Flat RoofingContractors

Repairs and surveys

Edge trims, outlets and drainage across Cornwall

If your flat roof in Cornwall has lifted trims, a rotting fascia, overflowing gutters or water that won't drain away, it's worth having the edges and drainage looked at before the problem reaches the inside of the building. We'll tell you whether a targeted repair will do, or whether the roof needs more.

Aluminium drip trim discharging into a new black gutter beside a roof outlet on a rubber flat roofComputer-generated example image
Guide price
£120–£360
Repair price
Confirmed once the leak or damage is found
Condition survey report
£150–£310
Coverage
England, Wales, Scotland, NI

Cornwall at a glance

Largest towns
Redruth, Falmouth, St Austell, Truro
Postcode areas
PL, TR
Building control
Cornwall Council
Neighbouring areas
Devon · Somerset · Bristol · Dorset
Guide price region
South West (+3% on West Midlands rates)

How much does a new roof edge or outlet cost in Cornwall?

Guide prices including VAT at South West rates. We confirm the price once we've traced the leak or seen the damage.

JobGuide price inc VAT
Outlet or drainage repair£120–£360
Localised patch repair£150–£520
Upstand or flashing repair£260–£670
Emergency temporary weatherproofing visit£190–£460
Condition survey and leak investigation£150–£310

Which flat roofs are common in Cornwall?

Flat roofs in Cornwall sit on bungalows with flat-roofed side extensions and dormers, 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches and shops with flat-roofed rear stores below flats. The South West averages roughly 1,260 mm of rain a year and many roofs face wind off the Atlantic, so we specify fixings and edge details for wind uplift as well as drainage. Approximate 1991–2020 regional averages based on Met Office data.

Building regulations in England

Replacing more than half of a roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so it is insulated to current standards and notified to building control. Renovated roofs over heated rooms are insulated to around 0.16 W/m²K where that's feasible, and new extension roofs are built to 0.15 W/m²K. In Cornwall the application goes to Cornwall Council. More on the rules.

Why does water sit on my flat roof?

Water sits on a flat roof because it can't drain off fast enough: the falls are too shallow, part of the roof slopes the wrong way, the deck has sagged between joists, or an outlet is blocked or set too high.

Current guidance on flat roof design (BS 6229) means most roofs need to achieve a finished fall of at least 1:80, and roofs are commonly designed with a steeper fall, such as 1:60, so that building tolerances and deck deflection still leave enough slope. Many older roofs were built with less, or have settled over time.

A small amount of water that clears within a day or two of rain is often tolerable. Deeper ponding that lingers adds weight, holds dirt and debris, can shorten the life of some coverings and turns any small defect into a leak. A patch won't fix it, because the problem is the shape of the roof. The fix is to correct the falls, either with firring pieces under a new deck or with tapered insulation in a warm roof, or to add or lower outlets so water has somewhere to go. Our ponding water guide explains this in more detail.

Should I fix the edges and drainage or replace the whole roof?

Fix the edges and drainage on their own if the covering is in good condition and the deck is sound. If the covering is near the end of its life or the falls need correcting across the whole roof, it is usually better value to do everything together as part of a replacement.

Trims and outlets are bonded into the waterproofing, so replacing them means cutting into the covering around the edge. On a roof with plenty of life left, that is a worthwhile repair. On an old, brittle covering, the new detail can end up stronger than the roof around it, and correcting falls means taking the covering off anyway. Our repair or replace guide sets out how to decide.

Which towns in Cornwall do we cover?

Edge trims, outlets and drainage in Cornwall: questions

Which towns in Cornwall do you cover?

All of Cornwall. The main towns have their own pages below, and if yours isn't listed we still cover it: send your postcode and we'll confirm.

How much does a new roof edge or outlet cost in Cornwall?

£120–£360 for an outlet or drainage repair, at South West guide rates including VAT. We confirm the price once we've traced the leak or seen the damage.

Which council handles building control for a flat roof in Cornwall?

It depends on where the roof is: in Cornwall that's Cornwall Council. Replacing more than half of a roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so it is insulated to current standards and notified to building control. We confirm which applies at the survey.

Can a flat roof be re-laid with better falls?

Yes, as part of a replacement. Falls are corrected with tapered firring pieces under a new deck or with tapered insulation in a warm roof build-up.

Do new trims need building regulations approval?

Not usually on their own. Approval only becomes a question if the work is part of a larger re-roofing job or alters the structure.

Why is my fascia rotting under a flat roof?

Usually because water is getting behind a loose or badly lapped trim, or running back under the edge because there is no proper drip. The fascia and deck edge are replaced and new trims are fitted to stop it happening again.

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