What the ranges do to Titirangi roofs
Built into the bush
Houses here sit within the native bush of the Waitākere Ranges, and some were raised on poles so they could be built without harming the roots of the trees around them. Overhanging branches mean constant leaf fall onto roofs.
Rain off the Tasman
The ranges lie in the path of the prevailing Tasman winds and get over 2,000 mm of rain a year on average, more than double the city's rate. Spouting that's half full of leaves can't cope with that.
A protected landscape
Much of residential Titirangi sits inside the Unitary Plan's Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Overlay. Towards the Manukau Harbour, the plan describes large sites and intact vegetation, with subdivision limited to protect it.
Floods and slips
Fire Service figures counted 43 flooded homes in Titirangi in the 12 March 2017 storm. On 27 January 2023 a landslip brought down the Coastguard building, and another slip washed away 30 metres of water pipe.
The jobs Titirangi homeowners call about
Spouting and downpipes. Blocked spouting overflows into walls and eaves, and the Insurance Council says insurers treat overflow damage from blocked gutters as gradual, so it isn't covered. Under heavy bush, a clean several times a year isn't overkill. See gutter cleaning and spouting in Auckland.
Moss and lichen. Resene notes moss and mould are often found where trees overhang roofs. Treat it before it holds water against the roof. Our moss and lichen guide explains the safe way.
Storm and tree damage. A tree landing on the roof is the Insurance Council's example of the sudden damage insurance is meant for. Insurers generally pay to fix the house and remove the part of the tree needed for the repair, not the rest. More in storm damage claims.
Questions to ask a roofer about a Titirangi house
- How will you get safe access on this slope or pole house, and is scaffolding included?
- Will you check the valleys and behind the chimney, where leaves pile up?
- Is a bigger spouting profile or extra downpipe worth it here?
- Which trees or branches would you want cut back, and who arranges that?
What we'd do under Titirangi bush
We'd keep the spouting clear on a schedule rather than waiting for overflow, and have a roofer look over the valleys and flashings once a year. Before removing or heavily trimming native trees, we'd check with Auckland Council, since the heritage area overlay exists to protect that vegetation. After a big storm, we'd look at the bank above and below the house as well as the roof.
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.