A roof over their heads

As with all renovations, the first thing you learn to be is flexible. Even the best-laid plans need to be changed and Matt and Rowena definitely found this out with their new roofline!

The original plans had called for a lean-to roof, which was more economical. But after due consideration, a lean-to didn�t fit with the existing roofline of the house. By changing the roofline, they�ve now created a better-looking extension and one that matches the style of the original house more closely.

But the new roofline meant the height-to-boundary issues were no longer being adhered to, so Matt and Rowena had to approach their neighbour Bill to sign off the extension. Fortunately, Bill felt that side of his house gets too much sun anyway, so he was more than happy for them to do it. All the same, this meant going back to the council to change the details of the building consent.

Of course, whenever working on the roof, safety is all important. We made sure our team was safe by securing Save Ya Roofing Safety Rails, which ensure a moment�s loss of concentration doesn�t have disastrous consequences.

With the demolition of the deck all done, we needed a floor and some walls! So in went the joists, the framing and the trusses. Originally Matt and Rowena had budgeted $1,000 for the roof extension, but because they had the roofers already on site, they decided to re-roof the whole house. This ended up costing $7,500, but it allowed them to give the house a uniform look and utilise the durability of new Coloursteel in an Ironsand colour scheme. Lightweight Coloursteel fabrication allows designers greater flexibility with their ideas, while structural steel from NZ Steel ensures the bones can be relied on.

Knowing if you need to replace your whole roof can be a tricky business, but a good place to start is doing a perimeter inspection. Look particularly at where your roofing may be starting to come apart or lying crooked. Specifically check the flashings (the bits surrounding roof extrusions like chimneys). These can be the first places to let in moisture. If in doubt, contact a home inspector for an independent assessment.

Matt and Rowena installed HardiGroove Soffit lining because it matched the tongue and groove look of the original timber soffits but provided all the benefits of a modern fibre cement product, including resistance to fire and rotting. They also ensured they had early lock-up to secure the half-finished site by installing HomeRAB Pre-Clad Lining. HomeRAB has the advantage of being able to be left exposed to the elements for up to 90 days before cladding, providing both flexibility and security � something that was important to Matt and Rowena with two young children!

Tip: When selecting soffits there are a few things to consider. With a renovation you�ll want to match into existing. You may also like to think about using a pre-finished soffit like the Silkline Soffit, which will save you money on installation (no scaffolding required for painting) and ongoing maintenance.