Complex Metal Re-Roof with Skylight

A Wellington Roof-Detailing Case Study

Home / Roofing Guides and Projects / Complex Metal Re-Roof with Skylight and Detailed Flashings

Multiple Roof Planes, a Skylight and Connected Junctions

Dark metal roof with a skylight, upper roof plane and several lower roof-to-wall junctions
Dark metal roofing surrounding a skylight and several connected lower roof sections.

By the Metal Roofing Solutions team
Published 31 July 2026 · Project case study

This Wellington-region re-roof includes a skylight, several connected roof planes, a main ridge and a collection of roof-to-roof and roof-to-wall junctions. The supplied photographs focus on the areas where careful set-out and folded-metal detailing matter most.

A complex roof cannot be understood from its total area alone. Water arriving above a junction, the position of a penetration, roof pitch, sheet direction and the available space for flashings all affect how the pieces need to work together.

The project at a glance

Project typeComplex residential metal re-roof
SettingWellington-region home
Visible roof coveringDark long-run metal roofing
Visible featuresSkylight, ridge, gables, barges, lower roofs and several junctions
Access visiblePerimeter scaffolding and working platforms
Dark long-run metal roof installation around a protected skylight with scaffolding visible
Skylight area: metal roofing installed around the protected skylight opening and adjoining roof sections.

A skylight changes the water path

A skylight interrupts the roof covering and sits within the path of rainwater moving down the slope. The photograph shows new metal roofing around the opening while the glazing remains protected during the work.

The right flashing arrangement depends on the size and position of the penetration, roof pitch, profile, catchment above it and the selected proprietary or specifically designed details. The NZ Metal Roof and Wall Cladding Code of Practice treats roof lights as penetrations and emphasises designing the detail for the building application rather than leaving it as an improvised site decision.

See the current NZMRM Code of Practice and Building Performance’s E2/AS1 overview for the wider technical context.

Dark long-run metal roof with ridge capping and scaffolding on a Wellington property
Ridge view: the main roof plane runs into a folded ridge capping, with a lower roof and scaffold access beside it.

Ridges, barges and lower roof sections

The ridge photograph shows a long upper plane and the meeting point with a smaller lower roof. The roof shape creates several transitions rather than one uninterrupted surface. Each transition needs the correct cover, support and relationship to the profiled sheets below.

During quoting, these sections should be counted and described. “Replace the roof” is too vague when the job also contains a skylight, several roof levels and custom folded details. Clear scope reduces uncertainty for both the owner and the roofing team.

Close view of dark folded barge flashing finishing a light metal roof at a Wellington gable
Gable finish: close view of the folded barge and ridge metal at the end of a roof plane.

Why close-up completion photos are useful

The gable photograph provides a close record of the folded edge treatment. Images like this help the owner see more than the overall colour and shape; they record areas that are difficult to view safely from the ground after the scaffold has been removed.

Photographs complement rather than replace the project documentation. The specification should still identify the actual metal, coating, fasteners, underlay, proprietary components, warranty conditions and any ongoing maintenance requirements.

What affects the quote for a complex re-roof?

  • Roof geometry: the number of planes, ridges, valleys, barges and changes in pitch.
  • Penetrations: skylights, flues, vents, pipes and other openings.
  • Catchment: how much water arrives above each junction or penetration.
  • Access: building height, slope, scaffold requirements and material handling.
  • Existing conditions: what becomes visible only after the old covering is removed.
  • Specification: profile, metal, coating, thickness, flashings, fasteners and underlay.

Questions worth asking before work begins

Ask who is responsible for skylight components, how the surrounding roof will be weathered, what will happen if joinery or concealed substrate damage is found, and which details are included in the roofing scope. Where design or consent input is needed, the responsibilities should be identified before work starts.

Also ask how the building will be kept protected during removal, what access system is allowed for, and what photographs or completion records will be provided. Our Wellington re-roofing service explains the broader installation approach.

Talk to us about a complex Wellington roof

For an initial conversation, send the property address and safe photographs from several sides of the building. Include any known leak locations, skylight information and previous repair history. A site inspection can then establish the details that photographs cannot.

Request a metal re-roofing assessment or call 022 155 3184.

Recent Blog

Roofing Enquiry

Request a Quote

Contact Us