Many people often wonder what the average cost to reroof a house is in NZ. After all, the roof is one of the most important features of your home, so it’s one you likely place a lot of value on but realise can come at a high cost.

Establishing roof replacement costs is not an easy job, particularly as many factors can affect the quote that roofing contractors provide. If you’d like to know what these factors are and some expected prices, keep reading.

 

The Roof Size

The square meterage can, of course, affect how much you spend on having your roof replaced. The larger the roof, the more materials your chosen roofers have to use, and the more they also have to take off to begin the job. There may be a significant difference between a small roof and a large roof with increased labour costs.

The pitch of your roof can also impact the cost, given that the more complex the job, the longer it takes to achieve. This can be worth keeping in mind when the time comes to consider your reroofing options.

 

Roofing Materials

What you choose as your roofing material can also affect the average cost to reroof a house in New Zealand. An architectural long-run roof can cost around $150m2, while metal tiles generally sit around $49-$56m2. Asphalt roofing is closer in price to long-run, at around $100-$120 m2.

 

The Presence of Asbestos

Perhaps one of the most significant factors to influence the cost of a roof is whether or not it contains asbestos. Thousands of homes throughout the country have this hazardous building material – and their owners and some workers may not even realise it.  

An asbestos cement sheet roofing material called Super Six was a popular option up until around the 1980s. Given the average lifespan of a roof is no more than around 40 years, many of the properties with such roofs are likely in a state of disrepair.

Therefore, many property owners may be starting to look at roof repair sooner rather than later, unaware that they have to contend with a hazardous material that factors into the cost.

 

What Does Asbestos Roofing Look Like?

If you have started considering roof replacement and are unsure if your roof contains asbestos, there is one way to find out. Book an asbestos test so that a lab can analyse the materials and provide an answer.

Some cement sheets can look like they contain asbestos and don’t, and vice versa. Failure to have your roof tested before any work is undertaken can have disastrous consequences. 

For example, Christchurch painter John Quaid had been contracted to paint timber windows and concrete at a two-storey flat in Christchurch.

As he was on scaffolding water blasting the frames, someone asked him to water blast the roof since he was already up there. He obliged, but a neighbour called the council about the possibility of asbestos.

Testing of the water run-off into the drain proved the decramastic tiles on the roof contained asbestos. The financial and health repercussions have and may still be significant.

 

The Cost to Replace an Asbestos Roof in NZ

Even though asbestos removal can add a significant cost to your renovations, it’s a necessary one. Failure to have the experts remove asbestos can result in serious illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis – for which there are no cures.

You can find an asbestos cost calculator online for a general idea of what asbestos removal costs can be. However, for a more exact idea, request a quote from your local asbestos removal company.

You can also rely on a myriad of other tools, such as Builderscrack. This site provides average removal costs for various removal tasks, such as roofing, cladding, walls, vinyl, and ceilings. They state that removing asbestos roofing materials from a single-storey 150m2 home can be in the vicinity of $12,900 to $21,100.

 

Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Reroof Your House

Even though roof replacement is likely to be one of the most expensive renovation tasks you carry out, it’s important not to wait – even if your roof doesn’t contain asbestos. 

Failure to act can mean that the elements start to enter your home and damage your interior building materials. This can add even more costs to the project. If you have an asbestos roof, the price to pay can be even higher – but not just financially.  

If asbestos building materials, roofs included, are not adequately maintained, the tiny fibres can become airborne. These can pose a risk to you, your loved ones, and your surrounding neighbours.

 

Time to Reroof

As expensive as it might be to reroof a house – with or without asbestos – it’s a necessary task. What’s more, if your home does contain asbestos, you can’t put a price on your health. If the time has come to start looking at your roof replacement options and you suspect asbestos, begin the process with an asbestos test. You can then make a plan of attack for what to do next.