Flat RoofingContractors

Repairs and surveys

Edge trims, outlets and drainage across Norfolk

If your flat roof in Norfolk 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
£130–£370
Repair price
Confirmed once the leak or damage is found
Condition survey report
£160–£320
Coverage
England, Wales, Scotland, NI

Norfolk at a glance

Largest towns
Norwich, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn, Thetford
Postcode areas
IP, NR, PE
Building control
Norwich City Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk and 1 other council
Neighbouring areas
Suffolk · Cambridgeshire · Essex · Lincolnshire
Guide price region
East of England (+5% on West Midlands rates)

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

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

JobGuide price inc VAT
Outlet or drainage repair£130–£370
Localised patch repair£160–£530
Upstand or flashing repair£260–£680
Emergency temporary weatherproofing visit£190–£470
Condition survey and leak investigation£160–£320

Which flat roofs are common in Norfolk?

Flat roofs in Norfolk sit on lock-up garage blocks on estates, newer estates where the first extension roofs are now being replaced and low-rise post-war blocks of flats. The East of England is the driest part of Britain, with parts of the Anglian region around 630 mm a year, so summer heat and UV, not rainfall, do most of the ageing on a felt roof. 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 Norfolk the application goes to Norwich City Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk and 1 other 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.

Do flat roofs need overflows?

Roofs that drain to internal outlets or behind parapets should normally have an overflow, so that if an outlet blocks, water spills somewhere visible instead of rising over the upstands and into the building.

An overflow is usually a spout or weir set through the parapet or kerb at a level below the top of the upstands. When water runs from it, that is a sign the main outlet is blocked or overloaded. On a simple roof that drains over a drip trim into an external gutter, the open edge itself does the same job.

We look at where the water goes in heavy rain, how many outlets the roof has for its size, and whether the outlets, hoppers and downpipes are clear and properly connected. Leaf guards on outlets help on roofs near trees, as long as they are cleared regularly.

Which towns in Norfolk do we cover?

Edge trims, outlets and drainage in Norfolk: questions

Which towns in Norfolk do you cover?

All of Norfolk. 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 Norfolk?

£130–£370 for an outlet or drainage repair, at East of England 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 Norfolk?

It depends on where the roof is: in Norfolk that's Norwich City Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk and 1 other 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.

What's the difference between a drip trim and an edge trim?

An edge trim finishes the edge of the roof and holds the waterproofing down. A drip trim has a profile that throws water clear into the gutter. On many roofs a single trim does both jobs.

Is some standing water on a flat roof normal?

A thin film that clears within a day or two of rain is common and usually harmless. Deeper water that lingers for days points to poor falls, a sagging deck or a blocked outlet and should be looked at.

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.

Everything about edge trims, outlets and drainage → · All flat roofing in Norfolk →

Get a fixed price for your flat roof

Free survey and a written fixed quote for replacement and new roofs. No obligation.

Call usGet a guide price