Back in the 1990s, my former (and much-respected) boss always used to say the worst critic of a tradesman’s work is another tradesman.

These pearls of wisdom have been echoing in my head recently, as there seems to have been a flurry of roofing companies offering “roof reports” written by their own “roofing consultants”.

But not all roofing consultants are created equal.

It’s a bit like when you’re seeking a mortgage. If you go to a “mortgage expert” at your bank, you’re essentially talking with a salesperson who is only able to offer advice about the bank’s own products. A multi-tied broker, who represents a group or “panel” of lenders can give you slightly broader options.

But, however experienced and well-intentioned these professionals are, they are limited in what they can tell you, based on their affiliations. Their advice is, by its very nature, biased.

Only an independent mortgage broker, who is not linked to any financial institution, can present all your options to you.

Similarly, if you ask someone from a roofing company to appraise your roof, they’ll certainly be knowledgeable – about the products their company sells. Moreover, even if unintentional, elements of self-interest could creep in. For example, if the roofing consultant is paid on commission, they may exaggerate issues negatively to bump up the value of the repairs or push for a re-roof.

With all this in mind, here are a few things to consider before engaging a roofing consultant.

What are their industry accreditations?

Firstly, are they members of the Roofing Association of New Zealand (RANZ)?

This organisation represents more than 300 roofing businesses across Aotearoa. You have to pass stringent criteria to gain membership status, and RANZ works on its members’ behalf to “develop industry communication, regulation, training and more, for improvement in housing quality and the industry as a whole”.

To quote the RANZ website further: “If you’re looking for a reputable roofing business, then choose wisely and employ the services of a member of the Roofing Association of New Zealand. Look for the trusted RANZ Member Logo.”

Are they Licensed Building Practitioners?

LBPs are building practitioners who’ve been assessed as “competent to carry out building work essential to the structure or weathertightness of residential buildings”.

Be aware that being an LBP doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is a roofing specialist. There are different licence classes, including bricklaying and blocklaying, carpentry, and design.

To check your consultant’s LBP status, go to kete-lbp.mbie.govt.nz/advanced-building-practitioner-search and select Roofing as the licence class.

It’s also worth checking someone’s LinkedIn profile. Yes, this is arguably the least exciting social media platform, but it’s business-orientated, showcasing career history and highlights, qualifications, and recommendations from potential colleagues as well as customers.

How do they charge?

The offer of a “free” roof report should be a huge red flag.

One way or another, the report writer has to be paid. I’ve already mentioned the potential risks of being on commission only – i.e., impartiality being compromised by the lure of greater financial rewards – and a salaried position will almost certainly have sales targets attached. These factors could seriously impact a report’s recommendations. Which leads us on to…

On what criteria do they base their findings and recommendations?

Personal opinion is always subjective. I’ve been in the construction industry since the late ’80s, specialising in roofing since the mid-90s – so I’m pretty experienced. But just because I think something’s a roof defect doesn’t make it so.

For them to be effective, roof reports need to be objective and fact-based, referencing the appropriate industry, manufacturing, and local authority guidelines.

What makes Roof Design and Management (RDM) different?

RDM’s primary purpose is to help clients understand the condition of their roof, and then what they need to do, when, and why.

At the time of writing, there are only two independent roofing consultants approved by RANZ – and RDM is proud to be one of them.

RDM has no vested interest in trying to sell you a new roof or make issues sound more serious than they actually are. We’ll gladly help you schedule a maintenance plan to support the lifespan of your roof – but we’ll also be honest with you if a more drastic solution is required.

It is essential that you have an unbiased, substantive report for a dispute or legal proceedings. This is what RDM specialises in. Our observations and recommendations are made in line with regulations such as the NZ Metal Roof and Wall Cladding Code of Practice and Acceptable Solution E2/AS1 of the NZ Building Code. Other relevant factors could also be referenced – for example, location and climatic conditions.

And we agree our fee with you upfront, based on an hourly rate for the size and scope of the project.

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  • A roofer has told you that you need a new roof, but you’re not sure and would like to have a second opinion.
  • You’ve had a new roof installed and are not happy with it. The roofer says it’s perfect, but you’re not sure.
  • Your old roof is looking tired, but you want to try and make it last another five years. You wonder if that is possible.

If any of these sound familiar, Roof Design and Management can help. Contact us for a chat.