Flat roofs need the right materials and proper detailing to perform well. We repair and replace felt and EPDM rubber flat roofs on extensions, outbuildings and commercial properties across North Walsham and the surrounding villages.
Photo from one of our recent jobs
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
Flat roofs are common on rear extensions, garages, outbuildings, porches and some older commercial buildings. When they start leaking or blistering, the problem rarely fixes itself. Water finds the smallest gap in a failed seam or cracked felt, works its way under the deck and into the structure below before you notice any staining inside.
We carry out flat roof repairs and full replacements using modern felt systems and EPDM rubber membranes. Whether the job is a small garage roof in North Walsham town centre or a large extension roof on a rural property outside Stalham or Worstead, the approach is the same: strip back to the deck, assess what is underneath, and lay a system that will actually last.
A flat roof is not truly flat - it needs a fall, typically around 1 in 80, so water drains to the outlet rather than pooling. Pooling is one of the most common causes of premature failure, because standing water accelerates the breakdown of felt and puts pressure on seams and flashings. When we assess a flat roof, we check the fall first.
The deck underneath matters as much as the membrane on top. Older roofs are often laid over timber boards or chipboard that has absorbed moisture over years. Wet or soft boards need replacing before any new covering goes on - laying new felt over a rotten deck is a waste of money. We inspect the deck when we strip off the old covering and replace any sections that have deteriorated.
For the new covering, we use:
Flashings - the metal or lead detailing where the flat roof meets a wall, parapet or upstand - are a frequent failure point. We dress these properly as part of every job. A new membrane with poorly fitted flashings will still leak.
Wind affects flat roofs more than pitched ones - membrane edges and flashings take more stress, and any poorly secured detail is the first thing to lift or pull away. On exposed sites, fixing centres and edge details need to account for uplift forces.
Older properties - including post-war housing and bungalows - often have flat roofs on extensions that were built with single-layer mineral felt as standard. That felt typically has a lifespan of ten to fifteen years. Many of these roofs are well past that age and are either already leaking or close to it.
Agricultural and rural properties sometimes have large flat or low-pitch outbuilding roofs that have been patched repeatedly. At some point patching stops being cost-effective and a full strip and relay is the better call. We can advise on which side of that line a roof sits when we look at it.
Not every flat roof problem needs a full replacement. Small splits, failed seams or isolated blisters can sometimes be repaired if the rest of the membrane is in reasonable condition and the deck is sound. A repair is always worth considering if the roof is relatively young and the damage is localised.
If the membrane is cracked across a wide area, the felt has reached the end of its serviceable life, or there is significant deck damage, a full strip and re-cover is usually the more economical choice over a two-to-three-year horizon. Repeated patch repairs on a roof that needs replacing tend to cost more in total than doing the job properly once.
If you are unsure whether a roofer covers your village, ask before you book.
Flat roof costs in North Walsham depend on the size of the roof, the system chosen and the condition of the existing deck. As a general guide, EPDM rubber and torch-on felt installations typically range from around £70 to £120 per square metre for supply and installation, with small garage roofs often falling in the £800 to £2,000 range and larger extension roofs running higher. Deck replacement adds to that figure if the boards are damaged. We will give you a clear price once we have seen the roof.
Call us to arrange a flat roof survey in North Walsham or the surrounding villages - we will tell you honestly what the roof needs and what it will cost.
No obligation · We'll call you to arrange a free visit
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
A new roof is one of the most significant investments you can make in your home. We install new roofs on houses, bungalo
Active leak, storm damage, slipped tiles or a lifted ridge tile needs attention before the damage spreads. If you need a
A failing or ageing roof can cause serious damage to your home if left too long. We carry out full roof replacements and
Cracked tiles, leaking flashings, failed pointing - roof problems don't improve on their own. We carry out roof repairs
