If it's leaking right now
Protect the room
Catch the drip, move what you can and lift rugs. If the ceiling is bulging or sagging, keep everyone out of that room.
Cut the power if water is near fittings
Switch off at the switchboard if water is anywhere near lights, a heat pump or other ceiling fittings.
Stay off the roof
Don't climb up, least of all in wind or rain. Take photos from the ground and inside for the roofer and your insurer.
Note when it leaks
Does it drip in every shower, or only when the wind is from the east? That detail can save a roofer a lot of searching.
Why Auckland roofs leak where they do
Easterly storms push rain sideways
Storms of tropical origin reach Auckland about once or twice a year, mostly from December to April, usually with heavy rain on strong easterlies. Rain driven from an unusual direction gets under flashings and through laps that stay dry the rest of the year.
Winter thunder, spring wind
Thunderstorms peak in winter, with 12 thunder days a year at Albert Park, and hail is most likely from June to November. Spring is generally the windiest season, and Manukau Heads holds the region's record gust of 204 km/h. Popped screws, lifting sheet edges and cracked tiles are worth fixing before the next blow.
Homes from the leaky building years
Timber-framed homes built from 1988 to 2004 sit at the centre of New Zealand's leaky homes problem, and flat roofs, minimal eaves and complex roof shapes were common features. Albany and Hobsonville both grew quickly through those years. On these homes a 'roof leak' can turn out to be a wall, parapet or deck junction, so you want a roofer who'll say so.
Insurance and consent
A tree landing on the roof in a storm is the kind of sudden damage house insurance is for. Rusted iron, worn-out paint or spouting that has overflowed for years generally isn't covered. The Natural Hazards Commission (formerly EQC) covers storm damage to land only, so your private insurer handles the house. Photos and a written report from the roofer help either way, and our storm damage claims guide explains the process.
Most repairs using a comparable product don't need a building consent under Schedule 1 of the Building Act. The catch is that the exemption doesn't cover repairing, beyond maintenance, a part that failed the Building Code's durability rules by letting in water. Roof cladding is meant to last at least 15 years, so if yours failed sooner, ask your roofer or Auckland Council whether consent applies.
How big a repair turns out to be depends mostly on access, roof height, the roofing material and whether scaffolding is needed. Ask for the repair to be described in writing: where the water gets in, what will be replaced and what's included.
Questions for the roofer who comes out
- Where exactly is the water getting in, and can you show me photos?
- Is this a one-off fix, or a sign the roof is near the end of its life?
- My home was built between 1988 and 2004: could this be a wall or parapet problem rather than the roof?
- Will you use a comparable product, and does the repair need a building consent?
- What will you put in writing for my insurer?
- Is this a fixed quote or an estimate?
If it were our ceiling
We'd pay to have the source found and fixed properly once, rather than resealed twice. On a 1990s or early 2000s home with a flat or complicated roof, we'd want someone who checks the junctions with walls and parapets as well as the roofing itself. And we'd ask for a written quote rather than an estimate, because Consumer Protection says once you accept a quote the business can't charge more unless you agree to extra work or the scope changes. Our guide on how to find a roof leak helps you narrow it down first.
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.