Issue #98 RoofLink® Spring 2021 by the Roofing Association of New Zealand (RANZ)

T H E O F F I C I A L M AG A Z I N E O F T H E R O O F I N G A S S O C I AT I O N O F N E W Z E A L A N D

SPRING 2021 • ISSUE 98

Roofing Excellence Award & Residential Roof of the Year page 17

RANZ Conference 2021 Full report from Te Papa page 8

Taking a healthy approach Discussing wellbeing page 30

RANZ SUPPORTERS 2021 RANZ NATIONAL SPONSOR BUSINESS PARTNERS

Inside this issue 8 RANZ Conference 2021 The best ever!

PLATINUM

24 Two into one does go Graham Hill Roofing take on a huge task in Christchurch.

27 Talking ventilation The take-outs from a panel discussion at Conference.

SILVER

29 Women in Roofing New Chair Jade Thomas from NZWiR sets out her goals and aspirations.

33 Supply chain issues We're all in it together: advice from Graham Moor.

36 Crowning glory A new roof for Gisborne Airport tops the roofing career of Tony File.

BRONZE

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24 BLUE RIBBON

36 MEMBERS – PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

RANZ CONTACTS

FROM THE EDITOR

www.ranz.co.nz

In it together

President Jenny Maxwell, Christchurch Phone: 03 338 0400 Email: jenny@csroofingcanterbury.co.nz Vice President

Kia ora tātou, Ko tēnei te mihi no te noho rahui – greetings from Lockdown, people.

A big shout out to those of you in completing “Essential” roofing work during the higher-risk lockdown conditions. Priority vaccination is available now for our frontline onsite roofers thanks in part to RANZ advocacy. People sure have reason to appreciate the value of the roof over their heads now more than ever – those fortunate to have one. Our NZ housing shortage is no secret to anyone – least of all to you our RANZ member roofing community.

It has been beyond busy for most all of you for quite a stretch.

Graham gives some guidance around approaching the supply chain issues on p33.

And just ahead of that on p30, Lance Burdett’s article is well worth a read, getting our heads around the curve-balls covid19 throws and for general wellbeing also, whether or not you got to see him present at conference.

If we thought it meant a bit more to be able to hold our 2021 RANZ Conference at Te Papa at the time following the unprecedented 2020 cancellation, to reflect on it now from lockdown in 2021 shows up the event as a sparkling gem. We are so fortunate to have technology where it is to enable a fair amount of alternative solutions, but you can’t beat a large representative contingent being under one roof together. Thank you all for making it happen. Enjoy the conference coverage from p8, and also the technical panel coverage on ventilation (p27).

It’s hard not to catch the roofing buzz from Matt, our Roofing Excellence Award winner – check out the article on but one of our industry’s true treasures, Matthew McDougall at the Roofing Co Canterbury, for some fresh inspiration on p17. Oh, and he was also lead

for the award-winning project, RANZ Residential Roof of the Year 2021 (p22).

Congratulations Matt and team!

Paul Stanley-Boden, Christchurch Phone: 027 290 2446 Email: info@redandblack.co.nz Executive Committee

And a big thanks to the Huston Cross team for redeeming roofing in NZ a bit and flying the RANZ flag so well. They fixed up a botched job that featured on Fair Go, and shone a light on the value of RANZ membership on the mainstream media platform (p23).

Mark Bishop, Christchurch Phone: 021 376 629 Email: mark@roofsafenz.co.nz

When we need inspiration on how to pick up the pieces after major upheaval, as ever we can look to our Christchurch member base. Check out p24 where a double school rebuild brought up surprising solutions and opportunities.

Darran Lees, Auckland Phone: 027 555 1505 Email: Darran.Lees@thermakraft.co.nz

Keep up the amazing work, and be sure to take moments to enjoy spring.

Ngā mihi mahana, warm greetings, Stephanie.

Timely Team Links: Mates in Construction Phone 0800 111 315 – mates.net.nz Lifeline 0800 LIFELINE (0800 543 354) or text (4357) for free, 24/7, confidential support, 24/7 Māori Language Week Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 13-19 September; and Moment @12pm, 14 September – reomaori.co.nz

Eddie Tell, Auckland Phone: 021 388 863 Email: eddie@superiorwaterproofing.co.nz

Mason Fisher, Nelson Phone: 021 281 7653 Email: mason@maxsafe.co.nz Andy Stevens, Nelson Phone: 03 544 3108 Email: andy@roofing.co.nz Michael Sentch, Hamilton Phone: 07 849 1700 Email: michael@projectunite.co.nz Chief Executive Officer Graham Moor Roofing Association of New Zealand PO Box 302272, North Harbour Auckland 0751, New Zealand Phone: 09 415 0278 or 027 702 0452 Email: ceo@ranz.co.nz Editorial and advertising contact Stephanie Fill Roofing Association of New Zealand PO Box 302272, North Harbour Auckland 0751, New Zealand Phone: 09 415 0278 or 027 702 0451 Email: editor@ranz.co.nz Content coordination by John Williams.

Design by Stephanie Thatcher.

Stephanie Fill Marketing Manager and Editor

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Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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FROM THE CEO

CEO Spring 2021 Thanks to all who attended Conference back in June. We had over 350 delegates at Te Papa – our second-highest ever – and there is plenty of coverage in this edition about comings and goings down in Wellington.

I was talking to a senior salesperson from one of our business partners a couple of days ago, and he made the comment that it was the best that he had been to – and that he left Conference “motivated and pumped”. His partner also said to him that he was upbeat when he got home.

Congratulations to Matt McDougal for winning the Roofing Excellence Award. His pride and emotion in winning were great to see (read an interview with Matt on p17 of this issue). Congratulations also to Project Unite: Commercial Roof of The Year, The Roofing Company Canterbury: Residential Roof of the Year (p22), Jarrad Balvers: Young Roofer of the Year, Topline Roofing: Training Company of the Year, and Adam Godsall from Project Unite: Trainee of the Year. We are looking at adding more awards across various roofing activities and types for next year.

It was really good to catch up with many of you in person again – given last year’s cancellation. I was really impressed with the level of engagement you all gave to

Conference. Watching you all deep breathing under Lance Burdett’s great opening address was something to see (read more from Lance on p30). We bookended conference really well with an excellent closing address from Sir Ian Taylor – one of the best presenters we have ever had. Many of you have told us since, how much you enjoyed listening to Sir Ian. I am especially proud of the effort Stephanie and Colleen put into making Conference as successful as it was. Thanks also to your Executive that helped at Conference, to make it run smoothly. And thanks to our business partners, old and new, for their support – we couldn’t fit another display in the Expo Room.

All up, there were 30 of you there!

Thanks to all of you for your feedback, as well.

We will be taking your comments on board, as we plan for next year’s Conference, which will be held in Christchurch. We are really looking forward to being back in Christchurch for the first time in many years. The venue is all but booked, and we are just completing accommodation negotiations.

of it either. Try getting a space on internal transport is another issue. There is hardly any part of our industry that is meeting what customers want.

The worst part of all of this is the toll it is having on our people. We all strive to say yes and to deliver. It is demoralising and challenging when you have to say no, and can’t give a solution. Most importantly, we do nothing to help the situation by giving someone a rocket over non-delivery. Please treat people the way you would want to be treated. The problems are not going away any time soon, so please don’t be ‘that guy’!

Keep it safe out there, Graham.

I am well aware of what is going on for most of you, as our supply chain really struggles to keep up. On the News yesterday, it reported there were 19 ships waiting to berth in Tauranga. Getting stuff ashore is not the end

STOP PRESS UPDATE We are all in various levels of lockdown at edition time and all that brings. While this is not a new experience and again we need to be resilient and patient. I have spoken with many of you and you all have challenges ahead.

One of the strengths in being a RANZ member is the opportunity to network. This may be with other members or with us at the RANZ office. Please use that network directly by phone, email or our social media links. We may not be able to give answers – but unless you ask who knows? We will make every effort to help where we can.

The RANZ staff and Executive wish everyone well as we emerge again from Lockdown.

Remember to breathe!

Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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FROM THE ROOFTOPS

Safety Mesh Memo – Member email update April 2021 It has come to RANZ’s attention that there is a mix of techniques when it comes to side lapping sections of Safety Mesh. A random survey of some of our commercial roofing members had an even split of those using fasteners and ‘twitching’.

Firstly, there is a Standard AS/NZS 4389:2015 for Roof Safety Mesh. In the Standard, it is very clear in Section 9 Installation Requirements: 9.3 (d) Joints between adjacent lengths of roof safety mesh the following shall apply: (i) For purlin spacing less than 1200mm, the runs of mesh shall be side-lapped by a minimum of one mesh spacing. (ii) For purlin spacing between 1200-2200mm, the runs of mesh shall be side-lapped by a minimum of one mesh spacing (150mm). Side laps shall be secured with ring fasteners fabricated from a minimum 1.9mm diameter wire, or equivalent, fitted at a maximum of 900mm centres between each purlin on one side of the lap. (iii) For purlin spacing greater than 2200mm, the mesh shall be side-lapped by a minimum of two mesh spacing (300mm). side laps shall be secured with ring fasteners fabricated from a minimum 1.90mm diameter wire, or equivalent fitted at maximum 600 mm centres between each purlin on both sides of the lap.

The Standard is silent on using ‘twitching’ for side lapping. Remember this is a safety tool. As such, the suppliers must conform to the Standard.

That means that their testing, as required by the Standard, will be using the ring fastener – not ‘twitching’. The other key point in reading the Standard (in bold above) is the use of the word shall. In New Zealand, the use of this word implies a mandatory requirement – not an option.

Do not adopt a ‘she’ll be right approach’. The instructions by the manufacturers are based on the Standard. Twitching is not the required method, so don’t use it. The worst case is that a ‘twitched’ lap fails, then someone goes through it. Aside from the person that falls, let us know how the conversation with WorkSafe’s prosecutor goes when it is discovered that you have not followed very clear installation instructions.

From our associate member sponsors Konnect, product options for the correct fastening of Safety Mesh are: FS-RP22 - RP22 D-Ring Staples Galv (Pkt 1000) and NAC-RP22 - RP22 Series D Ring Hand Plier

WorkSafe-Endorsed RANZ Asbestos Removal Guidance Released WorkSafe has accepted (and been distributing to its inspectorate) guidance released from RANZ on asbestos roof tiles. Simply put, any textured metal/steel tile with a proven date of 1983 onwards does not need to be tested for asbestos. Please use this flyer when considering the need for Asbestos testing going forward. We have worked with WorkSafe to arrive at a workable solution. This flyer is very clear and we are grateful for the assistance we received from Gerard Roofs and Ross Roof Group (Metrotile) in bringing this together.

RANZ ACM Flyer - see RANZ website.

Snap of the Season The winner of our first ‘snap of the season’ pic goes to Solution Roofing in Auckland for this nice shot. To enter simply email, message, or post your roof snaps to RANZ Instagram, Facebook Members Group or editor@ranz.co.nz, when you next capture a gem.

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Spring 2021 • Issue 98

RANZ Advocacy with Building Officials Some issues have been identified by members regarding inconsistencies from Council and building-official rulings of late.

RANZ has taken action, with RANZ CEO Graham Moor speaking at a recent Building Official Institute (BOINZ) breakfast webinar event (recording available for view on the RANZ member-only website section). Graham was set to host a RANZ Stand at the BOINZ Conference on August 16th (cancelled due to lockdown), with an upcoming alternative engagement opportunity tbc, which will serve to build up a network, awareness of RANZ and build lobbying momentum on issues like developments needed to the LBP scheme.

Tāmaki Timeout One of the team from Topline took this photo on a lockdown, timeout walk up to the top of Maungawhau, Mt Eden. To share how you get your Timeout, email editor@ranz.co.nz

Do you have some news or an interesting project you'd like to share? Please email editor@ranz.co.nz. We'd love to hear from you!

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Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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RANZ CONFERENCE 2021

The best ever!

It’s a big call, but feedback from the delegates places Wellington 2021 at the very top of the pile, when it comes to RANZ Conferences.

For those who missed it, here’s how it played out.

BY JOHN WILLIAMS

Enthusiasm for this year’s conference was evident before it officially kicked off, with over 350 delegates registering to attend.

This came as no surprise, to be fair, as we had all missed out on meeting up last year because of the pandemic.

The traditional pre-conference gatherings were in full flow on the eve of the event, not only in the bar of the wonderfully adorned QT Arts Hotel – the official hotel for Conference – but also at a host of other venues throughout the nation’s capital, New coined NZ’s most walkable city… and it certainly was that night.

The next morning, there were the traditional sore heads, but that didn’t curtail the obvious enthusiasm as everyone filled across the road from the hotel to the magnificent venue for our conference, Te Papa. What a building.

Following an opening mihi from RANZ Marketing Manager & Editor Stephanie Fill, delivered in both English and Te Reo at Te Papa’s busy tikanga team’s invitation, the reins were handed to the conference MC,

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Spring 2021 • Issue 98

award-winning journalist and TV news reporter, Jehan Casinader.

Named Broadcast Reporter of the Year at the 2020 Voyager Media Awards, and Reporter of the Year at the 2018 New Zealand Television Awards, Casinader wasted no time in bringing up the issues surrounding mental health in the construction industry, relaying to the audience his own personal struggles, before introducing our first guest speaker Lance Burdett.

With 22 years of policing experience at the highest level, Burdett’s expertise is in communicating in challenging situations, including suicide intervention and predicting violent behaviour. His honest and forthright presentation was just what the audience needed to get them focused on what are critical issues currently affecting our industry.

His speech was confronting, informative and, in parts, very funny. His words lifted the whole room and set the stage for what was to come.

“Burnout won’t be fixed by putting a fruit bowl in the breakout room,” he said, before

sending a personal invitation to everyone – “If you’re having issues. Reach out. I will help.”

Lance’s session finished up with a Q&A session from the floor, brought to us via the handy Conference App, which allowed delegates to type in their questions, which were then relayed to the stage. This system worked so well throughout the two days – it was an absolute hit. And so was Lance, whose final message was, “go with your heart, not with your head, because that’s where the truth lies.”

Ain’t that the truth. You can read more from Lance on p30-31 of this issue of Roof Link.

With Lance’s inspirational words still ringing in our ears, we broke for morning tea, before taking our seats once again for an address from the Minister of Building and Construction, and Public Housing, Hon. Poto Williams. The Minister proceeded to give us all a ‘policy statement’, touching on, amongst other topics, regulations and codes of ethics surrounding LBPs, blueprints for ethical practice, changes to complaints processes, legislations around

Clockwise from top: MC Jehan Casinader; Chelydra Percy and Hon. Poto Williams; Robin Davies; Ventilation panel; Lance Burdett.

contracts, and The Accord and climate change.

It was a typical political speech – informative, but hardly earth-moving.

Joining The Minister on the stage then came BRANZ CEO Chelydra Percy, who spoke passionately about sustainability and other issues facing the industry, all wrapped up in an analogy describing her personal journey of discovery, through scuba diving.

Both then took to the ‘comfy’ seats beside the lectern for a round of questions from the floor. Some interesting questions certainly challenged both women – supply chain, calculating the cost of carbon, timber framing vs steel framing, the Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) scheme and why are building costs so high in NZ compared to Australia? A good question to end the session.

Next, there was some light relief, where all the exhibitors from the trade show were presented with their plaques. Who would be awarded ‘best in show’, we would find that out the next day.

COLORSTEEL’s GM of Sales & Marketing, Robin Davies was next up, who continued to talk on the themes brought about by our previous speakers – those of product supply and sustainability, particularly focusing on the whole lifecycle of steel, from how and where it is made right through to recycling.

Lunch on this first day of the conference was taken on the floor below in Te Papa, amid the Trade Expo, which featured 30 trade stands.

The expo, as usual, ran concurrently with the presentations and provided a real buzz for all the delegates, showing off their latest products, technology – and also just being there for a good old catch up.

Following lunch, which was excellent by the way, we had an option of two sessions – for the number crunchers and those involved with the logistics side of the roofing industry, Melanie Morris presented an information workshop on how to find pathways to running your business smarter, not harder.

This session created lots of feedback from the

attendees, with delegates swapping stories and advice. Those who were there certainly benefited from hearing the experiences of fellow business owners and admin staff.

Upstairs on the main stage, the audience were gaining some useful insights into topical issues surrounding ventilation, brought to us by speakers, Angela Foster (architect), Darran Lees and Rod Newbold, who discussed, amongst other topics the fact that around 50 percent of houses in New Zealand are still not ventilated adequately – a huge problem. Questions from the floor asked about the regional differences, concerning ventilation, and also what causes the most impact on moisture in the house – warm and humid, or cold and wet conditions?

Next on stage was Graham Burke, who is a member of the Construction Sector Accord Steering Group, Vice President of the Specialist Trade Contractors Federation, Board Member of Construction Health and Safety HZ (CHASN), amongst others. continued on page 11 Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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Edge protection omitted to show roll width.

RANZ CONFERENCE 2021

continued from page 9

Clockwise from top: Graham Burke; Neil Austin, Rachel Conner and Sara Martin; Graham Moore; NZWiR breakfast; Weta Workshop entertainment.

The main topic of Burke’s presentation was the Construction Sector Accord’s accreditation initiative. As this is not completely finalised yet, this was an update on proceedings, talking about the goals of the initiative – increasing productivity, raising capability, improving resilience, and restoring confidence, pride and reputation; also about collaboration with other industry sectors and members. There was also a call out for members to support MATES in Construction to deliver progress across the country, and also addressing skills shortages through the Construction Skills Action Plan.

All very insightful information for the members in the room.

Day One was rounded off with a trio of presenters – Neil Austin from Austinsure, and Rachel Conner and Sara Martin from Hazelton Law – who presented and answered questions on all things to do with contract law and liability. This turned out to be a popular session with the membership, with a dozen or more specific questions coming

from the floor, to which the panel cordially provided feedback and advice.

Brimming with information and inspiration, the delegates shuffled out of the main hall and were given a two-hour turnaround to meet back at the same venue for the all-important red carpet COLORSTEEL Gala Dinner – with special entertainment from local legends, Weta Workshop.

The atmosphere at the pre-drinks back at Te Papa was electric. Everyone was pumped following the inspirational presentations we’d all attended earlier in the day, as the mood now turned to celebration.

Filing back into the same hall, it had been completely transformed with dozens of tables laid out in preparation for the feast ahead. As we all took our seats, a lone goblin – or was she an elf – skipped from table to table, foraging for food and generally causing a nuisance of herself (joking). It was fantastic to see the talents of Weta Workshop up close in real life.

As we tucked into our first course, a transformation began on stage, changing one of Weta Workshop’s staffers into a Dwarf.

By the time the main course arrived, the transformation was complete – and what a change! Delegates were then invited on stage to have pictures taken with this creature from another dimension.

Following dessert – and a few more vinos – the crowds dispersed, to continue ‘networking’ at various hotspots around the city.

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed – not – most of us filed back into the hall early the next morning for a ‘full English’ courtesy of the COLORSTEEL Breakfast – NZ Women In Roofing Seminar. One person that wasn’t suffering from the effects of the night before was Jen Tyson from Switched-On Learning. At bang-on 8am, she danced onto the stage to give a rousing presentation, to a backdrop of clanking knives and forks on plates.

A communications expert, by trade, she talked about the importance of profiling; of continued on page 13 Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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RANZ CONFERENCE 2021

continued from page 11

Above: Bernard Hickey; Jon Harper-Slade; Sir Ian Taylor.

knowing the type of person you’re communicating with. Her favourite saying, she said, is “It’s not what we say, it’s how we say it.”

“Replace frustration with fascination,” she went on to say. “Everyone’s perception is their reality.” Jen also gave us lessons in distracted listening versus active listening, and mindsets and attitudes. All very useful stuff that we should all be taking on board every day, as we talk with our colleagues, staff, and clients.

There was a bit of an unscheduled lull between Jen and the next tardy presenter, who came bounding, red-faced into the hall, fresh from a cross-Wellington bike ride – not the entrance you’d expect from one of the country’s leading financial journalists and economic commentators – a last-minute replacement due to cancellation for Chris Preston (LBP Board Chair).

Giving himself barely time to catch his breath, Bernard Hickey leapt onto the stage and began an absolutely enthralling presentation on how he thinks the current government have fared so far, where all the money’s coming from, where it’s going, and how New Zealand has become the rock-star money printer of the world.

will be a housing crash, predicting that it’s still got at least 10-15 percent to go. Nor does he think Tiwai Point will close – ever. ‘Green’ Aluminium is where it’s at, he says. Labour shortages are an issue, and they will be for some time to come. His final piece of advice…

“Work for roofers will stay strong. Quietly put your prices up.” And with that, he was off the stage, out of the room, and back on his bike.

What a great presentation!

Jon Harper-Slade, GM Health & Safety Innovation, and Chris Polaczuk, Programme Manager Economics, both from CHASNZ (Construction Health and Safety NZ), were next on stage for a safety forum. The bulk of this presentation was focused on trying to instil in roofers the need to look after their bodies by adopting the correct posture and body position when taking on common, repetitive tasks. With all the industry developments in height safety now well established, it seems that this is the next frontier for health and safety in roofing, according to the injury statistics presented on the screen.

Following a well-needed morning tea break, it was time to announce the hotly anticipated RANZ Awards for 2021, presented by RANZ President, Jenny Maxwell.

“Will all this new cash be turned into inflation,” he asks. “No, because it’s all being stashed, not circulated. The world is awash with term deposits – New Zealanders are really cashed up. More than 20 percent of houses are now sold for cash – no mortgages,” he says.

- Top Exhibitor Stand 2021: Fribesco

“We don’t have an economy, we have a housing market with bits tacked on,” he says.

Hickey doesn’t think for a second that there

- Residential Roof of the Year: The Damm House, Longacre Drive, Cashmere, by The Roofing Company Canterbury Ltd.

- Commercial Roof of the Year: Puhinui Station Interchange, by Project Unite Ltd., Hamilton.

- Young Roofer Excellence Award: Jared Balvers from CS Roofing Canterbury Ltd. - Trainee of the Year: Adam Godsall, Project Unite Ltd. - Training Company of the Year: Topline Roofing (NZ) Ltd. - And the supreme RANZ biennial accolade, the prestigious Roofing Excellence Award: Matthew McDougall (at the Roofing Company Canterbury Ltd.) And so to the final act for 2021… A marvellous talk from one of our country’s favourite entrepreneurs and raconteurs, Sir Ian Taylor, who takes us on a very personal and, at times, amusing journey from his childhood growing up in rural Raupunga, all the way through his wide and varied media and entertainment career, up to today, where his company, Animation Research, now leads the world in on-screen computer graphics and 3D-visualisation, providing real-time scenarios for the likes of the golf’s PGA and the America’s Cup. What an end to an incredible conference!

All that was left was the closing address from RANZ President Jenny Maxwell, who thanked the sponsors, the organisers, and the rest of her Executive, and also the delegates for making this one of the most memorable conferences in a long time.

As she left the stage, there were genuine tears in the room. It had been an inspiring conference, where the focus had been on looking after our people, and also about sustainability, to consider the products and the materials we use every day in our work.

Roll on Christchurch 2022! continued on page 14 Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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RANZ CONFERENCE 2021

continued from page 13

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Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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LAYER

ROOFING EXCELLENCE AWARD

Great heights Matt McDougall of The Roofing Company Canterbury has won the 2021 RANZ Roofing Excellence Award – an accolade he values very highly, as it reflects solid industry recognition for his commitment to the trade he joined as a 21-year-old.

BY JENNY BAIN Matt McDougall receiving the 2021 RANZ Roofing Excellence Award from RANZ President, Jenny Maxwell.

November 20, 2000, is a date Matt McDougall is unlikely to forget. Whilst working the graveyard shift at a local Shell service station, he was threatened at gunpoint at 3am one morning – an event, which left him suffering from acute PTSD. An offer, a short time later, of a labouring job with Christchurch roofing company AR Crothers was the catalyst he needed to try to help him get over the trauma.

“I was a horrible boy back then,” confesses Matt, “but Tony Crothers, known as TC, apparently saw something in me, which suggested I had potential – though he didn’t tell me back then. I didn’t know anything about roofing, but TC taught me the basics, though, at the time, I didn’t recognise my ability or have a vision for where this career could take me.

“By the time I got to age 23 I realised that roofing was a great career for me, and over time I evolved my own ways of doing things, which is the path I’ve taken to this day. The more technical the job the better it is for me. I like to produce high-quality work every time, and I am forever looking at new ways of doing things,” he says.

Along with winning the 2021 RANZ Roofing Excellence Award, Matt was the tray specialist on the roof chosen by judges as the RANZ Residential Roof of the Year (see p22).

RANZ Vice-President, Paul Stanley-Boden, commenting for the judges of the award, says

the word ‘excellence’ used in the title, includes teamwork, mentoring, leadership, a passion for the industry, a commitment to accumulating and sharing knowledge, a willingness to engage with the builder, designer and apprentice to get the best possible outcome, and a vision for the future.

“The judges are looking at the pretty rare blend of skills, which is why it’s termed ‘excellence’,” he said. “I felt that Matt demonstrated this blend of skills in abundance, and is clearly an asset to our industry.”

Now 41, Matt’s roofing career has followed an interesting and diverse path. Six years after joining A R Crothers and working his way up in the company, he went to Australia taking up a job with Meredith Roofing near Goulburn NSW, working on some large industrial/commercial projects, including a large distribution hub for Coles.

Matt roofed in Australia for 12 months, but in the end, the heat proved too much, so he switched to selling Austral bricks for a company near WaggaWagga. Doubling the company turnover in a year, Matt then returned to Christchurch, taking up a foreman’s role with Southern Roofs. Then, in 2010, Matt was part of the team when the Roofing Company Canterbury was established – joining as head foreman and becoming what Matt describes as being “a pretty unstoppable force” in the residential roof and wall-cladding market.

This was a time when tray roofing emerged as a system of preference, and prior to Fribesco’s contribution in the market, Matt went to Calder Stewart in Invercargill for training with Dave Strudwick – thereby becoming a craftsman in the technicality of the system, which was an evolution after years of fixing corrugate and trimdek.

In 2014 Matt formed his own company Future Proof Roofing, continuing his work on significant projects in Christchurch and other parts of the South Island, and contracting to Southern Roofs and the Roofing Company Canterbury.

The soldier’s memorial at Leeston, the restored St Peter’s Church, and the Cass Bay ‘copper house’, by architect Michael O’Sullivan, all appeared in the portfolio during Matt’s four years of operating his own business, along with the Summerset retirement home at Wigram.

After four-and-a-half years Matt’s business was consuming all his time – too much time away from his family, he says – so, in 2019 he returned to the Roofing Company Canterbury, where he quickly re-established himself as the go-to installer on some of the complex builds, which he thrives on delivering.

In 2019, he was awarded Colorsteel's ‘Roofer of the Year’ for an architect’s home in Strowan that featured a complex system of gables. continued on page 19 Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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continued from page 17

Matt was also lead for this project that took out the 2021 Residential Roof of the Year Award for this stunning home in Canterbury.

Read more about this on p 22.

“I am known in the industry for speaking my mind, but good communication from the outset of a job is critical. If the details aren’t right, I will make certain that frank discussions take place and sometimes these can be difficult conversations.

“I’m a lot more confident of my abilities now.

In this industry, we have to be receptive to change, and it is always my aim to produce the best result for the external roofing and cladding features of a home – no matter how complex the design.”

Matt is thankful for his years working in retail, which he says taught him to talk to people “sensibly”, as installers need to be approachable to ensure a good working relationship on site.

He says co-operation, cohesion and good communication are key to what makes his contribution worthy of recognition.

Unwilling to reflect on his work ethic – his first job was as an eight-year old when he wanted a fishing rod; at 14 he worked in a fish-and-chip shop and was running that business full time as a 17-year-old – Matt says he didn’t fully realise his potential as a roof installer until his early 20s.

“I didn’t know the gift I had, but roofing has been one-hundred percent the right trade for me, and I would encourage young guys to consider roofing as a brilliant trade to join, as it brings so many rewards. Some of the homes we complete are beautiful. For me, it’s the legacy of these buildings, which we leave for our children to admire, and this means a lot for me.

“Over and above roofing, the most important role for me is raising my children (ages 17, 11, 9 and 2.5), and with Olivia taking up a management role at a local gym, I am likely to be even more on-call to help at home.”

Matt says the respect of his colleagues and the industry in conferring him with the Roofing Excellence Award demonstrates the commitment he has for roofing and his involvement in some of the higher-end homes with challenging roof and cladding elements. “It’s about putting something tangible behind my name to see me through my future years in the hope that many more complex projects come my way.”

Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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RESIDENTIAL ROOF OF THE YEAR

It’s a wrap Technically challenging, the roofer was an essential part of the design/install team, when it came to achieving a successful outcome with this highly detailed, contemporary home.

A new sub-division in the foothills below the Christchurch Adventure Park features a number of high-end homes, one of which dominates its neighbours for its size and complexity. It’s also the home chosen by RANZ as the Residential Roof of the Year – the roofing and cladding installed by tray specialist Matt McDougall and his young apprentice Will Hannah of The Roofing Company Canterbury.

From the outset, Matt says the details for this home were extremely detailed and on receiving a set of elevations and plans it was clear to him that communication with the builder and architect would be key to the success of this project.

The contract proved to be challenging and involved Matt in a lot of consultation and design work, with him detailing cut-andpaste mock-ups of how the design could be successfully achieved. The details were, in Matt’s words, “very busy”, and he simplified them. He also re-measured the job carefully,

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Spring 2021 • Issue 98

as it was essential that all the trays lined up in terms of where the ribs were falling.

the truck and onto site, as vehicular access any closer being impossible.

The house has insulated SIP panelled walls, wrapped 96% in Flaxpod Matte Colorsteel® Espan® 340 from Metalcraft. The original design called for the roofing/cladding sheets to be run up the wall, over the roof, and down the wall on the far side. However, it was Matt’s suggestion for a ridge through the roof with prickled wall junctions that resolved what promised to still be, “a very tricky job”, according to Matt.

The six-month contract ran from October 2020 to April this year.

The windows also required special attention, because instead of one head flashing, large ‘eyebrows’ were specified off the building, meaning flashings for these design details required considerable effort to successfully achieve this aesthetic architectural feature.

“This was certainly a challenging project, but it highlights again my love for resolving difficult details. As a general rule, I make sure there is good communication between the architect and builder, and whoever is running the job. These design challenges are what makes the job so exciting.

The size of the site was another major consideration. It was a very tight location with little room to move so every sheet – and there were plenty of them – was hand-loaded off

“As always I do the job to the best of my knowledge and ability,” says craftsman tray specialist, Matt. “If the details don’t look right or achievable I will speak out. Sometimes, you have to have difficult conversations to get a better result. After all, it is my name on the PS3, so if the details are incorrect I always speak my mind.”

“I’m forever looking at new ways of doing things and the more technical the job the more I like it”.

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

Second time round RANZ Member Huston Cross saved the day for an unlucky homeowner, and came runner-up in this year’s Roof of the Year competition for their efforts.

The runner-up in this years’ Roof of the Year competition hit the national headlines for all the wrong reasons when it first appeared on TV1’s Fair Go. It was a calamitous tile-to-corrugate re-roof that was started, but not completed. It was at this point that Christchurch-based Huston Cross, preferred contractors for IAG, were brought in to resolve the issue and make good the mistakes.

Asked to quote and then replace the poorly installed roof, Huston Cross put their most experienced and best preforming team on the job. They were aware that the unhappy homeowners had experienced the dark side of the roofing industry – bad workmanship, poor attendance, and sub-standard results – and wanted to prove to them that RANZ roofers are highly skilled, competent professionals. Our team was carrying the

torch for roofers across the country, say Huston Cross.

Following the completion of the new roof by the team at Huston Cross, both the clients and IAG heaped praise and admiration on them for their commitment to their work and the exemplary results they achieved.

A great result for our member and for New Zealand roofing!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2021 AWARD WINNERS Thank you to all that entered – please keep in mind gathering your entries for 2022

Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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MEMBER PROJECT

Two into one does go The land and buildings of two high schools damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes have risen again in a state-of-the-art combined campus in North Brighton – the first of its kind in New Zealand.

BY JENNY BAIN

So badly damaged were the existing Shirley Boys’ and Avonside Girls’ high schools, the architects’ project brief from the Ministry of Education was for a completely new, relocated structure that would provide shared facilities on a larger scale. The proposed site was formerly home to the New Brighton Racecourse, Oruapaeroa Pa and, most recently, the site of the QEII Park and Stadium.

The only items retrieved from the earthquakedamaged schools was some greenery – natives from Shirley Boys’ and plants from the ‘Old Girls’ garden of Avonside Girls’.

Together but separate Built by Southbase Construction around a series of internal courtyards with shared areas, each school retains its own spaces, colour scheme, signs and identity. The schools, known collectively as the Orua Paeroa campus, provide a contemporary learning environment of spaces that are flexible, functional and future-focused. They also cater for different learning styles, with consideration given to ‘hard technology’ in an area, where students can undertake large projects, such as building

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Spring 2021 • Issue 98

garden sheds or decks.

The brief to ASC Architects was for a design response that would provide shared facilities while acknowledging the difference in identity, history and culture of each school.

An aerial view of the campus reveals a complex arrangement of roof structures that enhance the ‘together but separate’ design configuration, with each school operating independently with separate staff and uniforms, making this the first school in New Zealand where two, single-sex high schools occupy the same site.

Although the schools have separate teaching spaces, there are ‘co-locations’, including a shared, 750-seat performing arts theatre, a fully equipped commercial teaching kitchen, and three, full-sized indoor gymnasiums.

Warm Roof System RANZ member GH Roofing was tasked with the delivery of a RoofLogic® warm roof system, along with wall cladding throughout the campus, including a feature wall at the entrance to the combined schools.

The RoofLogic® warm roof system, which features on roofs throughout the school, comprises a 0.5 BMT RL base deck, an RL vapour retarder, 80mm rigid insulation board, and roofing underlay, over which features 0.55 BMTR Top Deck T with Zincalume coating, including 10mm USG Securock Gypsum fibre acoustic board. All externally exposed canopy roofs are completed in Roofing Industries 0.55MT profile metal roof system, double-coated in Colorcote MagnaFlow (ZAM).

Cladding on the campus buildings comprised Roofing Industries’ 0.55BMT Eurolok 365 vertical cladding in Colorcote Magnaflow (ZAM), 0.55BMT Eurostyle Angle Vertical Standing Seam Colorcoate MagnaFlow (ZAM) with 0.55BMT Multirib Horizontal, and a Multidek Vertical metal cladding system. The Roofing Industries’ Eurostyle Eurolok profiled-metal cladding at the main entrance to the campus on Travis Road, North New Brighton, provides a strong and welcoming introduction to the joint schools’ campus, with a faceted façade that slopes in different directions and no visible over flashings.

Opposite page: Aerial images, courtesy of Southbase Construction.

This page: Images courtesy of Graham Hill Roofing Ltd.

Zach McKay, Operations Manager for GH Roofing, says the target programme for this unique project required carefully managed systems to be put in place that delivered what this labour-intensive project required, with its diverse range of buildings, all connected, except for the theatre and gymnasium.

Another consideration was the wide choice of colours that gives each school its individuality.

Complicated Process The ‘together but separate’ design configuration has given the campus a complex arrangement of roof structures.

Adding to this complexity, the way the schools were constructed meant that work had to begin in the middle of the campus, with roof and wall cladding installed working outwards as construction progressed.

The extensive use of profiled metal cladding, chosen for its stability and durability, was specified to add vibrancy to the façade of the campus, with colour having an important role in achieving this concept.

“At times we had 20 workers on site, as the

roofing and cladding aspects of the campus were installed,” says Zach. “Often, the team grappled with windy conditions and issues, such as sand blowing in from nearby Brighton Beach.

“We had a full-time project manager that started with GH Roofing six weeks before commencement of our contract. His job was to review all the documentation – specifically the Ministry of Education guidelines – to ensure we aligned ourselves with the current requirements.”

Manufacturer, Roofing Industries was at times challenged delivering product onto the wet and often muddy site, with sheet lengths over 25m having to cross the city onto site in winter with limited access points from residential streets.

Innovative Design Associate at ASC Architects, Matt Every says one of the key successes of the Orua Paeroa campus project was that through significant design innovations and clever planning, they were able to provide the schools with the benefits of

combined and shared areas with efficiencies of scale that each school could not have achieved by itself. This included being able to plan for future growth and providing an additional full-sized gymnasium – all delivered within the budget of the original build.

The campus incorporates a combination of mechanical ventilation, automated natural ventilation and partial cooling. It is structurally designed to Importance Level 3 under NZS1170.0, and 130 percent of the design seismic load levels required in an Importance Level 2 building. It is also built to the Ministry of Education’s Structural and Geotechnical Guidelines.

Energy consumption over a year is between 25 and 40 percent lower than a standard school, the energy calculation for the campus building, based on the Green Star Technical Manual.

Lighting was also a priority and the design encompasses making the maximum use of natural light, such as glazing the façade of many sections of the build. Stormwater is treated through a detention pond and planted swales prior to mains discharge.

Issue 98 • Spring 2021

25

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TECHNICAL

Ventilation – more than hot air A well-attended discussion panel at our Conference, comprising Angela Foster, Darran Lees and Rod Newbold, provided plenty of information for RANZ members.

BY GRAHAM MOOR

The RANZ office receives plenty of calls about moisture concerns in homes and the recent panel discussion at Conference made us much more aware of the various considerations required. And as careful as we all try to be, there are plenty of variables, which need to be considered, whether it is a new build or a re-roof.

Let’s start with a statistic: A four-person family generates around 20 litres of moisture a day. I can well imagine the reaction from your customer if you tipped two, ten-litre buckets of water on the floor every day. However, the customer needs to realise that their home has to manage this amount of moisture every single day, without showing up as a pool of water on the floor, as per my example above.

Pertinent to all of this is that the roof just happens to be the collection point, not the cause in nearly all instances. Warm, moist air accumulates on the underside of the roofing underlay. This in itself is not a problem, provided the amount of moisture does not exceed what the roofing underlay is capable of managing. When this moisture, in the form of condensation, forms to the point it is dripping back into the ceiling space, then that’s when the trouble starts.

Given the predominance of cold roof construction in this country, we need to continue to manage the outcome or provide circumstances that prevent excessive moisture from being in the roof space in the first place.

ceiling space. Ventilation can be built in at this point. Remember, we are looking to introduce as much dry air from outside via the soffit and then exhausting that at the ridge, or high point. That is why we need to have the same volume of ventilation at the low, or entry point, as we have at the exhaust point.

the past. Now, add to this, the outside climate, just to further complicate things. Wind direction can cause negative and/or positive pressure, which can impede the airflow your vents were installed to create.

The design should also consider ventilation pathways. Some roofing profiles, by their shape, promote some ventilation. However, the roofing structure can also block or hinder air movement. A skillion roof is low-volume and so the saturation point is reached far more quickly. A typical truss roof has a greater volume, obviously, but would still benefit from ventilation. Section 10 of the NZMRM Code of Practice Version 3, provides plenty of information for consideration.

• When re-roofing, do check in the ceiling space and assess the circumstances up there.

Re-roofing brings with it plenty to consider as well. Many older ceilings are not airtight and, as such, more indoor-created moisture escapes into the roof space. Older designs, featuring downlights, tongue-and-groove ceilings, acoustic tiles, and roof hatches, all let moisture-laden air into the roof space. Timber floor homes, where moisture-laden air can rise in the wall space and vent into the roof cavity, add to the problem. I have seen a brick veneer home, where the roofing underlay disintegrated after five years, as it tried to manage the moisture from the inside, as well as the subfloor area. The term ‘rising damp’ is not a new one.

Back to Conference… and there was a very good reason for naming this discussion session a ‘ventilation’ panel.

Add to all of this the behaviour of the occupants around moisture management, such as showers, clothes dryers, cooking, and unvented gas fires, which can all add to the moisture load.

Ventilation is key, but it’s not the total answer.

For a new build, design is the best place to start. Wall cavities must not be open to the

As mentioned above, four people generate 20 litres of moisture per day. People also tend to close up their homes more than they did in

Dos and Don’ts

• Do remove all of the old underlay and use high-quality underlays when doing re-roofing.

• Do check the intersection of the roof and external walls, and make sure that there is a clear separation from the wall, so that it does not vent into the roof space.

• Don’t just install ridge vents, as this can cause an increased amount of moistureladen air to be drawn into the roof space.

• Do use slightly larger inlet vents than the outlet vents.

• Don’t allow any moisture source to vent into the roof space, such as a kitchen extractor.

• Don’t let the insulation touch the underside of the roofing underlay.

• Do use a moisture meter on a new roof, and also make sure that timber is below 18% moisture. Trapped moisture doesn’t help.

• Do talk to your customers about moisture and how it shows up in the home. Whilst fielding a call from a member of the public today, we discussed the roof, to which he went on to inform me that there was no roofing underlay installed. Not surprisingly, he had moisture problems.

Issue 98 • Spring 2021

27

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NZ WOMEN IN ROOFING

Solution focused Jade Thomas, the new Chair of New Zealand Women in Roofing, looks back at this year’s Conference and sets out her goals and aspirations for the Association during her tenure.

It was great to see such a fantastic turnout of New Zealand Woman in Roofing members at the RANZ Conference in June. The NZWiR committee enjoyed networking with you all, and we gained a lot of new members and sponsors from the discussions held at Conference.

We had some great traction at our trade show stand, and it was great to see people giving the VR goggles activity a go – I know, because I chickened out. I was too scared of getting motion sickness.

Thank you, too, to Colorsteel for hosting the NZWiR Breakfast Seminar, where Jen Tyson from Switched On Learning shared an inspirational presentation on different communication styles, and how you can ensure different communicators can work together in unison.

New Zealand Woman in Roofing had the privilege to be able to fund four females from our industry to attend the RANZ Conference this year. This opportunity allowed the lucky recipients to network and attend seminars and social events, which was a great experience for them all.

Over the next year, we have set goals that include further education and networking opportunities, various fundraising and charity events to attend and host, and also the opportunity to work with the wider construction industry sector and NAWIC (Nation Association of Woman In Construction).

We need to promote gender diversity in the workplace Women in construction don’t always get a fair go in the building industry. Step onto any building site and you’ll soon realise women make up a very small percentage of our industry’s workforce. And this gap is getting worse, not better.

This probably wouldn’t matter, if it wasn’t for the fact that many women WANT to work in construction. Unfortunately, various barriers stop them from getting in and sticking around – although many of these are unintentional.

Our industry is missing out by not tapping into one-half of the population to expand its dwindling workforce – even as businesses struggle to fill job vacancies amidst widespread skills shortages. Now more than ever, we need to attract and retain anyone who’s a good fit.

There is still much work to be done to fully include women in construction. In order to increase recruitment and improve retention, companies need to acknowledge and remove gender bias from their work culture; training programs and local mentorship groups specific to the needs of women need to be developed; more women need to be included in the hiring process, and women need to be encouraged to become role models for other women.

Schools and educational programs need to begin to highlight the value of construction jobs for women and young girls, so that they can see our industry as a viable career path.

EDUCATION | MENTORING NETWORKING | RECRUITMENT

The current shortage of labour presents an opportunity to hire even more women in construction jobs. As advancements in construction technology have grown, many companies have been hesitant for a variety of reasons. Hiring and training women in the IT departments of construction companies can help with the staff shortage and advance their diversity.

Although there are obstacles for women to enter construction, diversity is a proven asset in driving profitability, and is a key component in solving the construction industry’s labour shortage.

With more and more ground-breaking women chipping away at gendered norms and levelling the playing field, the industry is taking bigger steps at becoming a more diverse and inclusive space for future generations.

"And the fact that men also benefit from gender diversity shouldn’t be taken lightly, considering the building sector has a problem with mental health."

Everyone wins when there are more women on the team It is a proven fact that gender diversity in the workplace improves the well-being of both women and men. In our workplace, having better diversity in teams leads to improved problem solving and innovation.

Everyone feels they belong and can contribute equally.

And the fact that men also benefit from gender diversity shouldn’t be taken lightly, considering the building sector has a problem with mental health. We already know that construction workers are more than twice as likely to end their lives, compared to the rest of the population. Devastating, I know.

Much of this comes down to the fact that depressed men are reluctant to seek life-saving support because they don’t want to appear weak.

Perhaps it’s time to soften the edges of our industry?

Higher numbers of women in building jobs could help to foster an environment where everyone feels supported. Evidence shows that team collaboration drastically improves with the presence of women, so it’s expected that employees would work better together, too.

I look forward to being the 2021 Chair and networking with the high-calibre women and men we have within the industry.

Jade Thomas Chair of New Zealand Women in Roofing For more information on NZWiR go to our Facebook page or contact Jade by email info@nzwomeninroofing.org.nz

Issue 98 • Spring 2021

29

WELLBEING

Taking a healthy approach For most of us, it’s the physical risks that are front of mind when we think of worksite hazards – falls, dangerous equipment, chemicals. But mental health issues such as anxiety and depression are at least as much of a threat to worker safety, and their frequency is increasing within the construction industry.

BY LANCE BURDETT

RANZ recognises the importance of facing these facts and, with this in mind, invited consultant and coach Lance Burdett to be a keynote speaker at this year’s conference in Wellington.

With 22 years policing experience at the highest level, Lance has expertise in responding to emergencies and communicating in challenging situations. In his 13 years as a police crisis negotiator and instructor, he specialised in suicide intervention and predicting violent behaviour.

With the skills he has learned through first-hand experience over the years he assists organisations and their staff to cope with the problems and challenges they face at work every day.

“Our world has changed. Do you have a dry mouth most of your day, are you feeling a little bit more agitated than normal, getting tired around midday, have a headache niggling at the back of your head, maybe a bit tearful or overwhelmed, having difficulty getting to sleep or perhaps falling asleep straight away, waking up four times a night, having unusual dreams, or perhaps just waking up in the morning feeling like you’ve never slept?” Lance Burdett says this picture is the reality for many of us in our new world, since the arrival of Covid.

Humans look forward to the future based on our past, that’s how we have survived, he says.

“As none of us has been through anything quite like what’s happening at the moment, our subconscious brain is working harder than usual to try and keep us safe as it finds a solution. Hence, most of us have some or all of the above indicators. Covid-19 has added a whole raft of uncertainties and decisions to our normal daily routines and actions.

“If I was to suggest to you that mental ill-health is in many families in the world if it is in your family right now, you are thinking

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Spring 2021 • Issue 98

about that person, and your mood has dropped slightly. All information entering our brain is firstly tagged with an emotion (limbic system), it is then sent to our memory bank (hippocampus) for comparison with previous experiences, then back to our executive centre (pre-frontal cortex) to take action,” says Lance.

There are things we can do to help ourselves.

In order to lift your mood, Lance suggests taking a long, deep breath through your nose into your stomach and sighing forcefully as you breathe out. Then, try to think about something immediately after the sigh. It’s near impossible.

Breathing is an automatic function, yet one that we no longer do in the way we once did.

Life has become so busy that our breathing has become much shorter and shallower, which results in a lack of pure oxygen coursing through our bodies and, in particular, into our brains. Oxygen helps us to think more clearly and stay alert. Inside our lungs are alveoli, little nodes that grab hold of oxygen each time we breathe. These nodes collapse or fill with carbon dioxide when our

“The way it works is that when we are worrying about something and don’t find a solution, our brain will start to expand the negative aspect to help us find one."

Lance Burdett gave a poignant and impressive presentation at the RANZ conference, at one stage asking the 300+ crowd to raise their hand if they had people close to them affected by mental health, to an apparent unanimous sea of hands in response.

breathing is too shallow, and a sigh helps to reinflate them. So, sighing once every 15 to 30 minutes will help to bring us back to the moment and refocus our thoughts.

Another suggestion Lance makes is for when you’re finding yourself overwhelmed: sit somewhere quiet and set your phone to beep every six seconds. Close your eyes and fully exhale slowly at the first beep. Then at the next beep, slowly inhale and keep inhaling until you hear the next beep, at which point you slowly breathe out. Do not hold your breath at any stage – you should breathe in fully over the full six seconds and breathe out fully over the entire six seconds. Do this for two minutes at least twice a day, or whenever you are feeling overwhelmed.

“It is important to control our thoughts by either breathing or doing something practical to prevent overthinking and catastrophising,” he says. “Catastrophising arises when we don’t have enough information to help us find a solution. Here’s how it works. You are leaving home in a bit of a hurry and just as you leave the house you shout out to your partner ‘See you later, I’m off’. As you close the door you hear ‘Whatever!’ You close the door and think to yourself, ‘I’ll deal with this when I get home’.

“What you think about all day is the ‘whatever’.

By the time you get home you are having a divorce, you’re breaking up, the world is over as you know it. You speak to your partner, expecting them to be angry, but they’re not, so you ask, ‘When I left this morning what did you shout out’. ‘Love you forever, what do you think I said?’. ‘Nothing’, you reply. Our brain does not like gaps so it fills those gaps with assumptions from our memory, the hippocampus.

“The way it works is that when we are worrying about something and don’t find a solution, our brain will start to expand the negative aspect to help us find one. You think about the word ‘whatever’ and recall an argument that you had last week, coming home late one evening a year ago, a first date that didn’t go too well, even something you did as a child. It’s chronological, isn’t it? All we are doing is going through our memory bank, or as I like to call it, our timeline. It’s ourselves, talking to ourselves, about ourselves, as that is the only reference we have.”

Lance has three options to manage catastrophising. The first is to read about the problem, but that is limiting because we must ensure that we are reading the right information. If a dog could speak and say one word, chances are you’re thinking ‘woof’.

What does a cow say, ‘moo’? I’ve never heard a dog say woof nor a cow say moo; that’s simply what we were told as children. Plus, it’s ourself reading to ourself about ourself. The second thing you can do is write. I wonder how many times you have written a list of things to do and forgotten to look at your list.

That is very common because you have got what’s on your mind out of your head, so the brain tends to forget about it. The third thing you can do is to talk. Talking has been around since the beginning of time yet it is something that we no longer do. When we talk with another person, it’s not just getting things out of our head, we are also using their timeline to assist us in finding a solution.

He has suggestions for what you can do from now on when you are struggling to find a solution to something you have on your mind.

Firstly, talk with someone to see if they have

an answer. Next, read to ensure that they are telling you the truth. Lastly, write a plan for your solution. Bringing all three of these three things together is how we overcome catastrophisation.

For Lance, there are three things that keep us well in today’s busy world – socialisation, exercise, and sleep – with sleep being the most important. Each night we go through three to five REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycles, each one lasting around 90 minutes.

During deep REM sleep we dream as our brain consolidates our long-term memory and throws out the rubbish it thinks we don’t need. At the end of each cycle, we get a shot of cortisol designed to put us into light sleep so that we can defrag again and again. It is the cortisol that is waking us up as cortisol is a stressor.

If you want a good night sleep, here’s what you can do. Go for a 15-to-20-minute walk after work to burn off adrenaline and cortisol built up over the day. Around 45 minutes before bedtime have a really hot shower, a cooling brain wants to go to sleep. Around 20 minutes before bedtime have a small piece of protein, which will keep the digestive system running. We once woke up at 3am to have something to eat before going out to hunt and gather. We are a two-sleep species, so many of us feel tired at three in the afternoon because that was also the time we slept.

Lastly, do the six-second breathing technique described above.

For more information and helpful tips please visit the Warn International website www.warninternational.com or Youtube channel.

Issue 98 • Spring 2021

31

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SUPPLY CHAIN

We're all in it together We are all well aware of the current problems and issues in the marketplace. Covid-19, in part, is the cause, but it can’t be blamed for all that’s going on – and it’s vital that we appreciate the contributing factors and treat each other with understanding and adjust well.

BY GRAHAM MOOR

Our market has been close-to, and at times, over its capacity for some time now.

Certainly, indications are that this is not going to change anytime soon. I have spoken to many industry suppliers of late, and I can assure you that none of them is enjoying what is happening, as the widereaching, extraordinary strains on supply across the board continue to escalate and consolidate, to the point of fast becoming a new norm for now.

headaches, some reality needs to be put on the table – the fact that the production of all manufactured goods has to be carried out at certain speeds. Something that needs to be painted or coated has to be done at a particular speed. Not faster, not slower, but at that speed. Our suppliers run their processes as efficiently as they can – that is how they make their money.

5. There are very few building products that are not affected

So what can we do, you ask? I have roofs to get on, staff to utilise, and customers to satisfy. The products you need for your type of roofing are, more often than not, no longer sitting on a shelf waiting for your order. It could be argued our suppliers brought some of this on themselves, as they have in the past been able to process orders in a very timely fashion. But that became our usual expectation as roofers, as well. I used to be able to get a roof manufactured on-site in 48 hours or so. And now? We need to provide product forecasts well in advance of project start dates. Those forecasts need to be reasonably accurate as well. Manufacturers are juggling inventory all of the time.

Don’t for a moment think you’re alone in the frustrations of getting your goods to site on time. Many factors are playing into this, with a big one being that the importation of products has never been more fraught. Cost escalation aside, getting a container to New Zealand alone is difficult enough. Then it lands at the port, and there are not enough trucks or space on the train to move it to our suppliers’ yards.

What shouldn’t we do? As to the juggling mentioned above – sometimes the ball is dropped. The customer services people are the shop window and are certainly feeling the pressure. I was communicating recently via Zoom with a large manufacturer’s GM, and he spent much of the day helping staff cope with the additional stress associated with not being able to do what they normally do – processing orders, on time and in full.

And then on the home-base manufacturing side, although free from importation

The other part of this is the way customers are reacting to getting a no, or a maybe, or an

Some key pointers on adjusting and responding to these new settings include: 1. Order your products based on solid forecasted timelines, in consultation with your suppliers 2. Communicate with your customers early and as often as required 3. Do not lose your cool when you don’t get what you want when you want it 4. Don’t sign contracts that have you in a vice!

otherwise. Yelling someone’s ear off because you can’t get what you ordered achieves nothing. Don’t do it, please. Nobody responds positively to being treated that way. We have provided plenty of information about mental health. Do not add to the pressure people are under by piling more pressure on them.

We have said it before – have a good look at the contracts you are entering into.

Whether it’s a large commercial project or a simple domestic re-roof – set out what are realistic timelines. Make it very clear to your customers that you cannot and will not be responsible for delays due to supply chain issues. But that is not a get out of jail card either. Communicate with your customers as well.

I just got off the public RANZ phone line with a disgruntled customer. Their first mistake was not using a RANZ member.

They ordered .55 gauge Karaka. Not an on the shelf product. Roofer played them for five months. Coil delivery, rare colour, can’t get a scaffolder, blah, blah, blah. Five months is never acceptable. As an aside, a former RANZ member, in part, was expelled for taking this long!

Back to the phone call, the homeowner was ringing for advice on how much they should expect in compensation for the inconvenience. They had not paid the final amount. My advice was that we do not condone reducing payments ever. But the customer was going to hold something back.

There will be a few of you labouring under long time lags, I’m sure.

Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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From mild to wild, we’ve got you covered.

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ColorCote products are painted and formed in New Zealand and are available in over 40 colours.

ColorCote® uses unique proprietary paint technology that provides scratch resistance, UV, and chemical protection making your roof not only just stylish but when coupled with the correct metal substrate, capable of handling any environment.

No other aluminium and steel roofing manufacturer has matched our range of quality roofing substrates for 40 years. And they’re all backed by a comprehensive warranty specific to the location, to ensure you get the right product for the atmospheric conditions.

By choosing the right product for the conditions you’ll preserve your investment for many years to come.

From mild to wild, ColorCote’s got you covered. www.colorcote.co.nz Phone 0800 279 979 ® ColorCote is a registered trademark of Fletcher Steel Ltd. ™ AlumiGard, MagnaFlow and ZinaCore are trademarks of Fletcher Steel Ltd.

MEMBER PROJECT

Crowning glory A new roof for Gisborne Airport crowns long career of local roofer, Tony File.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne Airport has been transformed from a tired, inadequate building to one that reflects the significance and history of the region and recognises its role in an area that’s ramping up as a holiday destination.

Located 4.2km from the city centre, the airport redevelopment – achieved in two stages in 2019 and 2020 – was funded by Eastland Group, Trust Tairāwhiti and the Provincial Growth Fund.

Completion and opening of the terminal building in late 2020 had special significance for RANZ member Tony File Roofing Ltd, as it was the last contract he completed prior to the sale of his business – one that has carried out many noteworthy roofing contracts around Gisborne.

Designed by Wellington practice Tennent Brown Architects in association with Gisborne’s Architects 44, the airport building won a local award in the 2021 Public Architecture section of the New Zealand Institute of Architects Awards for Gisborne/ Hawkes Bay.

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Spring 2021 • Issue 98

With a 10-degree pitch roof, the single terminal has four tarmac gates and covers an area of 160ha, with a sealed and nightcapable 1,310m-long runway, and grass runways for light aircraft.

It has many sustainable features including solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and rammed earth walls made from local greywacke rock.

Sustainability is a significant aspect of the building, designed to be Living Building Challenge LBC 3.1-compliant. This approach influenced the choice of timber for the purlins, as the carbon reduction for these is superior to a steel alternative. Timber is a predominant feature of the new terminal, which has a palette of natural timber tones that blend effectively with the Abodo eco timbers.

Roofing the terminal The contract to install roofing on the terminal building and torch-on membrane to internal gutters at the airport was a significant “final” contract ahead of a retirement strategy for RANZ member Tony File Roofing Ltd to sell the company in August, 2020, to Edwards & Hardy.

Having been involved in roofing in Gisborne for the past 30 years, Tony relished the opportunity to be involved in the creation of a new major regional airport terminal for his home city. It was a fitting conclusion to his career to work on the redevelopment, long-awaited by residents of New Zealand’s most easterly city.

The design The airport terminal is designed to showcase and celebrate the Tairāwhiti region with extensive use of structural timbers and other features reflecting the East Coast and the influence of local Māori artists. A series of twisted steel columns, angled towards local landmark Young Nick’s Head, resembles propellers, while the airside of the building uses extensive glazing, opening up to the sky and the horizon beyond.

There are two faces to the terminal – the landside elevation represents the whare (ground-based) and the airside of the building represents the waka and the link to travel, with plenty of glazing and views to the landscape and horizon beyond.

"As the sun sets on my roofing career I will look at this roof as a sunrise on accessibility to a unique region of New Zealand."

The entrance lobby opens to a public concourse featuring a 42m-long plywood Tāhuhu (ridge pole) designed by Derek Lardelli, with CNC carving on the unprimed plywood. On both sides of the entrances, two Pare lintels are carved from native totara by master carver Tiopira Rauna, welcoming passengers on both the landside and airside entrances to the terminal.

A feature of the design is the shape at each end of the terminal building, which appears to resemble a hang glider. This element required precise cutting of the Thunder Grey-coloured .55 Max Styleline profile. Using the services of local rollformer B J Moss, who was able to meet their needs, rather than relying on deliveries from out of town, made the job easier and achieved cost savings. [It transpired that the material initially specified for the airport roof, Colorcote MagnaFlow .55 had warranty issues due to the impact of aviation fuel]. Running the Dimond Styleline profile with B J Moss made it easier to achieve the cutting and shaping for the prescribed ends of the building, and to fix the unprimed plywood Styleline sheets to Plywood I beams.

In addition to the roof, Tony File Roofing also provided the torch-on membrane, supplied

by Equus, for lining all the internal gutters. To comply with the stringent sustainability requirements of the project, the plywood for

the torch-on membrane was not primed, and most of the materials chosen contributed to the building achieving a toxic-free environment.

A requirement of the redevelopment was that the existing terminal remained operational; one half of the building was created in the first phase in 2019, and the remaining half was completed later in 2020 – a unique achievement by head contractor McMillan & Lockwood. An independent contracts programme manager was on-site throughout the build.

As for Tony – well, he hasn’t completely called it a day and has formed Specialist Roofing Solutions Ltd, specialising in membrane roofing only. His former company was involved in many significant roofing projects in the Gisborne region including historic Wyllie Cottage and the Toko Toru Tapu Church at Manutuke, (both of which have featured in Rooflink), the S-shaped primary school at Waikaremoana, the new Gisborne Council Chambers and the city’s new police station – to name but a few.

Images courtesy of Architects 44 Limited.

Gisborne has had an operating airport since 1930; the hangars and buildings were erected in 1931, at a cost of £700.

Darton Field, as it was known, was built under a work scheme during the depression and was important in the development of New Zealand’s aviation history. Pioneer aviator Jean Batten, on a celebratory national tour, landed at Darton Field on August 6, 1934, in her de Havilland Moth and, during World War II, the RNZAF operated there with eight general reconnaissance Squadron-operated Vickers Vincents and Vildebeeste bi-planes for coastal patrol work.

While Gisborne can be geographically isolated by challenging topography in both north and south directions, its isolation proved an advantage during the 2020 Covid outbreaks and the enlarged and modern airport terminal will be a major regional hub now that seat pricing has become more attractive.

On completing the Tairāwhiti Gisborne Airport terminal building, Tony reflected on the contract: “As the sun sets on my roofing career I will look at this roof as a sunrise on accessibility to a unique region of New Zealand”.

Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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SKILLS

Wellbeing at work is 2021’s challenge Kei te pēhea koe? Are you okay? As the world continues to battle Covid-19, this is the question on everyone’s lips.

Wellbeing is becoming increasingly important in the workplace. In Aotearoa New Zealand, employers aren’t so worried about the pandemic as they are about mental health and wellbeing.

At the end of May 2021, Skills Consulting Group published their Work Wellbeing Index. They spoke to nearly 1500 employees and over 100 HR managers to get a picture of what’s happening on the job in New Zealand.

The report highlights that tradespeople, like roofers, don’t feel their wellbeing is as important to their employer as people in other industries do. In fact, the overall wellbeing score for the trades was just 55 out of 100. That’s 11% lower than the market average. People working in these jobs feel employers could do more to look out for them – and could give staff more power to look out for themselves.

company was important to them. They want to feel looked after, and when they do, they’re 68% more motivated and 80% more effective.

Investing in employee wellbeing makes financial as well as ethical sense.

How does a wellbeing culture help workers?

People who are happy at work are 49% happier, in general. Strong teams are essential – 67% of people surveyed said it was important their co-workers had their back.

Workplaces are social places, and the best ones are where you can trust the people you’re working with, trust your manager, and where you know you are safe.

What’s next for wellbeing?

How does a wellbeing culture help employers?

Skills Consulting Group has made loads of great suggestions about supporting staff wellbeing – and there is no reason why employees themselves can’t take the lead on this too.

A whopping 63% of employees surveyed, said a good wellbeing culture at their chosen

Start by looking at what is unique to roofing.

It can be a physically demanding job with no

Keen To Grow?

Taking on an apprentice can free you up to work on your business as well as take on the bigger jobs.

Call Skills on 0508 SKILLS (754 557) to find out more.

small element of risk. If you’re hanging off a scaffold trying to fix a ridge flashing, you need to know your team are switched on and ready to help.

More chances to be social and build trust outside the workplace through group activities, like sport, could be helpful – exercise supports good mental health, too. In England, UK Construction Week launched its own multi-sports cup tournament in 2019, alongside a mental health charity.

Understanding wellbeing and creating an environment where worries can be shared is essential. Getting the company involved in a fun event like Movember could be a great way to help spread awareness of things, like depression, and increase understanding among your crew.

Skills Consulting Group can help support employers and employees to upgrade wellbeing in the workplace.

Visit www.skills.org.nz for more information.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

RANZ

Meet the team

ROOFING GUIDES

Colleen Waters Office Administrator, Roofing Association of New Zealand (RANZ) Q Where are you based?

A RANZ Head Office, Albany, Auckland.

Q Years in roofing?

A Fifteen years in administration at the RANZ office. I’ve learned a lot about roofing in that time!

Q How did you get started in roofing?

A I came to work as a temp for two weeks, and I’m still here 15 years later!

Q Family nucleus?

A Daughter and best friend Kimberley, plus fur babies Holly & Presley, and last but not least my partner, Trevor.

Q What motivates you?

A Being around positive happy people.

It inspires me to help make decisions to move forward.

Q What do you do day to day?

A All the RANZ Administration. This covers A-to-Z. Being a people person I love being here to help and interact with the Members.

Q Favourite products/brand? Why? A My new Honda HRV, because all the Porsches were gone. Swarovski Jewellery, because I love a little luxury, and Tom Ford fragrance, as a little indulgence.

Q Favourite roof?

A Too many great roofs to choose from.

The RAC Arena Stadium Perth and the Optus Stadium in Perth. Both amazing. At home, The Manukau Bus Hub Station, The Copper Dome on a house in Herne Bay roof that featured on the Roof Link cover, The Central Car

To purchase please email admin@ranz.co.nz

park building in Christchurch, which has 2,300 teardrops in five colours resembling a Maori Cloak, and the Mangatawa Papamoa Blocks headquarters, which was inspired and created from a legend about a family of whales.

Q Favourite beach?

A Surfers, Bryon Bay, Whitehaven Island in Queensland. Venice Beach and Santa Monica, LA. At home; Omaha Beach and Waiake Beach (Torbay), where I live and where many people come to paint and photograph the Tor and scenery.

Q Favourite movie?

A Not a lot of time for movie watching, but classics like – Top Gun, As Good as it Gets, A Few Good Men, The Italian Job. Currently, The Queen’s Gambit.

Nowadays, I’m guilty of doing a bit of Netflix bingeing.

Metal Wall Cladding A step-by-step illustrated critical junctions and penetrations for residential wall cladding

METAL WALL CLADDING published 2020

A step-by-step illustrated guide to flashing critical junctions for residential wall cladding.

Members $25 + GST + postage Non-Members $50 + GST + postage

Q Favourite brew o’ beer or wine?

A I don’t drink beer, but I love a glass of fine Pinot Gris.

Q What’s on my playlist?

A Everything across the board… Eagles, Robbie Williams, Elton John, The 80’s, I Heart Radio, Rock, Pop, Swing, Jazz, Blues – I just love music!

Q What makes a top roofer?

A Attention to detail, accountability, focusing on their business, caring for their staff and, critical, a good attitude to customer follow up.

METAL ROOF FLASHINGS published 2013

A unique and innovative step-by-step illustrated guide to flashing critical junctions and penetrations for residential roofing.

Members $15 + GST + postage Non-Members $30 + GST + postage

Q Where will roofing be in 20 years?

A A better trained and more professional industry than in the past.

METAL ROOF PENETRATIONS published 2014

A step-by-step illustrated guide to flashing rectangular and round penetrations in corrugated and rib-profiled metal roofing.

Surfers Paradise

Members $20 + GST + postage Non-Members $40 + GST + postage

Issue 98 • Spring 2021

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Made, tested and trusted for New Zealand conditions

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