Seaside Design
Staying True to Historical Roots During a Reroof in Honolulu, Hawaii
by Camille Dodson, Editorial Assistant
Sometimes a reroofing project isn’t just about making an upgrade, it’s about preserving history. In Honolulu, Hawaii, a historic oceanfront residence on Kalakaua Avenue needed a reroof that honored its characteristic Honolulu’s English Tudor and French Norman cottage style. The approximately 2,400 sq.ft. roofing project involved replacing the home’s existing cedar shingles with new 16 inch cedar shingles, preserving the appearance integral to the property’s historic architecture.
Kokua Roofing in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, was the perfect team for this job. Founded and owned by Ron Lloyd, the incoming President of the Western States Roofing Contractors Association, Kokua Roofing specializes in residential roofing and projects that require hands-on, custom made craftsmanship. Where some roofing contractors might have seen a daunting job, Lloyd and his team saw an opportunity to help protect Hawaii’s architectural past.
Historic documentation describes this architectural movement as a relatively rare chapter in Honolulu residential design. The group identified in the historic record consists of 15 residences constructed between 1923 and 1932, characterized by romantic and highly stylized interpretations of English and French Norman architecture. Common features include asymmetrical massing, half-timber and stucco façades, casement windows, and dramatically pitched or shaped roofs. Some of these residences have already been destroyed or altered, making it even more important to replicate the look on this project.
That history made the roofing material more than an aesthetic decision, and the new roof needed to match the existing cedar shingles to satisfy historical requirements. Additionally, the roof had particularly steep roof forms, which is a defining characteristic of Honolulu’s Tudor and French Norman cottages. For Kokua Roofing, that meant one of the home’s most important architectural features was also one of the most technically demanding portions to restore.
The waterfront setting created another unusual layer of responsibility. With limited access and portions of the roof positioned directly along the ocean, Kokua Roofing identified debris containment as a critical project consideration. The crew needed to remove the existing roofing system and complete a labor-intensive installation while ensuring roofing debris did not enter the surrounding marine environment.
Luckily Kokua Roofing is considered one of the best roofing companies in Hawaii for a reason. To ensure that the roof would be thoroughly protected from the seaside climate conditions, Kokua Roofing chose to use TileSeal™ HT Underlayment from Westlake Royal Building Products™. The self adhered underlayment was easy to install, has a high slip resistance, and stands up well to the harsh costal climate. The underlayment was topped with 16-inch Blue Label Cedar Shingles and copper flashing that completely renewed the roofing system while maintaining the historic character expected of the property. Kokua Roofing has 40 years of experience installing this type of roofing product, and the project carries a five-year workmanship warranty.
For a historic residence, success is not simply measured by installing a new roof. The finished work must respect the design language that gives the property its identity. The result is a roof designed not to reinvent this distinctive oceanfront home, but to help preserve the architectural story it has carried for generations.
