Felt and EPDM rubber flat roofing for extensions, bay tops, outbuildings and commercial roofs in Newmarket and the surrounding area. We assess, advise and carry out the work to a standard that keeps the building dry for years to come.
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Extensions, garage roofs, bay window tops and single-storey outbuildings almost all carry a flat or very shallow-pitched roof, and when the covering fails, water gets into the structure quickly. Unlike a pitched roof, there is no underlay doing a secondary job - the membrane itself is the only barrier between the building and the weather.
The good news is that a flat roof installed properly, with the right system for the situation, will perform reliably for many years. The problems that give flat roofs a bad reputation almost always trace back to an undersized specification, poor workmanship at the upstands and edges, or a system that has simply reached the end of its natural life and been patched rather than replaced.
There are several systems suited to domestic and light commercial flat roofs. The two we use most frequently are torch-on mineral felt and EPDM rubber membrane. Each has its place depending on the size of the roof, the budget, the detailing required and what sits underneath.
Torch-on felt is a bitumen-based system applied in layers using a gas torch. A proper built-up felt system uses a minimum of two layers - a base layer bonded to the deck and a mineral-surfaced cap sheet on top. The cap sheet reflects heat, protects the bitumen beneath and gives the roof its finished appearance. A correctly specified and installed torch-on felt roof typically performs well for fifteen to twenty-five years. The key word is correctly: single-layer felt stuck with cold adhesive, which is what a lot of older flat roofs carry, is a much shorter-lived product.
EPDM rubber membrane is a single-ply system that has become popular on domestic extensions and outbuildings. It is bonded to the deck in a single piece, which eliminates the seams that are a common failure point in felt systems. EPDM is flexible down to low temperatures, which makes it more resistant to frost cracking than felt. A well-installed EPDM roof can last forty years or more. The material cost is higher than basic felt, but the longevity and the low maintenance requirement make it cost-effective over time.
Whether we are replacing an existing flat roof or fitting one to a new extension, the process follows a clear sequence. The existing covering comes off first. We then inspect the deck - the board or concrete base the membrane sits on - and replace any sections that are wet, soft or delaminated. Laying a new membrane on a compromised deck is one of the most common reasons a flat roof fails prematurely, so this step matters.
The falls also need checking. A flat roof is never truly flat; it should have a minimum fall of 1:80 (just under one degree) to shed water to a drainage point. Many older roofs have no meaningful fall, which means water ponds and accelerates the breakdown of the membrane. Where the deck allows, we can introduce or improve the fall using tapered insulation boards before the membrane goes on.
The upstands - where the membrane turns up against a wall, parapet or window frame - and the edge trim are the areas most likely to cause problems. These details need to be dressed carefully and fixed securely. A membrane that is perfect across the field but poorly finished at the edges will leak at those edges within a few years.
Not every flat roof needs replacing. A localised blister, a failed edge trim, or a split upstand joint can often be repaired without disturbing the rest of the membrane. The key question is whether the failure is localised or whether the membrane as a whole is at the end of its life. If the surface is crazed, brittle or delaminating across a wide area, repair is a short-term answer to a whole-roof problem.
We will tell you honestly which situation you are in. If a repair will give you another five or more years of reliable service, that may well be the right choice. If the roof is likely to need replacement within a year or two regardless, spending money on patches is often false economy.
Flat roofing in Newmarket is typically priced per square metre. EPDM rubber membrane installation on a domestic extension commonly costs in the range of £70 to £120 per square metre, including deck preparation and edge trim. Torch-on felt replacement runs roughly £50 to £90 per square metre for a two-layer system. A typical single-garage flat roof might cost between £900 and £2,000 in total; a larger extension roof will cost more. These are indicative figures - the actual price depends on the deck condition, the detailing required and the access available.
We carry out flat roofing on commercial and light industrial buildings as well as domestic properties. The principles are the same, but the scale and the detailing around plant, rooflights and drainage outlets require more careful planning. If you manage a commercial property in or around Newmarket and the flat roof is causing problems, call us to arrange an inspection.
We work across Newmarket and the surrounding towns and villages including Moulton, Kentford, Fordham, Exning, Cheveley, Dullingham, Haverhill, Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds. If you are in the broader Suffolk-Cambridgeshire border area and need a flat roof assessed or replaced, get in touch and we will let you know if we can help.
The only way to price a flat roof accurately is to see it. Deck condition, falls, drainage and the condition of any upstands all affect the specification and the cost. Call us to arrange a visit and we will give you a clear picture of what the job involves and what it will cost before any commitment is made.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
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