Our latest blog breaks down the real stories behind RoofBuddy, collapsed ceilings, Tribunal rulings, poor workmanship, and a complete lack of accountability. It’s everything Auckland property owners need to know before getting a new roof, repairs, or a replacement.
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When multiple Auckland homeowners end up at the Disputes Tribunal, their ceilings collapse from water damage, and the Roofing Association of New Zealand publicly expresses alarm, something has gone seriously wrong.
That's the situation unfolding around RoofBuddy, a quote-matching platform that promises to connect property owners with vetted roofing contractors. But according to extensive reporting from the NZ Herald and RNZ, the reality for numerous customers has been dramatically different.
Mitchell La'ulu, Managing Director of Impact Roofing Solutions, says the pattern of complaints reveals fundamental problems with how these intermediary platforms operate.
"The moment you put a middleman between the property owner and the actual roofer, you've created a gap where accountability can disappear. We're seeing the consequences of that across Auckland right now," La'ulu observes.
The platform, fronted by former Bachelor NZ star Art Green, markets itself on the promise of rigorous quality checks. Their website even warns customers that "Cowboys are always lurking – safe to say, the roofing industry is a minefield."
Yet that's precisely what numerous customers report experiencing after using the service.
Roofing Association of New Zealand chief executive Luke Boustridge made his concerns public in April 2025. "We've received a number of calls and emails from concerned homeowners and roofing professionals in recent weeks, and we've seen the same emerging on social media," he told RNZ.
Notably, RoofBuddy is not a member of the Roofing Association of New Zealand.
Ed Waaka's Auckland home provides a stark example of what can go wrong. In 2024, RoofBuddy connected him with Life Time Roofing to apply KiwiSeal, a liquid membrane roofing product.
Within six months, the membrane began deteriorating. Even after a third coat, problems persisted. Eventually, the ongoing leaks caused such extensive water damage that Waaka's master bedroom ceiling collapsed.
"Our job was plagued by delays, poor communication and substandard roofing practices which left our home with extensive water damage, resulting in the collapse of our master bedroom ceiling," Waaka told RNZ.
He described being chased aggressively for deposits and progress payments, but once those were made, accountability vanished. Despite RoofBuddy's advertised independent quality assessments, Waaka says no such inspection occurred. "Once our job was 'complete', they did not send an independent quality assessor to check the quality of the work as advertised on their social media platforms."
The estimated cost to properly fix his roof? Up to $40,000. Waaka says multiple other affected homeowners have contacted him since he shared his story online.
Kenian Fatherly trusted RoofBuddy specifically because of its marketing around safety checks and third-party quality assurance. His Papakura roof replacement was signed off by RoofBuddy's quality process as complete.
But when Fatherly grew concerned about the work, he hired an independent building surveyor. That report, detailed by the NZ Herald, was scathing.
The surveyor documented visible deformities and indentations in the roof cladding, rust marks from metal debris left on the roof, and incorrectly installed gutter fixings. The conclusion: "The roof cladding has been poorly installed and not by a qualified roofing contractor or was not supervised by one."
Fatherly won his case at the Disputes Tribunal, but not before months of stress. He says RoofBuddy CEO James Logan stopped taking his calls. "He washed hands of the whole thing altogether. To this day he still won't take my phone calls," Fatherly told the Herald.
"The thing that really annoyed me the most with Roofbuddy is that it took no accountability," he added.
Fatherly was particularly critical of the "independent" quality assurance claims. He pointed out that RoofBuddy's quality assessors are actually company employees, not genuinely independent third parties.
Sydney-based property investor Tim Stewart chose RoofBuddy for his Auckland rental property based on competitive pricing. The decision triggered an 18-month ordeal that extended far beyond roofing problems.
Despite RoofBuddy's quality inspector signing off on the roof replacement, leaks soon appeared, causing damage to interior plasterboard and shorting electrical circuits. Stewart's tenants filed a Tenancy Tribunal complaint over the persistent leaks, construction rubbish left on site, and contractors appearing unannounced.
The Tribunal ordered Stewart to compensate his tenants $5,000.
"In hindsight, had I known the dramas, I would have been more than happy to fork out a bit more upfront and with the peace of mind," Stewart told the NZ Herald.
When Stewart returned to Auckland from Sydney to inspect the work personally, he was horrified. "I went to the property and was horrified. I could see issues," he explained. He noticed damaged panels and roofing iron extending so far into gutters he could barely fit his hand inside to clear debris.
Perhaps the most damaging revelation came directly from RoofBuddy itself. CEO James Logan admitted to the NZ Herald that in at least one case, a contractor exploited a personal connection with a RoofBuddy quality assessor to submit fake evidence.
"The roofer… used a series of misleading photographs to falsely show the remedial actions were taken," Logan confirmed.
For a platform built entirely on the promise of independent quality verification, this admission is devastating.
Mitchell La'ulu from Impact Roofing Solutions says this type of failure is predictable when quality control isn't genuinely independent. "When the people checking the work have a financial interest in approving it, you've created a conflict of interest that puts property owners at risk. Real quality assurance means having no stake in the outcome."
Whether you're managing a residential property or overseeing commercial buildings, La'ulu emphasises that the fundamentals of choosing a reliable roofer remain the same.
"We work across both residential and commercial projects in Auckland, and the vetting process shouldn't change. You need the same level of due diligence whether it's your family home or an investment property," La'ulu explains.
Start with the worst reviews – Don't just scan five-star ratings on Google. Read the one and two-star reviews first. How does the company respond when things go wrong? That tells you everything about their accountability. Skip the influencer endorsements and celebrity partnerships.
Understand who's accountable – Quote-matching platforms are intermediaries. They're not the ones on your roof. Ask directly: who employs the people doing the work? Who do you call when there's a problem? Make sure you have a direct line to the actual roofer, not just a platform representative.
Demand genuine third-party inspection – If quality assurance is promised, clarify who employs the inspector. Company employees checking their own work isn't independent, regardless of what the marketing claims.
Insist on physical assessment – Any company quoting your job from satellite images or Google Maps isn't serious about quality. Proper roofing quotes require someone physically examining your roof structure, identifying potential issues, and understanding the specific challenges of your property.
Get everything itemised – Your quote should break down every material, every labour component, and every cost. Vague pricing that leaves room for "unforeseen extras" is a red flag. You should know exactly what you're paying for before work begins.
Verify licensing and insurance – Licensed Building Practitioners are accountable to a government-regulated scheme. Confirm current licensing status and adequate public liability insurance before signing anything.
Know your materials – For Auckland's climate, you need proven products from reputable New Zealand manufacturers. Ask specifically what will be installed on your roof and verify the manufacturer's warranties. COLORSTEEL® and COLORCOTE® are established options with decades of local performance history.
Map out the warranty – What exactly is covered? For how long? Who honours the warranty if something fails in five years? Written guarantees covering both workmanship and materials are essential, but only if the company will still be operating when you need them.
Understand the complaints process – Before you commit, get clear answers: What happens if work isn't completed to standard? Who mediates disputes? What's the timeline for addressing problems? Vague promises of "making it right" mean nothing without documented procedures.
La'ulu adds a final consideration often overlooked: "Ask whether they do the work themselves or subcontract it out. When a company uses their own trained team, you get consistency. When they're constantly juggling different subcontractors, quality becomes a lottery."
Luke Boustridge from the Roofing Association highlighted a concerning regulatory issue to RNZ: re-roofing work currently isn't held to the same standards as new construction.
"Re-roofing represents a significant portion of the work happening on Kiwi homes. We've long advocated for the LBP scheme to be expanded to include all roofing work, not just new builds or structural components. The risks to safety, durability, and consumer confidence are just as high – if not higher – when re-roofing is done poorly. Until those regulations catch up, consumers remain exposed."
What makes the RoofBuddy situation particularly troubling is the consistency of complaints. Multiple Auckland homeowners reporting similar experiences with quality control failures, communication breakdowns after payment, and platform representatives becoming unreachable suggests systemic problems rather than isolated incidents.
The platform's own website warns customers about cowboys in the roofing industry. Yet according to affected customers, that's exactly what they encountered after trusting RoofBuddy to protect them from that risk.
"The best marketing in the world doesn't matter if the fundamentals aren't there," La'ulu observes. "Property owners deserve roofing companies that take direct responsibility for their work, communicate clearly throughout the process, and don't disappear when problems arise. Whether it's a residential or commercial project, those standards shouldn't be negotiable."
For Auckland property owners navigating roofing decisions, the RoofBuddy controversy serves as an expensive reminder: the company that quotes your job should be the same company standing behind that work in five years. Platforms that insert themselves as middlemen may promise convenience, but when accountability matters most, there's no substitute for direct relationships with qualified, reliable roofers.
Contact Impact Roofing Solutions
Mitchell La'ulu Managing Director Impact Roofing Solutions impactroofingsolutions.co.nz
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