Torch-on felt roofing in Ashford

Why choose torch-on felt roofing in Ashford?

On larger roofs in Ashford with poor falls, torch-on felt pairs well with tapered insulation, which builds the fall into the insulation boards. That deals with ponding properly while adding insulation, rather than patching the low spots and waiting for the next leak.

Ashford's flat roofs are mostly on 1930s semis with flat-roofed garages and kitchen extensions, with plenty on low-rise post-war blocks of flats too. Much of the South East sits in the drier Thames catchment at roughly 730 mm of rain a year, so the usual failures are at joints, upstands and outlets rather than from sheer volume of rain.

How much does a torch-on felt roof cost in Ashford?

For Ashford we use South East rates: £1,650–£2,900 is the guide for a typical 18 m² garage roof in torch-on felt, VAT included. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.

Is torch-on roofing safe, and what is the difference between two- and three-layer systems?

Yes, torch-on is safe when hot works are properly controlled, because most roof fires linked to torching start at hidden timber or debris near edges and upstands, not on the open roof. Our teams follow a hot-works routine on every job:

• check eaves, fascias, soffits and wall cavities for timber, nests and debris before lighting a torch;
• use a cold-applied or self-adhesive membrane, rather than a flame, at edges, against combustible materials and in tight details;
• keep fire extinguishers on the roof and the gas bottles secured and away from the work;
• stop torching well before the team leaves, then carry out a fire watch so smouldering is spotted while people are still on site.

As for layers, a two-layer system (underlay plus cap sheet) is common on domestic roofs such as garages and extensions. A three-layer system adds an intermediate sheet, giving more thickness and redundancy, and is often specified on larger, commercial and multi-occupied roofs. The right choice depends on the size and use of the roof and the system's requirements, so we set it out in the quote.

Near a boundary, the external fire performance of the tested build-up, such as a BROOF(t4) classification, can also matter, and we check it where it applies.

What's included?

• Hot-works checks and fire watch on every torch-on job
• Strip-off of the existing roof covering and removal of waste
• Deck inspection with replacement of damaged boards
• Two- or three-layer reinforced bitumen membrane with staggered laps

Building regulations in England

Replacing more than half of a flat roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so the roof is insulated to around 0.16 W/m²K where that's technically and economically feasible, and the work is notified to building control: the council or a registered building control approver, unless a registered competent person self-certifies it. A roof on a new extension is built to 0.15 W/m²K. Patch repairs, and most unheated detached garages, don't trigger the upgrade. Structural changes, or a new covering that adds 15% or more to the roof's weight, also need approval. More on the rules.

Which nearby areas do we also cover?

• Faversham · 12 mi
• Canterbury · 13 mi
• Folkestone · 13 mi
• Sittingbourne · 15 mi
• Whitstable · 16 mi
• Maidstone · 18 mi

Other flat roof work in Ashford

• Flat roof surveys and leak tracing
• EPDM rubber roofing
• Balconies and roof terraces
• Commercial flat roofing
• Single-ply membrane roofing
• Dormer roofs
• All services in Ashford