If your roof is acting up here on the Kona side, this page covers the services we offer and the most common issues we see. We’re Lava Roofing. A licensed Roofing contractor on the Big Island. We’ve been doing kona roofing services for over 25 years.
Below you’ll find every service we offer in Kona. New installs, reroofs, repairs, coatings, waterproofing, and solar. We service the entire west side of the Big Island, from Kailua-Kona up to Holualoa, down to Captain Cook and Honaunau, and out along the Kohala Coast.
Kona Roofing Services Built For Big Island Weather
Kona side weather is unique to this part of the island. We don’t get the heavy rain Hilo gets. The Kona side gets intense sun year-round. UV that bakes shingles dry. Low humidity that makes wood crack. And then there’s vog. Volcanic gas drifting over from Kilauea. It corrodes metal faster than salt does.
The roofing services in Kona that Big Island homes need is one that handles all of that. Mainland roofers come in and use the wrong materials. Then five years later the homeowner is calling us to redo the whole thing. We see this often on vacation rentals where the prior owner went with the cheapest bid.
Our crews live here. Our crews drive these roads. Holualoa gets the worst vog when the trades stop blowing. The slopes above Kailua-Kona get gusts that flat-roof crews dont plan for.
Roof Inspection Kona
We do roof inspections all over the Kona side, from Keauhou up toward Waimea and down through Captain Cook into South Kona. Most homeowners call us after they see a stain on the ceiling or after a Kona storm comes through. But the inspections that find the most problems are the ones done before anything goes wrong. UV is relentless on the west side. Shingles crack and lose their granules faster here then in most places on the mainland. Vog from Kilauea also corrodes metal faster then salt air alone, so metal roofs at lower elevations need extra attention.
Our inspection covers the field of the roof, all the flashing, the ridge cap, every penetration, the gutters, and the attic if we can access it. We look for soft spots, lifted edges, and anything the vog or sun has started working on. We take photos and walk you through what we found. No pressure to sign anything. Free roof inspection with any estimate request. Most take about 45 minutes on a standard single-family home.
Roof Installation Kona
New roof installation on the Kona side covers new builds, additions, and full tear-offs where the existing roof is to far gone to save. We work across the west side, from new construction up in Holualoa and Kealakekua to oceanfront homes near Honokohau. Material selection matters here. Vog from the active volcano corrodes certain metals faster then others, and salt air off Kona Bay works on coatings differently then it does on the rain side of the island. We help you pick whats right for your elevation and your exposure.
Every install starts with tear-off and sheathing inspection. We replace any decking thats soft or rotted before we put a single layer of underlayment down. We install the new roof system, flash every penetration and valley, and clean up the site after. We pull Hawaii County permits when required. Most single-family homes are done in 3 to 5 days. Free written estimate before any work starts.
Roof Repair Kona
Roof repair calls on the Kona side usually come down to wind damage, old flashing failing around a pipe collar or skylight, or a slow leak the homeowner has been chasing for a while. Kona storms – those southerly low-pressure systems that roll up from below – can rip up shingles and lift flashing in spots that looked fine the week before. UV damage is also a constant. Shingles that hold up 25 years in a rainy climate might be showing real age at 15 years out here because the sun never lets up.
We repair all roof types. Asphalt shingles, metal, tile, torch-down, composite. Whatever you have, we’ve worked on it on this side of the island. We match materials as close as we can on partial repairs. Sometimes that means ordering something specific, but we’d rather wait a day then leave you with a patchwork roof that stands out. Free estimate on repairs. No diagnostic fee.
Attic Venting Kona
Attic venting gets overlooked until it becomes a real problem. On the Kona side, heat is the issue more then moisture. The sun bears down hard on west-facing roofs from late morning through evening. Without adequate venting that heat has nowhere to go. Attic temps can hit 150 to 160 degrees on a calm sunny afternoon. That kind of heat bakes the underside of your roof deck and shortens the life of whatever roofing material is on top.
Good attic venting creates a flow. Cool air comes in low through soffit vents and hot air exits at the ridge. The system only works if both sides are clear and sized right for the attic space. A lot of homes we look at in upper Kailua-Kona and Holualoa have one or the other blocked, which defeats the whole setup. We assess what you have and tell you what would actually help before recommending any work.
Attic Venting Installation Kona
We install attic venting systems on both new builds and existing homes all over the Kona area. The most common setup is ridge vent at the peak combined with continuous soffit vents along the eaves. This passive system works year-round without moving parts or power. On homes where a continuous ridge vent isn’t practical we use box vents or powered attic ventilators depending on the situation and the attic size.
Installation usually takes a day on most single-family homes. We cut in the soffit vents, install ridge vent, and make sure the insulation isn’t blocking the airflow path inside the attic. We’ve seen plenty of houses where a previous owner added insulation and just pushed it right over the soffit openings. Easy fix, makes a real difference. If you notice your AC running harder during the day or your upstairs rooms staying warm even at night, attic venting is worth checking into.
Attic Venting Repairs Kona
Attic vent repairs usually come up in two situations. Either the vents are damaged from wind or a past roof repair that covered them over, or critters have gotten in and made a mess of things. Mongoose, rats, and small birds all find attic vents to be convenient entry points if the screens are missing or rotted out. We’ve opened up attics in Holualoa and Captain Cook and found situations that had been going on for a long time without the homeowner knowing anything about it.
We repair or replace damaged vent covers, re-screen open vents, and clear any blockages. If a previous roofer sealed over a vent by mistake during a repair we find it and fix it. Good airflow through your attic is worth protecting. A blocked vent is basically the same as having no vent at all, and in Kona’s heat that adds up fast. We check the whole system while we’re up there so you’re not paying for us to come back again next season.
Gutter Cleaning Kona
Gutters on the Kona side fill up faster then most homeowners expect. Dry season brings wind that pushes dust, palm fronds, and debris from the surrounding vegetation into every horizontal surface. Even on the west side where it doesn’t rain like Hilo does, when a Kona storm comes through, clogged gutters back up fast and water ends up going places it shouldn’t. We’ve seen fascia boards rotting out from water that had nowhere to go because the gutters were packed solid.
We clean gutters on single-family homes and commercial buildings all over Kona and South Kona. We flush downspouts, clear the outlets, and check for any sections pulling away from the fascia. Its a quick job when we’re already on the roof. If we spot something that needs a repair while we’re up there, we’ll tell you. No surprise charges. Straightforward pricing based on lineal footage and what we find.
Gutter Installation Kona
Gutter installation on the Kona side gets interesting because of the elevation changes and the variety of roof styles out here. Homes up in Holualoa or along the mountain slopes deal with different drainage patterns then the flat or low-slope commercial roofs closer to Alii Drive. We install seamless aluminum gutters on most residential jobs. Seamless means fewer joints and fewer places to develop leaks over time. For oceanfront properties and high-salt-exposure locations we offer copper or coated steel options that hold up better against corrosion.
We size downspouts based on your roof area and local rainfall patterns. A lot of contractors undersize downspouts on the Kona side because it’s dry most of the year, but when a storm comes undersized downspouts overflow immediately and that defeats the purpose. We’d rather put in the right size the first time then have you calling us after the next storm. We install gutter guards on request if you want to cut down on cleaning frequency. Free estimate with layout plan before we start.
Gutter Repairs Kona
The most common gutter repair calls we get on the Kona side are sagging sections that have pulled away from the fascia, leaky joints, and downspouts that have come loose or gotten blocked from the inside. Salt air near the coast corrodes aluminum faster then inland properties, so older gutters in lower Kailua-Kona sometimes need more then a simple reattachment. We tell you honestly if its worth repairing or if replacement makes more sense for whats there.
We also handle gutter repairs after wind events. A good Kona storm can rip an entire gutter run loose if the hangers were spaced to far apart or had started to rust out. We carry aluminum, copper, and steel materials and can usually match your existing profile close enough that the repair doesn’t stand out. Quick turnaround on most repair jobs. Send us a photo if you can see the problem from the ground and we can usually give you a rough estimate before we even schedule the visit.
Roof Damage Repair Kona
Roof damage on the Kona side comes from a few sources we see over and over. Wind is the big one. Kona storms don’t come every year but when they do they can strip shingles, crack tiles, and pull up flashing in sections that looked solid before. UV degradation is the slow creep – shingles that lose their granule coating turn brittle and start to crack, especially on west-facing planes that get full afternoon sun all year. And sometimes we see impact damage from falling palm fronds, coconuts, or lava rock working loose on the upper slopes.
We handle insurance claims on Kona side roof damage. We’ve done enough storm work out here to know what adjusters look for, how to document it right, and how to write a scope that gets you a fair settlement. If you’ve already got an adjuster estimate and want a second opinion from someone who knows Big Island construction costs, we’ll review it with you. No charge for that. Call us after any storm event and we’ll get eyes on your roof before you file anything.
Roof Repair for Storm & Wind Damage Kona
Storm and wind damage repair is different then regular repair because timing and documentation both matter. When a named storm or a significant Kona low comes through, we prioritize emergency calls to get tarps down and stop active water intrusion first. Then we move to the permanent repair. We know the west side well enough to tell the difference between fresh storm damage and old wear the homeowner is trying to attribute to a storm. That matters a lot for insurance purposes.
We photograph everything before we touch it. We document the damage with date-stamped photos, write a scope of work, and provide the paperwork in the format most insurance carriers want. We work directly with adjusters when needed. If your insurance company is slow or disputing the scope, we’ve been through that process enough times to help you move it forward. Storm damage repairs on asphalt, metal, tile, torch-down, and composite roofs – we do them all across the Kona side.
Skylight Installation Kona
Skylights are common in Kona homes. The natural light on the west side is incredible, and a well-placed skylight in a kitchen, hallway, or bedroom makes a big difference in how a space feels. The key is getting the waterproofing right during installation. A skylight that leaks doesn’t announce itself right away. Water can track along a rafter for several feet before it shows up on your ceiling, and by that time the decking around the curb is usually already soft.
We install fixed skylights, vented skylights, and solar tube light kits. We use flashing kits from the skylight manufacturer rather then improvising with standard step flashing, because the factory kit is engineered for that specific curb size and pitch range. We properly integrate the pan, step flashing, and counter-flashing with your existing roof material so the waterproofing holds for the life of the unit. We’ve fixed plenty of skylights installed by other contractors and we know exactly what goes wrong. We’d rather do it right the first time.
Skylight Repair Kona
Skylight repairs on the Kona side are usually one of three things. The plastic or acrylic dome has yellowed and cracked from UV – Kona’s sun is hard on anything plastic and 15 years is about the life expectancy before you start seeing crazing and cracking on older domes. The flashing around the frame has lifted or corroded, usually because whoever installed it used the wrong fasteners or skipped the step flashing entirely. Or the seal between the frame and the curb has failed and water is tracking in around the perimeter.
We figure out which problem you have before we quote anything. Sometimes a re-seal and reflash is all it takes. Sometimes the dome itself needs to come out and be replaced. We stock common dome sizes and can usually complete a repair in a single visit. If the curb or the decking around the curb is rotted from a long-term slow leak that adds to the scope, but we’ll tell you exactly whats needed and why before we start cutting anything open.
Roof Replacement Kona
A full roof replacement is the right call when repairs stop making sense. We’ve seen 18-year-old asphalt roofs on the Kona side that were just done. Granules gone, underlayment compromised, leaks coming back in different spots every few months. We see that more on the west side then most people expect because the UV here is more relentless then in wetter climates where clouds give the roof some natural protection. If you’re getting recurring leaks in multiple locations its usually time for a replacement, not another repair.
We do full tear-offs, not overs. Some contractors will lay a second layer of shingles over your existing roof because its faster and cheaper upfront. We don’t do that. A second layer traps heat, adds weight, and hides whatever problems the first layer had. When we tear off, we inspect the deck, replace anything soft or damaged, and start clean. We install with hurricane-rated fastener patterns because Kona storms are real and we want your roof to still be there 25 years from now. Free estimate with material options and written scope.
Roof Leak Repair Kona
Roof leaks on the Kona side are tricky because the source is almost never directly above where the water shows up inside. Water follows rafters, runs along vapor barriers, and can travel 8 to 10 feet from the actual entry point before it drips on your ceiling. We spend the time to trace the leak back to its source rather then just treating the area thats wet. The most common culprits on Kona homes are pipe collars that have dried out and cracked, step flashing that has lifted around a chimney or skylight curb, and ridge caps that have lost their seal.
We handle emergency leak calls on the Kona side. If you’ve got active water intrusion during or after a storm, call us and we’ll get there to tarp the area and stop the damage while we work out the permanent fix. Tarping prevents mold and secondary damage. We charge for the tarp service but there’s no diagnostic fee for finding the leak. We’d rather spend time finding it right then giving you a repair that doesn’t hold through the next storm.
Roof Waterproofing Kona
Flat and low-slope roofs are common on the Kona side. Resort condos in Keauhou, commercial buildings along Alii Drive, industrial buildings out near Keahole. These roofs need dedicated waterproofing systems, not just shingles or tile. We work with torch-down modified bitumen, TPO membrane, and fluid-applied waterproofing systems. The right choice depends on your existing substrate, the slope, any penetrations through the deck, and whether the roof gets foot traffic.
We also waterproof residential roofs that have flat sections, covered decks over living space, and parapet walls where water can pool against the cap flashing. Kona doesn’t get daily rain but when a storm does come through, a flat roof with compromised waterproofing shows its problems fast. We’ve done waterproofing restores on roofs that were a few years from failing and bought them another 15 to 20 years. Inspection is free. We’ll tell you honestly if the membrane can be recoated or if it needs to come off and be redone from scratch.
Roof Coating Kona
Roof coating on the Kona side does two things. It extends the life of the roofing material underneath, and it reflects heat. The reflective part matters a lot here. Kona gets some of the most intense UV in the state. A dark roof on the west side absorbs that heat all day and radiates it into the attic and living space well into the evening. Cool roof coatings – the white and light gray elastomeric types – can drop attic temps noticeably and take real load off your AC system over time.
We apply coatings to metal roofs, torch-down, TPO, built-up roofing, and some tile systems. The process starts with a pressure wash and surface prep. Any cracked seams or lifted areas get treated before the coating goes down. We apply in two coats minimum and give the seams and penetrations extra attention since thats where failures start. Most coatings we use carry a 10-year performance warranty when applied to spec. Coating is a fraction of the cost of replacement and it buys you years when the underlying roof is still structurally sound.
Residential Roof Replacement Kona
We do residential roof replacements all over the Kona side – Kailua-Kona, Keauhou, Holualoa, Captain Cook, Kealakekua, and the smaller neighborhoods through South Kona. Most of the homes we replace out here are asphalt shingle roofs from the late 90s and early 2000s that went up during the building booms on the west side. They’re not failing dramatically, they’re just done. Granules are off, tabs are curling, and every little rain event finds a new spot to come in.
We offer asphalt architectural shingles, metal standing seam, corrugated metal, and composite options for residential replacements. We match the new roof to what makes sense for your home style and your budget. We handle the permit, the tear-off, the disposal, and the installation. Any fascia or soffit repair we find during tear-off gets handled at the same time since we’re already up there. Free written estimate with specific material pricing. Most residential jobs on the Kona side get scheduled within 2 to 3 weeks of signing.
Commercial Roof Replacement Kona
Commercial roof replacement on the Kona side covers a wide range of building types. Flat-roof commercial buildings near the industrial park out by Keahole. Resort condos and vacation rental properties in Keauhou. Retail buildings in Kailua-Kona. Office complexes off Palani Road. Each of these has different requirements, different systems, and different scheduling needs based on what the building is used for. A restaurant can’t shut down for a week the same way a vacant commercial space can. We work around your operations and stage the work to minimize downtime where possible.
We install TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, and metal systems on commercial roofs. For large flat roofs, TPO is usually the best value – single-ply membrane with good UV resistance and heat-welded seams that hold up under the west side sun. We scope the full project including drain locations, penetrations, parapet walls, and any mechanical equipment sitting on the roof. We provide a written proposal with material specs, a project timeline, and warranty details before any commitment is made. We’re fully licensed and carry the commercial liability coverage required for Hawaii County commercial permits.
Solar Roofing Kona
Solar roofing systems are a natural fit for the Kona side. The west side gets more direct sun hours then almost anywhere else in the state, and energy costs in Hawaii are among the highest in the country. We install integrated solar roofing systems where the solar technology is built into the roofing material itself, rather then racked panels sitting above a separate roof layer. These systems look cleaner, perform well in high-wind environments, and eliminate the gap under panel racks where debris and moisture accumulate. They’re popular on new builds and premium home renovations where appearance matters.
We handle the full install from roof assessment through final integration and coordination with HECO for interconnection. We check the structural adequacy of your rafters and decking before any equipment goes up. We coordinate the electrical rough-in and permitting with our licensed electrical partner and handle the roofing integration so there are no warranty gaps between the roofing system and the solar components. If you’re building new or planning a full roof replacement anyway, combining roofing and solar into one project saves money and avoids the coordination problems that come with two separate contractors.
Solar Panel Installation Kona
Solar panel installation on roofs is something we handle as part of the roofing scope, not as a separate electrical project. The roof penetrations, flashing, and structural loading all fall under roofing responsibility, and when a roofing contractor handles that part the roof warranty stays intact. We assess the roof before any mounting hardware goes in – checking the condition of the decking, the rafter spacing, and any existing penetrations that could complicate the layout. A roof thats going to need replacement in 5 years shouldn’t have $40,000 in solar bolted to it.
We install mounting systems and flashings for standard rack-mounted panels across the Kona side. We work with your solar electrical contractor or can refer you to one we’ve worked with before on the west side. The mounting and waterproofing is our scope, the wiring and inverters are theirs. That division keeps both warranties clean and makes inspections go smoother. Kona’s sun exposure makes solar one of the best investments you can make out here, and getting the roof side done right from the start is what makes the whole system hold up long term.
25+ years on the islands.
Licensed (CT-39063). Insured. Local crews. Free written estimates everywhere from Kailua-Kona to the Kohala Coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a new roof cost in Kona?
A typical 2,000 sq ft single-story home runs $20,000 to $38,000, depending on materials, pitch, and any existing roof damage we find during tear-off. We provide free written estimates so you get an actual number for your house, not a range.
How long does a roof last on the Kona side?
Asphalt shingle: 18 to 25 years if installed right, less if vog gets to it. Metal (aluminum or coated steel): 40 to 50+ years. Tile or composite: 40+ years. Flat roofs with a fresh coating: 10 to 15 more years per recoat. Salt and vog can shave a few years off whatever the manufacturer rates the material for.
Do you do emergency roof repair in Kailua-Kona?
Yes. We do same-day tarping across the west side of the Big Island when crews are available. Call (808) 746-2314 right after a storm hits. The faster we get a tarp up, the less interior damage you’re dealing with.
Should I repair or replace my roof?
If less than 25% of the roof is damaged and its under 15 years old, repair is usually the right call. If it’s older than that, or the leaks keep coming back in different spots, your at the end of its service life and reroofing makes more sense. We’ll tell you straight which option fits your situation.
Do you do solar panel installation too?
Yes. We’re a solar energy contractor and a roofing contractor. The advantage is we coordinate both. If your roof needs replacing in the next 5 years, we’ll recommend doing that first, then solar. It saves you the cost of removing and reinstalling panels later.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Hawaii contractors license CT-39063, fully insured. Every kona roofing services job we do is backed by both. We can send you proof before any work starts.
