Fakenham Roofers installs and repairs flat roofs for homeowners in East Dereham, using EPDM rubber and modern felt systems - and we believe looking after a roof after installation is just as important as getting the installation right.
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A flat roof covers a horizontal or near-horizontal surface - typically a single-storey rear extension, a garage, a bay window top, or a flat-roofed outbuilding. It relies on a continuous waterproof membrane to keep water out, unlike a pitched roof where water runs off quickly under gravity. Because water moves more slowly on a flat surface, the membrane, its edge details, and its drainage points all need to be in good order at all times.
The work of installing or replacing a flat roof involves stripping the old covering, inspecting the deck beneath for any rot or water damage, replacing any compromised boarding, and laying a new membrane with correctly formed upstands, flashings, and outlets. Getting each of those steps right matters - but so does what happens in the years that follow.
Old three-layer mineral felt was the standard for domestic flat roofs for decades. It had a practical lifespan of around ten to fifteen years before blistering, cracking, and allowing water in. Modern systems perform very differently. EPDM rubber membranes - single-ply sheets bonded to the deck - resist UV degradation, remain flexible through frost, and can stay watertight for thirty or more years when installed correctly and looked after. Modern torch-on polymer-modified felt is also significantly more durable than the old mineral felt, and suits certain roof sizes and shapes well.
Typical flat roof installation costs in Norfolk run from around £70 to £120 per square metre fully installed. A garage of around 15 square metres might be £1,100 to £1,800. A rear extension of 25 to 30 square metres is more typically £1,800 to £3,500. The final cost depends on the system, the condition of the existing deck, and how complex the edge and flashing details are.
Even a perfectly installed flat roof can fail prematurely if it is neglected. The most common causes of early flat roof failure are not poor installation - they are blockages, undetected punctures, and flashing failures that could have been caught and sorted cheaply if anyone had looked at the roof in the years between installation and the first visible leak inside the property.
A flat roof that is inspected once a year and kept clear of debris will outlast an identical roof that is ignored. This is not a sales pitch for maintenance contracts - it is just how waterproofing works. Small problems on a flat roof cost little to fix when caught early, and a great deal more when they have been letting water into the deck for two or three seasons.
Most of the routine checks on a flat roof do not require anyone to get on the roof itself. From ground level, or from an upstairs window if the roof is visible, look for the following:
After a period of heavy rain followed by a dry spell, check the ceiling below the flat roof carefully. A leak that appears only after prolonged rain may be from a small hole or gap that allows water to accumulate slowly before it finds its way through the deck. After a significant frost or a night of severe cold, it is worth looking at the upstands and flashings - thermal movement can open up small gaps that were not a problem before.
High winds can lift debris onto the roof, and occasionally move the membrane itself at edges that were not fully bonded. If a storm has passed through, a quick visual check from ground level is a worthwhile ten minutes.
The outlet - whether it is a central drain, a corner outlet, or an overflowing pipe to the gutter - needs to be clear at all times. Clearing it is a job most homeowners can do safely without going on the roof, if the outlet is accessible from a stable ladder at eaves level. Remove any leaf matter or debris by hand, rinse with water, and check that it drains freely. Do not use a pressure washer on the surface of the membrane itself - the force can lift bonded seams.
Any of the following should prompt a call to a qualified roofer rather than a DIY fix:
Flat roof repairs are almost always cheaper than waiting until the deck is wet. A split in an EPDM membrane caught early might be a straightforward patch repair. Left until water has saturated the boarding, the job becomes a partial or full strip and re-deck, which costs significantly more.
A professional inspection every two to three years is a reasonable interval for most domestic flat roofs in good condition. If the roof is older, or has had any previous repairs, annual checks make more sense. A roofer who inspects the roof should check the full surface, all upstand heights, flashing integrity, outlet condition, and the visible edge details - not just look from the ladder.
The homeowners who get the most from a flat roof are the ones who treat it like any other part of the building: they check it annually, clear it when needed, and call a roofer promptly when something looks wrong. A flat roof that is kept clear and inspected regularly will typically reach the upper end of its expected service life. One that is left alone until a wet ceiling appears is likely to need significantly more work by the time anyone looks at it.
We install and repair flat roofs for homeowners in East Dereham and the surrounding area, including Fakenham, Foulsham, and Beetley. We are happy to carry out a condition survey on an existing flat roof even if no leak has been reported yet - it is a practical way to understand what your roof needs before a problem develops. Call us to book a flat roof inspection and we will give you a plain-English assessment of what we find.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
