Guides
Flat roofing guides
Plain answers to the questions people ask before they replace or repair a flat roof: cost, systems, regulations, leaks and guarantees.
7 min read
How much does a flat roof cost in 2026?
Re-roofing a single garage on a sound deck typically costs £1,500–£2,600 in torch-on felt, £1,600–£2,800 in EPDM rubber or £1,800–£3,250 in GRP fibreglass…
7 min read
EPDM vs GRP vs torch-on felt: which flat roof should you choose?
There is no single best flat roof system: EPDM suits simple roofs and a long life, GRP suits walkable and detailed roofs, and torch-on felt offers the lowest…
6 min read
Should you repair or replace a flat roof?
Repair a flat roof when the problem is a single, isolated defect on a roof that is otherwise sound and dry; replace it when leaks keep returning, the covering…
6 min read
Can you overlay a flat roof, or should it be stripped?
You can overlay a flat roof only when the deck underneath is sound and dry, the existing covering is firmly bonded and compatible with the new system, and the…
7 min read
Warm, cold and inverted flat roofs: what is the difference?
The difference is where the insulation sits: above the deck and below the waterproofing in a warm roof, between or below the joists in a cold roof, and on top…
8 min read
Do you need building regulations approval for a flat roof?
Often, yes: replacing the covering on more than half of a flat roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, which brings insulation…
6 min read
How long does a flat roof last?
A well-specified, maintained flat roof typically lasts 15–25 years in modern torch-on felt, 20–40 years in GRP and 25–50 years in EPDM, with single-ply and…
7 min read
Ponding water on a flat roof: what causes it and how is it fixed?
Ponding water is rain that stays on a flat roof long after it should have drained, usually because the falls are too shallow, the deck has sagged or an outlet…
6 min read
Why is my flat roof leaking, and what should you do now?
Most flat roof leaks start at a junction rather than in the middle of the membrane: an upstand where the roof meets a wall, a lap joint, an outlet or an edge…
6 min read
Do you need planning permission for a flat roof?
Re-covering an existing flat roof on a house does not normally need planning permission, as long as the roof's appearance does not change materially. Planning…
6 min read
Flat roof guarantees explained: what is actually covered?
A flat roof can come with up to three different guarantees: a manufacturer's material guarantee, the contractor's workmanship guarantee and, sometimes, an…
6 min read
How do you maintain a flat roof without going on it?
Maintaining a flat roof mostly means looking at it twice a year and keeping the water moving off it: outlets, gutters and edges clear, moss and debris…
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