For homes and buildings with a flat roof, you might be concerned about how you will replace this type of roof in the future. Our team of roofers in Buckinghamshire and South London are highly experienced at flat roof replacement and will be here to guide you through the process from start to finish. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about flat roof options and materials to support this process.
1. How to Locate Damage to a Flat Roof First step is to locate where the roof damage has originated from. For example, if you have a leak then determine how far the leak is from the 2 closest walls. Finding damaged areas on a flat roof can be tricky because the water tends to drip some distance before you see it. It's best to wait at least 72 hours from when the leak has dried up, preferably in the evening. Temperatures drop at night, so heat will be released from underneath your flat roofing meaning that it will gently steam. To get an estimation of where leaks stem from, go inside your home. Find spots that look wet or discoloured from water damage, then use a tape measure to determine their relative positioning under the roof. In particular, look for any low spots with rings of dirt, which indicate pooling water was there before. 2. How to Temporarily Fix a Leaking Flat Roof Putting in a temporary fix is great if you need to buy yourself some time, you can use this time to pack away any possessions to keep them from getting damaged. The best way to do this for a leaking flat roof is to use waterproof paint to seal over the area. It's best to check that there are not other areas contributing to the leak, otherwise this method will be pretty useless and make things more complicated for you in the future. 3. How to Properly Fix a Flat Roof You should not attempt to climb up or out onto your own flat roof. This is incredibly dangerous and is a reason for why we exist! We highly recommend calling our roofing specialist team to come and investigate any slope areas, punctures, tears or cracks. Based on the type of damage, we will look to either seal cracks or holes, apply roof patches, reseal the roof or replace it completely (depending on the level of damage). 4. Different Ways to Repair a Flat Roof The most common types of flat roofing we see are; Fibreglass (GRP), Rubber, Felt and Concrete. Felt being the most popular in the UK. Felt is great for roofing as it's cost effective and easy to install. That being said, it has a high risk of damage and especially leaks. In terms of repairing a felt roof, it depends on the type you have and what the damage is. It's common to see split felt, lifting joints, impact damage, broken flashings or fissures in the surface. As it is a cheap roofing material, it's best to replace the entire roof. This will save you money in the long run, otherwise it's very likely you will have to constantly repair it over time. The best way to repair a felt roof leak is to use acrylic-based waterproofing paint. This is a really effective method and works well on split felt and lifting joints. However, if your flashing is retreating then we would recommend redressing it to restore the waterproof seal. Long-term we would recommend using a patch of torch-on roofing felt, or adding an additional layer to your felt roof. This is something our experienced team would take care of as it can be highly dangerous due to hot flames. 5. How Much Does it Cost to Repair a Flat Roof Leak? The exact cost of repairing a leaking flat roof will depend on the size of the problem. If you’re looking to undertake a full flat roof replacement to repair the leak, that could cost you anywhere from £200 to over £1000 depending on the size of your roof. Need your flat roof looked at? Call us on 020 8144 9985.
12 Comments
I totally agree when you said that it is best to let a professional climb up your roof, because it can be a dangerous task to do for those who are not experts. In that case, I need to start looking for roofing repair contractors here in Youngstown, Ohio so that I can finally have the leaks fixed. There have been leaks in the garage area, and I definitely think that it is caused by a hole somewhere up there which has to be addressed before it rains again.
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16/2/2023 09:06:08
I appreciate you saying not to try to climb up or out onto your own flat roof. My father's flat roof is leaking. I'll advise him to get expert aid with roof repairs.
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17/2/2023 15:29:40
Flat roofing on residential homes is not something we see often in the US, but it's prevalent in commercial buildings. It's been our experience that finding the leak is half the battle, especially with flat roofs. The water tends to follow a pathway and sometimes drips from the ceiling in spots that are far away from the actual leak. Thanks for the great read!
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22/2/2023 21:30:12
We think our roof has a leak since our kitchen ceiling looks damp, so we need to do something before the damage gets worse. We're glad you explained how to fix a flat roof while we get professional help, so we'll look into this while we find a contractor to inspect our roof this week. Thank you for the advice on fixing a flat roof with waterproof paint.
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23/2/2023 12:36:08
Thank you for letting me know that flat roof repair is incredibly dangerous. My friend told me that their flat roof got damaged. I should advise him to hire an expert in flat roof repair to ensure their safety.
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28/2/2023 04:48:49
I like how you mentioned that you should ask for an estimation to have options for your flat roofing project. My uncle mentioned last night that he and his business partner hoped to find a roofing service that can install a flat roof in their clothing business property for cost-effective roofing. He asked if I had any idea what would be the best option to consider. Thanks to this informative article. I'll tell him it will be much better if they consult a trusted roofing service as they can answer all their inquiries and will provide good-quality service.
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7/4/2023 08:31:06
Your article is quite helpful! I have so many questions, and you have answered many. Thank you! Such a nice and superb article, we have been looking for this information about how to fix a damaged flat roof. Indeed a great post about it!!
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19/4/2023 04:22:20
This blog about damaged flat roof is really insightful. I'll bookmark this one.
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15/5/2023 13:48:29
For those who are dealing with a damaged flat roof, the advice you provided in your blog post will be invaluable. I really like how straightforward and simple your instructions are to follow. Readers would benefit from your detailed descriptions of the parts and equipment needed to complete the repair. Valuable additions to the post are the emphasis on safety and the advice for determining the extent of damage. In sum, the information in your piece gives homeowners the assurance they need to repair a flat roof themselves. Good job!
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23/5/2023 02:38:16
Thank you for writing such a thoughtful blog post about fixing a damaged flat roof . Your passion for the topic really shines through. Keep up the great work and keep inspiring others with your words!
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26/4/2024 11:18:52
Your blog on fixing a damaged flat roof is incredibly informative and helpful! I appreciate how you break down the process into easy-to-follow steps, making it accessible for anyone to understand and tackle the task confidently. Thank you for sharing your expertise and making a potentially daunting job seem manageable. Great work!
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5/8/2024 07:22:48
Nice Post!!! Thanks for sharing this post about Roof Repair………..Good Job…………..
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