Reroofing the Christchurch Yacht Club: A ColorCote® community support project

The Christchurch Yacht Club has been an integral part of the local community and the wider sailing fraternity in New Zealand. Thousands have enjoyed its facilities and activities, and its illustrious calibre of past and present members includes New Zealand Olympic Medalists Peter Mander, Jack Cropp and Leslie Egnot.

The main clubhouse, originally built in 1938, was damaged in the Christchurch Earthquake, and as a result, the roof was in constant need of repair. In a fortunate turn of events, a promotion courtesy of The Breeze Canterbury radio station led to a replacement of the roof supplied by ColorCote®, free of charge. 

For Jasmin Pakura and the team at ColorCote®, the merit of the cause spoke for itself.

“Supporting this project was a no-brainer. The Christchurch Yacht Club has been a cherished part of Christchurch's history for over 130 years, and our support for this project not only helps preserve a historical building but also enhances a social space that has been enjoyed by generations.”

The project was also one that closely aligned with ColorCote’s® own core values, as Jasmin explains.

“ColorCote’s® core values are Service, Integrity, Courage, and Performance, and by supporting projects that benefit our communities, we’re not just saying we’re community-oriented, we’re walking the talk in our commitment to making better things happen for our people, customers, and community.”

As already mentioned, the clubhouse’s old corrugated iron roof was in a desperate state, with a modern solution required to ensure its future.

ColorCote’s® range of pre-painted steel and aluminium has been protecting New Zealand’s homes and buildings for over 40 years, making them the perfect solution for the job. The virtues of these options are many, but most importantly, ColorCote’s® quality substrate and paint systems have been specifically developed for challenging situations in New Zealand, like those in marine environments and coastal locations where corrosion is a real threat.  

Interestingly, Jasmin says there is often confusion amongst the wider public and their understanding of what coloured steel is, with many believing the steel itself is materially coloured.

“The truth is there’s no such thing as coloured steel; it’s all colour coated, and that’s what makes it stronger, longer-lasting, and better suited to protect the spaces we build our lives around.”

For this specific project, MagnaFlow™ was chosen for its extra anti-corrosive protection due to the site's coastal environment, an option Jasmin said was a natural choice.

“MagnaFlow™ is an ideal choice for more demanding environments, such as roofs 100m from the coastline. The magnesium in the aluminium/zinc/magnesium alloy coating ‘magically’ helps zinc flow over cut edges, sealing them and providing long-term protection against corrosion.”

The effort required quick execution by ColorCote® to ensure the roof coil was delivered on time, in full and in specification, and coordination with the installers, Graham Hill Roofing, who were remarkably able to turn the job around in a day.

The reroofing of the Christchurch Yacht Club was a tremendous success, with the clubhouse given a new lease of life. Planning for further development of the property and site is also underway, with this project providing pivotal momentum to help secure its future. 

Jasmin says the feeling on the day was one of joy and satisfaction, with people coming together to support a great cause. 

“This project really shone a light on how, when we pool our resources and expertise together, we can achieve something truly special. We all left the site that day with a real sense of satisfaction, knowing we did something great to help our Christchurch community.”

This project also represents an exciting period for ColorCote®, who are themselves going through a bold refresh of their brand under their new purpose ‘Steel Made Better’, something Jasmin speaks to passionately. 

“Steel Made Better is about celebrating our people and fostering an inclusive work environment, where we each feel proud to show up. It’s about building meaningful relationships with our customers so that they not only trust that we can deliver, but feel just as empowered through being a part of our journey as we do theirs.”

As part of this refresh, ColorCote® are completely revamping their website, which will offer an enhanced user experience that will make it easier for people to understand and find the best colour-coated steel and aluminium products for their projects. 

With this, and their continued support of community initiatives and the people within them, the future looks brighter for all.

ColorCote’s® new website will be revealed on the 26th of May, 2025.

Find out more about ColorCote® and their great range of products