Sandringham's roofs and the ground under them
A swamp suburb
The area began as farmland called Cabbage Tree Swamp, partly for its habit of flooding. After a heavy storm in 1919, locals recalled boating through the streets.
Still wet in big storms
Flooding was reported in Sandringham, St Lukes and near Eden Park during the 27 January 2023 floods. Water that can't drain away from the house makes overflowing spouting and downpipes a bigger problem.
Tram-era bungalows
Substantial building came around 1925 with the tramline, when streets either side of Sandringham Road filled with wooden California-style bungalows. State housing went up on the last farmland after the Second World War.
Character rules in places
Parts of Sandringham sit in the Unitary Plan's Isthmus A special character area, among the tram suburbs dating from the 1880s to 1910s.
What bungalow roofs need
The council's character statement describes the typical New Zealand Californian bungalow as having shallow pitched gable roofs, wide eaves with exposed rafters and deep porches. Those features are part of the look, and they're also where the work tends to be.
Low pitch. A shallow roof sheds water slowly, so rusted laps and lifted fixings leak sooner. On a re-roof, the profile has to suit the pitch: Dimond publishes a minimum pitch of 8° for its Corrugate, so ask the roofer to confirm the profile against your roof.
Exposed rafter ends and wide eaves. Timber that sticks out past the wall gets wet and rots at the ends, and the fascia that carries the spouting goes with it. See fascia and barge boards.
Spouting and downpipes. On low ground, every overflow ends up against the house. Spouting in Auckland covers sizing and replacement.
If it were our Sandringham bungalow
We'd fix rotten rafter ends and fascia boards at the same time as the spouting, so new spouting isn't hung on soft timber. On a re-roof we'd keep the bungalow's shape and use a profile rated for the pitch. If the house is in the character overlay, we'd check with Auckland Council before changing what the roof looks like.
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.