Sumner was surveyed and named in 1849 and is one of the oldest European settlements around Christchurch. Most of it sits on the flat floor of a coastal valley, with houses also built on Clifton Hill and Scarborough Head from the early 1900s, and by the 2000s seaside living had brought more apartments.
The February and June 2011 earthquakes destroyed or made uninhabitable many homes and shops; hill properties, especially at Clifton, suffered landslips while houses below the cliffs faced rockfall. Today salt air and hillside access are the two big factors in any Sumner roof. We start with a free on-site measure and an itemised written quote.
Roofing Services in Sumner
Every roofing service we offer in Sumner, and what each one covers:
- Re-Roofing: A full re-roof replaces your old roofing, underlay and flashings with a new COLORSTEEL roof built to today's Building Code.
- Roof Replacement: When repairs no longer make sense, we replace the roof completely and leave you with a roof that is good for decades.
- Tile to Metal Re-Roofing: Swapping heavy concrete tiles for lightweight steel removes weight from the frame and ends the cycle of cracked tiles and leaks.
- Asbestos Roof Replacement: Older Super Six and fibre cement roofs can contain asbestos.
- Decramastic Roof Replacement: Decramastic tiles lose their chip coating and rust from the inside.
- Roof Repairs: Leaks, loose sheets, failed flashings and cracked tiles repaired properly, with photos of what we found and fixed.
- Roof Leak Repairs: We track a leak to its source, which is often nowhere near the stain on your ceiling, and fix the cause.
- Storm Damage Roof Repairs: Storm damage made safe fast, then repaired with the photos and reports your insurer needs.
- Tile Roof Repairs: Cracked and slipped tiles replaced, ridges rebedded and repointed, and leaks under tiles traced and sealed.
- Roof Flashing: Flashings around chimneys, skylights, walls and valleys cause most leaks.
- New Roofs: New roofs for new builds, extensions and minor dwellings, installed to plans and signed off for your Code Compliance Certificate.
- Metal Roofing: Longrun COLORSTEEL roofing in corrugate and trapezoidal profiles, rolled to length for your roof.
- Membrane Roofing: Flat and low-pitch roofs, decks and gutters waterproofed with butynol and modern membrane systems.
- Skylights: Roof windows and skylights installed or replaced with proper flashing kits, so the light comes in and the water does not.
- Spouting and Gutters: New spouting, gutter replacement and repairs in steel and PVC, sized to carry heavy downpours.
- Gutter Cleaning: Gutters and downpipes cleared by hand, flushed and checked, with before and after photos of what we found.
- Downpipes and Fascia: Downpipes and fascia replaced or repaired, often alongside new spouting or a re-roof.
- Roof Painting: Roof painting that starts with proper preparation: wash, treat, repair and prime, then two coats of roof paint.
- Roof Washing: Moss, lichen and grime removed with the right treatment for your roof type, without damaging the surface.
- Roof Inspections: A detailed roof report with photos and honest repair or replace advice, for owners, buyers and insurers.
- Roof Ventilation: Roof and ceiling space ventilation that reduces condensation, mould and heat build-up.
- Commercial Roofing: Re-roofs, repairs and maintenance plans for commercial, industrial and multi-unit buildings.
Sumner Homes and Their Roofs
Sumner's older seaside homes and cottages may carry iron or tile roofs that show rust first at fixings, laps and flashings. Hillside homes on Clifton and Scarborough often have complex rooflines with decks and views, and apartments bring membrane roofs, parapets and box gutters. Any new steel here is specified for the site's coastal exposure.
What Sumner Conditions Mean for Your Roof
Sumner faces the open sea, so corrosion exposure is assessed for each address under NZS 3604 and the steel maker's warranty terms, and the steel grade, fixings and flashings are chosen to match. Salt builds up on surfaces the rain does not wash, and COLORSTEEL expects those sheltered areas to be washed by hand. On Clifton and Scarborough, steep access adds scaffolding and handling time, and wind exposure is set for each site from the consent plans.
Roofers Sumner FAQs
Which COLORSTEEL product suits a Sumner home?
COLORSTEEL sells MAXAM for most environments, including many coastal sites, and ALTIMATE for extreme marine and highly corrosive sites. We assess your site's exposure and confirm the product in writing with the quote.
Why does re-roofing cost more on Clifton or Scarborough?
Steep sites need more scaffolding and edge protection, and materials take longer to get onto the roof. We assess access during the free measure and show it as a separate line on the quote.
Can you repair a leaking membrane roof on a Sumner apartment?
Yes. We find the entry point, often a join, outlet or parapet, and repair or replace the membrane in that area. We work with body corporates on access.
How often should a seaside roof be washed?
Sheltered areas the rain does not reach need it most, and near the sea that can mean several times a year. COLORSTEEL sets intervals by environment.