Haverhill Roofers carries out flat roof replacements and repairs for homeowners in Linton, covering garages, extensions and dormers with EPDM rubber and felt systems.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
A flat roof on a garage, extension or dormer is one of the more straightforward roofing jobs to get quoted for, but also one of the easier jobs to get badly done. The materials are relatively low-cost, the work looks quick from ground level, and that combination attracts some poor-quality operators. This page is about what flat roofing actually involves, and how to tell a careful contractor from a careless one before any money changes hands.
We cover Linton and the surrounding villages from our base in Haverhill. If your flat roof is leaking, ponding water or showing cracked and blistered felt, we can assess what needs doing and give you a clear picture of your options.
Flat roofs are not truly flat - they should have a fall of at least 1:80 (roughly 1 centimetre of drop for every 80 centimetres of run) to allow rainwater to drain rather than sit. Many older roofs, particularly on 1960s and 1970s extensions, were laid with inadequate fall, and that pooling water is often the root cause of early failure.
When a flat roof is stripped back, the contractor needs to assess the decking underneath. Older roofs may have chipboard or timber boards that have absorbed moisture over the years. Replacing the membrane over wet or rotten decking simply traps the problem and guarantees early failure again. A good job always includes inspection and replacement of damaged decking before the new surface goes on.
The two main systems we use are traditional mineral felt and EPDM rubber. Felt is the more affordable option and works well on straightforward, accessible flat roofs when laid correctly in multiple layers. EPDM is a single-ply rubber membrane that is more resistant to UV degradation and thermal movement, and tends to last longer before requiring attention. We will explain the difference for your specific roof and let you weigh up the cost against the expected lifespan of each.
The questions you ask before agreeing to any work matter far more than the price on the quote. Here is what to ask, and what the answers should tell you.
A reputable contractor will strip the old felt back to the deck as standard. Some will re-cover over existing layers to save time - this hides any deck damage and adds weight to a structure that may already be under stress. If a quote does not explicitly mention stripping and deck inspection, ask why.
If the roof already pools water, simply relaying the same surface will not solve it. Ask whether the fall will be checked and, if necessary, whether tapered insulation or reboarding will be used to correct it. A contractor who cannot explain this clearly has probably not thought about it.
Where a flat roof meets a wall, the membrane must turn up and be secured - this upstand is typically at least 150 millimetres high. Lead or aluminium flashing then covers the top of the upstand and is tucked into the brickwork. Both elements need to be done properly or water will find its way in at the junction even if the field of the roof is sound. Ask specifically how the contractor handles wall junctions and what material they use for flashing.
The right answer names the product, explains its lifespan and suitability for your roof's size and shape, and is honest about the trade-offs. Vague answers about "high-quality materials" without specifics are a warning sign.
The quote should list stripping, disposal of old material, deck replacement if needed, the membrane system, flashings and any associated work such as repairing the fascia or replacing outlet pipes. If something is not on the quote, assume it will be charged as an extra or skipped.
Some companies quote the job and then pass it to whoever is available. There is nothing illegal about this, but it means the person you spoke to may never visit the site. Know who will actually be on your roof.
Flat roof replacement costs vary with roof size, access, deck condition and material choice. As a rough guide, a straightforward single-car garage roof of around 15-18 square metres might cost anywhere from £900 to £2,000 depending on the system used and any deck repairs needed. EPDM will typically sit at the higher end of that range versus felt. Be cautious of any quote that is substantially below others without a clear explanation of what has been omitted.
Three quotes is a sensible minimum. When comparing them, compare like for like: is each quote stripping back to the deck? Does each one include flashing replacement? If one quote is £400 cheaper but leaves the old felt in place, it is not the same job.
A contractor who cannot clearly explain what they are doing and why is one who may not know, or who is cutting corners they hope you will not notice.
Not every flat roof needs replacing. If the deck is sound and the membrane is mostly intact, a localised repair can be a perfectly good solution. A honest assessment will tell you whether the roof has useful life remaining or whether patching is simply delaying an inevitable replacement at greater overall cost. Ask the contractor to show you the specific area of failure and explain why they are recommending what they are recommending.
Alongside flat roofs, we carry out repairs to pitched roofs, replace slipped or broken tiles and slates, repoint and re-bed ridge tiles, and repair or replace lead flashing around chimneys and dormers. Storm damage to any part of a roof needs prompt attention before water finds its way into the structure.
We work across Linton, Haverhill and the surrounding area including Steeple Bumpstead, Sturmer, Saffron Walden and neighbouring villages. If you have a concern about any part of your roof, call us to arrange a survey so we can give you a straight assessment.
If you are unsure whether your flat roof needs a repair or a full replacement, call us and we will come out to take a look. We will tell you what we find, explain your options honestly, and give you a written quote so you can make a proper comparison. There is no obligation to proceed with us, and we would rather you made the right decision than the quick one.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
