What to know about West Harbour roofs
A 1980s and 1990s suburb
Most of West Harbour was developed in those two decades, and it had 3,471 dwellings at the 2023 Census. The later part of that period overlaps the 1988 to 2004 years New Zealand associates with leaky homes.
On the harbour
The suburb is named for its spot on the western Waitematā, and Hobsonville Marina here holds around 600 boats. Homes within 500 m of the harbour fall in NZS 3604's exposure zone D.
Fog and damp next door
Neighbouring Whenuapai is the most fog-prone place NIWA lists in Auckland, at 44 fog days a year, and NIWA says places prone to radiation fog are also the likeliest to get frost. Roofs that dry slowly suit moss and lichen.
The jobs that come up here
Repaint or re-roof. Before a roof this age gets another coat, have a roofer check whether the sheets, tiles and fixings are sound enough to be worth painting. Our guide to repainting or re-roofing sets out the trade-off, and roof painting in Auckland covers the local side.
Moss and lichen. In damp air, growth comes back steadily, so treat it gently and early. See moss and lichen.
Flashings and junctions. On houses from the late 1980s and 1990s, the places where roofs meet walls, decks and parapets deserve a careful look. Water getting in there can take a long time to show inside.
What we'd do in West Harbour
We'd ask a roofer for an honest view on how much life the roof has left before repainting anything. If it's sound, clean it, fix the flashings and paint; if it's near the end, put the money towards a re-roof instead. Near the water, we'd make sure any new steel suits the harbour exposure.
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.