Easy One Day Building and Repair Projects

If you've been living in your current property for a long time and realise that you may need to replace your roof, you may be looking into the details. You may be in the process of choosing a roofing contractor to do the work, but did you know that you may well need formal building approval for this type of activity? What is involved, and what additional work may be needed along the way?

Requiring Building Approval

Some people do not realise that building approval may be required when replacing much or all of a residential roof. As you may know, if you do not get approval, you may be required to remove the installation in the future and replace it with the correct structure. This would be costly and disruptive, so it pays to work with a contractor who understands the regulations.

Assessing the Strength of the Roof

These days, a building approver will be concerned with the strength of the roof and most especially if you live in an area prone to high winds or cyclonic activity. Regulations and recommendations may be much more stringent in these latter areas, but you may well be required to upgrade any safety features on your roof, no matter what part of the country you live in.

Upgrading Safety Features

Each roof will be different, and the original construction can be taken into account. However, you may be asked to install new tie-downs above or below the rafter line to ensure that your roof complies with current standards and can resist those high winds. In any case, you may have to strengthen existing tie-downs that are in place. This is especially important if they have not been touched for many years and may not comply with the latest specifications.

Engaging a Structural Engineer

To get this right, you may have to work with a structural engineer who will certainly be familiar with the industry standards. They'll also be aware of the prevailing wind speeds in your area and the relevant designs that would be most appropriate.

Understanding the Process

The building approval process can be quite complex and will involve the submission of various plans, photos and documentation. The approver will need to know what materials you are using, the age of the existing roof and whether you plan to make any alterations to guttering, downpipes and other features.

Your Best Approach

To get this right and prevent you from running into any issues, talk with a building approval expert and ensure that contractors and structural engineers are on the same page. 

For more information about building approvals, contact a local company.