Cambridge Roofers installs and repairs flat roofs on homes, extensions, garages and outbuildings in Soham, using EPDM rubber and torch-on felt systems that, when properly installed, can last 25 years or more.
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A flat roof is not truly flat. It needs a slight fall - typically at least 1 in 80, and ideally 1 in 40 - to let rainwater drain away. Without that fall, water sits on the surface, works into any weak point, and causes leaks. Getting the fall right is one of the most important parts of any flat roofing job, and it is one of the first things worth asking a contractor about before you agree to anything.
The membrane goes over a decking board - usually OSB or plywood - which is fixed to the roof joists. If the decking is soft, wet or damaged, it has to come off before anything else happens. Any contractor who quotes without checking the deck is guessing at the price.
For flat roofs on homes and extensions in and around Soham, the two materials most suited to domestic work are EPDM rubber and torch-on felt. Each has its place.
Flat roofing in the UK typically costs between £70 and £120 per square metre for EPDM, and £50 to £90 per square metre for torch-on felt, depending on deck condition, access and detailing. Those ranges cover supply and labour on a straightforward domestic job. A very small garage roof might cost £600 to £900 all in; a larger extension roof, or one needing deck replacement, will cost more.
This is the part most homeowners skip, and it is where problems start. Getting a quote is easy. Knowing whether the person giving you that quote is going to do the job properly is harder. Here is what to look at.
A contractor who has done flat roofing locally should be able to show you photographs of finished jobs - ideally with the customer's permission to visit the property. Look at how the edges and upstands are finished. The edge detail is where most flat roof leaks begin, so if a contractor cannot show you a neat drip edge and properly dressed upstand in their photos, that tells you something.
This is a practical question that sorts out prepared contractors from those cutting corners. Before any membrane goes down, the deck needs to be inspected for rot, movement and moisture. Ask whether they will strip the existing covering first, what they will do if they find damaged boards, and how that affects the quote. A quote that does not mention the deck at all should prompt more questions.
Ask specifically: how will you check and correct the fall on my roof? If the existing roof is flat-flat - no drainage fall at all - a new membrane on top of the same structure will pool water just as the old one did. Correcting the fall sometimes means adding tapered insulation or re-firring the joists. It adds cost, but skipping it means the new roof will fail for the same reason the old one did.
Where a flat roof meets a wall, parapet or dormer, the membrane has to turn up and be secured. This upstand needs to be at least 150mm high. Ask how high they plan to take it and how it will be terminated at the top. A membrane that is simply stuck to a render or brick face without a proper termination bar or chase will peel away eventually.
Three quotes is a sensible number for a flat roof job. When you get them back, do not just compare the bottom line. Check whether each quote specifies the same material and number of layers, whether deck replacement is included or priced separately, and what the warranty on the material itself is (manufacturers of EPDM and quality torch-on felt products typically publish their own performance data - ask to see the product specification).
A quote that is significantly cheaper than the others usually means something has been left out or a cheaper material is being used. Ask the contractor to explain the difference. A confident, experienced roofer will not mind the question.
A well-run flat roofing job on a typical home extension in Soham follows a clear sequence. The contractor surveys the roof, checks the deck and the drainage outlet position, and agrees the scope of work with you before starting. The old covering is stripped. The deck is inspected - and any soft or damaged boards replaced. The fall is checked and corrected if needed. The new membrane is laid, the edges are trimmed and secured with drip trim or a fascia, and all upstands are dressed and terminated. The outlet or outlets are fitted with compatible collar details to prevent water tracking back under the membrane. The site is cleaned up and you can inspect the finished work before any final payment.
For a garage roof or small extension, the work itself usually takes one to two days once materials are on site. A larger or more complex roof takes longer, particularly if there is significant deck work to do.
A reasonable payment structure is a deposit on agreement, sometimes a stage payment when materials are on site, and the balance on satisfactory completion. Paying in full before a roofer arrives leaves you with very little leverage if things go wrong.
If you have a flat roof that needs attention - on an extension, garage, outbuilding or main roof - call us to arrange a survey so we can give you a proper, itemised quote based on what is actually there.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
