Flat Roof Installation and Repairs Service in Norwich and Norfolk

We cover all aspects of repair, refurbishment, or construction of flat roofs. This includes timber joists, plywood decking, insulation, fascias, soffits and guttering, and various waterproofing systems.

Whether you're a domestic or commercial customer, we are able to carry out flat roof installation and repairs to the highest standard, at affordable prices and with quality guaranteed.

If you are considering a replacement flat roof or in urgent need of a flat roof repair, contact our team of certified installers today!

A guide to flat roofs

Flat roof materials

The three most common flat roof coverings are traditional felt, glass reinforced plastic (GRP, or fibreglass) and EPDM rubber. Felt is built up in layers and bonded or torched on. GRP is laid as a liquid resin over matting and sets hard. EPDM is a single sheet of synthetic rubber bonded to the deck. As certified Firestone installers, we specialise in EPDM.

Why EPDM rubber

Because a domestic flat roof can usually be covered with a single sheet, an EPDM roof has few or no joints, which is where flat roofs most often fail. The rubber stays flexible in summer heat and winter frost, does not crack with age the way felt can, and is bonded with adhesive rather than a naked flame. EPDM is also made in large sheets, so it suits larger commercial roofs as well as garages and extensions.

What a flat roof replacement involves

• The old covering is stripped and the deck underneath checked.
• Rotten decking or joists are replaced, and insulation added where it is needed.
• New edge trims and upstands are fitted.
• The EPDM membrane is bonded to the deck and finished at the edges, outlets and walls.
• Fascias, soffits and guttering are renewed if they need it, so the water leaves the roof properly.

Falls and drainage

A flat roof is never completely flat: it needs a fall so that rain runs off to a gutter or an outlet. Water that sits on a roof for days after rain, known as ponding, usually means the fall or the deck needs correcting, and it shortens the life of any covering.

Insulation and the Building Regulations

Replacing a flat roof is a good time to improve its insulation, and when most of a roof is renewed the Building Regulations can require it. A well insulated flat roof keeps the room below warmer in winter and cooler in summer. We can advise on what your roof needs with your quotation.

EPDM, GRP and felt compared

As certified Firestone installers, we specialise in EPDM rubber.

Warm roofs and cold roofs

In a warm roof the insulation sits above the deck, under the waterproof covering, so the timbers stay at the temperature of the room below and no ventilation gap is needed. In a cold roof the insulation sits between the joists under the deck, and the space above it must be ventilated to stop condensation. Most replacement flat roofs today are built as warm roofs, which also helps meet the Building Regulations when a roof is renewed.

Garage roof replacement

Garage roofs are often the oldest flat roofs on a property, and many are still felt that has blistered, split or started to let water in. A garage roof can be stripped, the deck checked or replaced, and recovered in EPDM rubber with new edge trims. Some older garages have corrugated roof sheets that may contain asbestos, which must be identified and dealt with correctly before any work starts.

Rooflights and roof lanterns

Rooflights and roof lanterns bring daylight into extensions and garden rooms. The weak point is where they meet the roof: the upstand around the frame. An EPDM membrane is dressed up and around the upstand and sealed under the frame, so the junction stays watertight.

What affects the cost of a flat roof

• The size of the roof and how easy it is to reach
• The state of the deck and joists underneath, and whether any need replacing
• Whether insulation is added to turn it into a warm roof
• The number of upstands, rooflights, outlets and edges to detail
• Whether fascias, soffits and guttering are renewed at the same time

Every quotation from DH Roofing Contractors is free and comes with no obligation.