What breaks Wollongong roofs
Winter westerlies
July and August are the windiest months, with dry foehn gales coming off the Great Dividing Range. They strike the western slope of the roof first, so that's where to look for lifted caps, loose sheets and peeled-back flashings after a blow. Look from the ground, with binoculars if you have them.
Rain that arrives sideways
The escarpment forces moist sea air upwards, which is why so much of Wollongong's rain comes in on easterly winds. Wind-driven rain gets under tiles and flashings on the eastern side that would stay dry in still weather, so a leak that only shows in an easterly is a clue worth passing on.
Summer storms in the northern suburbs
The storm of 16 December 2015 cut power to thousands of homes in Bulli, Thirroul and Woonona. Warm-season thunderstorms here bring heavy rain, lightning and, now and then, hail.
Older roofs in the steelworks suburbs
Cringila, Warrawong and Coniston grew up around the Port Kembla steelworks. On an older roof there, a good repair matches the existing tiles or sheets, and anything that might be asbestos cement shouldn't be walked on, drilled or cut.
What you can do, and what needs a roofer
You can
- Check both sides of the roof from the ground after a westerly
- Catch drips with buckets and towels, and turn the power off at the switchboard if water is near a light
- Photograph ceiling stains and visible damage before anything is moved, for your insurer
- Note whether it leaks in every rain or only when the wind is from the east
Leave to a roofer
- Anything that means being on the roof, wet or dry
- Refixing lifted ridge caps, sheets or flashings
- Replacing cracked tiles with ones that match
- Any roof or eave lining that could be asbestos cement
Insurance, and deals at the front door
Moneysmart says most home policies cover storm damage, including strong wind and rainwater, while flood has a separate definition and may be excluded. Ring your insurer before paying for a temporary fix, because many can organise a tarp themselves.
After a big storm, be wary of anyone who turns up uninvited offering a quick fix. Under the Australian Consumer Law, an unsolicited deal over $100 comes with a 10 business day cooling-off period, and the trader can't start work or take payment during it. The only exception is narrow: certain emergency repairs where a state of emergency has been declared.
Questions for a Wollongong roofer
- Which side of the roof took the damage, and can you show me photos?
- Are the ridge caps held with clips or flexible pointing, or only bedded in mortar?
- Are any sheet screws loose, and will you replace them or just tighten them?
- Do you hold the NSW roof tiling or roof plumbing licence this job needs?
- Would you call this storm damage, or wear that's been building for years?
- If you come across asbestos cement, what happens next?
Our take
Fix wind damage quickly, because the next easterly will find it. We'd ask for the ridge and tiles to be fixed the way the NCC asks for your wind class, with clips, screws or flexible pointing, rather than a mortar patch. And we'd want photos of the side of the roof you can't see from the street, because that's usually where a westerly does its work.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.