Most roofs do not need replacing. They need the right repair in the right place, done with materials that suit the roof that is already there. A good repair finds the cause rather than covering the symptom, and leaves you with photos and a clear account of what was done.
If water is coming in now, start with our roof leak repairs page. After a nor'wester or a big southerly, see storm damage roof repairs. If the roof is near the end of its life, our roof replacement guide explains how we help you decide. For a rough idea of re-roof prices, see the roof replacement cost guide.
Pricing: every roof gets a free on-site measure and an itemised written quote, with a fixed price agreed before any work starts.
Water coming through the ceiling right now? Tracing and fixing an active leak is covered under roof leak repairs.
Repairs we carry out
A Christchurch roof might be steel, concrete tile, decramastic or membrane, and each fails in its own way. These are the repairs we are asked for most.
- Replacing rusted or damaged roofing sheets and lengths of iron
- Re-screwing and re-fixing loose or lifted sheets
- Repairing and replacing chimney, wall, valley and apron flashings
- Replacing cracked or slipped concrete tiles and rebedding ridges
- Repairing ridges, barges and hips
- Sealing around flues, vents, skylights and other penetrations
- Repairing spouting and internal gutters that overflow into the house
How we inspect before we repair
Every repair starts with a look at the whole roof, not just the problem spot. We check the roof from above and the roof space from below, look for staining on timber and underlay, and photograph what we find. The stain on your ceiling is often a long way from where the water gets in.
Christchurch houses carry a particular history. Many homes were repaired after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, and thousands of brick chimneys were damaged or taken down. Old chimney positions, patched sections and mismatched flashings are common places for a repair to be needed. We note them so you know what you are dealing with, without assuming any earlier work was poor.
How It Works
The right materials for the roof you have
A repair has to work with the existing roof. Mixing incompatible metals or fixings can cause corrosion where they touch, so new flashings and fixings are matched to the roofing material. On coastal homes in New Brighton, Southshore and Sumner the steel grade for replacement sheets is checked against the manufacturer's environment categories, because salt air is harder on a roof than an inland site.
For tile roofs we source matching tiles where we can and rebed ridges to suit. Flashings around chimneys and walls cause a lot of leaks, and our roof flashing repairs and tile roof repairs pages go into those jobs in more detail.
Canterbury weather and your roof
Two local conditions shape a lot of repair work. The nor'wester is a hot, dry wind that can reach storm force and cause widespread minor property damage, which often means lifted sheets, loose ridging and flashings pulled back. Then there is the cold. Christchurch has about 80 ground frost days a year, and cold nights can cause condensation in the roof space that looks very like a leak. Part of our job is telling the two apart, and our roof ventilation page covers the condensation side.
Consent and cost
Under Schedule 1 of the Building Act, repairing or replacing roofing with comparable material in the same position is generally exempt from building consent. The exemption does not apply where a component has failed the Building Code durability requirements early, or where the work changes the structure, so we tell you before quoting if anything needs more than a repair.
Cost depends on how much needs doing, how easy the roof is to reach, the height and pitch, and the materials. A hillside home in Cashmere may need more scaffold than a single-storey house in Hornby. We give you a fixed written quote after inspecting, and if we find something else once we start, we show you the photos before doing any extra work.
Roof repairs across Christchurch and beyond
We repair roofs right across the city and out into Selwyn and Waimakariri. In the eastern beach suburbs the usual concerns are salt spray and corrosion at laps and fixings. On the hill streets above the city, access and exposure to wind shape how a repair is planned. In the fast-growing towns of Rolleston, Lincoln, Rangiora and Pegasus, many roofs are recent, so repairs are often about flashings, penetrations and spouting on a new house. Local detail is on our East and Coastal and Selwyn and Waimakariri pages.
Why Choose Cheeky's Roofers for Roof Repairs
Photos before and after
You see what was wrong and what we did, which also helps with insurance or a future sale.
Causes, not stains
We trace the problem to its source so the repair holds.
Compatible materials
Fixings, flashings and sheets are matched to your roof to avoid corrosion where they meet.
Straight advice on roof life
If a repair is only buying a little time, we tell you.
Roof Repairs FAQs
How much does a roof repair cost?
It depends on the size of the job, access and materials. We inspect first and give you a fixed written quote, so there is no guesswork.
Can you match my existing roof colour?
Usually we can get close. Older roofs fade, so a new sheet may look brighter than the sheets around it for a while.
Do I need consent for a roof repair?
Generally not, if you are repairing or replacing like for like in the same position. Structural changes or failed components can be different, and we tell you if that applies.
Is it worth repairing an old roof?
Often yes, if the problem is local and the rest of the roof is sound. If problems are spread across the roof, we explain whether replacement makes more sense.
Do you repair tile and decramastic roofs?
Yes. Decramastic is tested for asbestos before any work that could disturb the coating.
Can you fix spouting while you are up there?
Yes. Spouting and downpipe repairs are often done in the same visit.
Roof Repairs by Area
Local roof repairs information for your part of Christchurch:
Related Roofing Services
Roof Repairs Guides
- Nor'wester Roof Damage: What to Check After a Canterbury Windstorm
- Removing an Old Wood Burner Flue: Patching the Roof After Clean Air Changes
- Removing a Chimney in Christchurch: Consent, Roof Patching and Safety
See the roof replacement cost guide or every service we offer.
Sources and further reading
- MBIE building.govt.nz: Exemption 1, general repair, maintenance and replacement
- MBIE building.govt.nz: B2 Durability
- NZ Metal Roof and Wall Cladding Code of Practice
- WorkSafe: Working safely on roofs
- WorkSafe: Check for asbestos before high-pressure spraying on roofs
- Te Ara: Canterbury region, climate and the nor'wester
- Wikipedia: Christchurch climate (frost days, 1991 to 2020 normals)
- Natural Hazards Commission: Chimneys remain common hazards on NZ homes