Most homeowners assume the person replacing their roof is qualified to do the job. That’s not always the case.
We spend weeks researching kitchens, bathrooms and interior renovations. Yet few of us stop to ask who’s installing the roof over our heads, or who we’ll turn to if something goes wrong up there.
While roofing work on a new build requires a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP), reroofing an existing home often doesn’t. Yet many homeowners believe the same checks and safeguards apply as they do for building, electrical and plumbing work.
“The biggest mistake homeowners make is assuming that if there’s a roofing company in business, they would be qualified. But that’s not actually the case,” says Roofing Association of New Zealand (RANZ) chief executive Luke Boustridge.
Many only realise this when problems arise.
“The amount of people that I talk to that go through this process aren’t surprised to learn, ‘oh, I should have asked that question’ – they are surprised to learn that that isn’t just a standard part of someone who does that work,” Boustridge says.
“Some unregulated roofing contractors out there have had as much training as my mum.”
To address the issue, RANZ has launched its ‘Who’s on your roof?’ consumer awareness campaign, encouraging homeowners to ask more questions before committing to roofing.
“The person that sold you the roof, gave you all these assurances and warranties, may not be the same business that’s actually pitching up and doing the work.”
RANZ regularly hears from homeowners dealing with leaks, workmanship issues and disputes, who discover too late that the company selling the roof isn’t necessarily the business liable for fixing problems afterwards.
Boustridge says he’s dealt with five such cases already this year.
“We’re talking buckets of water being collected, ceilings getting so sodden that they collapse.”
Some shortcuts don’t reveal themselves immediately. “On the day they hand it over, it looks beautiful,” says Boustridge.
But months later, homeowners can be left dealing with faded touch-up paint, water ingress, or defects that are expensive to fix.
Boustridge is quick to point out that many roofing contractors are highly skilled and experienced, including those that belong to RANZ.
“It is one of those trades that takes years and years and years to master.”
New Zealand has a roofing apprenticeship scheme, although completing one is not required to work in the trade. Boustridge would like to see formal training become a more common pathway into roofing.
Modern roofing requires significant technical knowledge, with ventilation one area that is frequently overlooked.
“Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation. I cannot stress ventilation enough,” he says.
As homes become more air-tight, inadequate ventilation can lead to condensation, mould and moisture problems that are often mistaken for roof leaks.
“We’re seeing moisture coming in like you wouldn’t believe.”
“If ventilation isn’t put in, that roof is going to be mouldy, it’s going to drip, it’s going to be absolutely horrible.”
Questions to ask before roofing work begins
Boustridge says homeowners should start by asking who will actually be carrying out the work, whether the contractor is a Licensed Building Practitioner, and whether they belong to RANZ.
An LBP can be held accountable under the profession’s code of conduct, while RANZ membership provides another layer of accountability.
“You have someone to call on if it goes wrong,” Boustridge says.
Even when a contractor isn’t a RANZ member, he encourages homeowners to get in touch.
“Come and talk to us. Come and see how we might be able to help, and how we might be able to hold some of these guys to account.”
He also recommends asking what warranties are being provided and what documentation will be supplied when the project is complete.
“If you get a quote and it’s just scribbled on a bit of paper, that’s probably something to look out for.”
Homeowners should also be wary of people trying to get them to make a quick decision, as the choices made during a reroof can affect a home for decades.
“The number one characteristic of a residential dwelling should be that it protects you from the elements,” Boustridge says.
“Roofers are your primary defence in making sure that your home actually does its primary task.”
Before signing a contract, make sure you know who’s on your roof.
For more information, including RANZ’s Re-Roofing Guide and member directory, visit ranz.co.nz/roof