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North Shore Exterior

Exterior cleaning in West Auckland

We’re North Shore based, but we quote right across Auckland, and the west is a different world for a house. From Titirangi and the Waitakēre Ranges foothills to Henderson, Massey, New Lynn and the Te Atatū Peninsula, it’s wetter, leafier and in places foggier than the rest of the city, and the outside of a house shows it.

Why do West Auckland roofs grow so much moss and lichen?

Rain, fog and shade. NIWA’s climate record for Auckland singles out the Waitakēre Ranges as one of the wettest parts of the region, with more frequent showers when the wind is from the southwest, and notes that the ranges are the area most affected by low cloud sitting on the hilltops in wet weather. The ranges themselves average well over 2,000 mm of rain a year, around double the city figure.

Surfaces that stay wet for days on end are ideal for moss, lichen and algae, so foothill roofs and south-facing walls go green far faster than on the isthmus. Valleys add to it: NIWA records about 27 ground frosts a year at Henderson against about 9 at the airport, a sign of cold, damp air pooling in low ground. A spray-applied roof moss and lichen treatment is usually the answer, rather than any kind of blast.

How often should gutters be cleaned under the bush?

More often than anywhere else in Auckland. Titirangi in particular is defined by houses built inside the native bush, some on poles to protect tree roots, and the Waitakēre Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008 covers about 27,700 hectares of public and private land around the ranges. Under that much canopy, leaves, twigs and seed land in the spouting all year round.

Two or three gutter cleans a year is realistic for a house under heavy bush. Because tree work can be restricted on protected land, gutter guards are often a better long-term fix than cutting branches back. Clear downpipes matter too: NIWA’s list of severe weather includes a July 1988 downpour that flooded parts of West Auckland and led to a civil defence emergency.

What about the coastal homes on Te Atatu and the Manukau side?

They get salt as well as damp. The Te Atatū Peninsula is bounded by the Waitematā Harbour, Henderson Creek and the Whau River, and Titirangi’s southern edge runs down to the Manukau Harbour. Being within half a kilometre of salt water, harbour shores included, puts a house in NZS 3604’s top exposure band, so waterside homes here need regular washing to keep salt off joinery and metal.

Te Atatū grew fast between 1945 and 1960, so many of its homes are in the age range where WorkSafe says to presume lead-based paint and possible asbestos. Walls get a low-pressure house wash and older roofs are never water blasted.

Jobs we quote in West Auckland

Questions from West Auckland

Do you travel to Titirangi and the Waitakere foothills?

Yes. We quote across West Auckland, including Titirangi, Laingholm, Henderson, Massey, Te Atatu, New Lynn and Glen Eden. Steep bush sections and pole houses can need extra planning for safe access, so mention the site when you ask for a quote and the crew can price it properly.

Is roof treatment safe so close to the bush and streams?

Done properly, yes. Treatment run-off has to stay out of the drains and nothing goes on with showers due, which matters even more in the west, where stormwater runs straight to bush streams. The crew protects downpipes and plants and picks a dry spell.

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