profiles are particularly impact-resistant due to their rib geometry. Hail damage tends to be cosmetic (dimpling) rather than structural — your insurance usually covers replacement of cosmetically dented sheets if the dimples exceed manufacturer thresholds. We can assist with the assessment and provide photo evidence for the claim.
Prices typically range from $100 to $180 per m² depending on roof size, pitch, profile, access, and complexity. Corrugated and trapezoidal are the most cost-effective; tray and concealed-fix premium systems sit at the upper end. We provide a detailed, fixed-price quote up front so you know exactly what to expect — no surprises mid-project.
The driver is usually a combination of: profile choice (corrugated cheapest, tray most expensive), steel grade (Endura vs Maxx), site complexity (simple gable vs villa with multiple penetrations), access (single-storey easy-access vs three-storey with limited scaffold options), and any tile-to-metal conversion work is required. We break this down line-by-line on every quote so you can see exactly where your dollars are going.
Usually one or more of: lower-grade steel, thinner gauge material (e.g. 0.4mm thickness rather than 0.55mm thickness), no allowance for substrate timber replacement, no asbestos provision, no scaffold included, or lack of installation experience. We’re happy to compare line-by-line against any quote you’ve received.
We don’t directly, but our standard staged payment schedule breaks the payments into chunks: 25% deposit on acceptance, 25% when materials are ordered, 25% when materials are delivered and the balance on completion. We never ask for full payment up front.
A new long-run metal roof can transform the look and feel of a home and has the potential to add significant value. A new roof also removes a major buyer concern at sale time.
It’s entirely project-dependent. Timing varies with weather, roof size, profile choice, access, and site complexity. A simple single-level home might take a few days; a complex villa with asbestos or multiple penetrations can stretch longer. We’ll give you a realistic schedule at the quote stage once we’ve seen the roof — not a generic average.
No. We work in sections to make sure your property stays weather-tight throughout. Old roofing is removed and replaced in manageable stages, so your home is always protected against unexpected rain or wind. Any sections not yet sheeted at end of day are made weathertight. Our top priority is ensuring that your home remains dry throughout the project.
Most homeowners stay put. Strip days are loud and can be dusty inside the ceiling cavity; once we’re onto fixing new sheet, it’s a normal exterior worksite. We recommend covering items in the roof space if you store anything there, and putting valuables and sensitive equipment somewhere else for the strip days.
Our top priority is ensuring that your home remains weathertight during the project. We keep on top of the forecast to ensure that we are fully prepared. Our schedules build in buffers for weather-related delays.
Late spring through to autumn (late September to early May) generally offers the most reliable installation weather and shorter project timelines. That said, we install year round. The winter season tends to be slightly less busy for us so we might be able to squeeze you in sooner than during the summer months.
Strip days are loudest and busiest. If you have noise-sensitive pets or young children at home all day, those are the days to plan around. Once sheet is being fixed, sound levels drop noticeably.
Like-for-like re-roofing doesn’t require consent under Schedule 1 of the Building Act. Consent is required if structural work or restricted building work is required. We will let you know if consent is required.
Yes. Asbestos cement (super-six, big-six, decramastic) is removed by a WorkSafe-registered Class A asbestos contractor that we engage for you.
For a typical residential roof, expect between $50 and $150 per square metre. For a standard 150m² home, the removal and disposal of old asbestos materials will typically add $12,900 to $21,100 to the total reroofing bill.
If your question isn’t here, give us a call.