Flat Roofs Fife | Flat Roofs Edinburgh | Professional Roofing Services
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Flat Roof Systems: Advantages & Disadvantages
Flat Roofs – We’ve Got Them Covered!
A flat roof is an area of the home that you just can’t leave to chance or luck: you need a specialist.
Get just one element wrong and you will have water ingress.
The materials, the felt, the declivity, the joins, seals, the flashing… there are a host of things that can go awry in the hands of a cowboy builder or an enthusiastic amateur.
We’ve seen it countless times: a homeowner tries to save money by going DIY or hiring an unqualified handyman and ends up paying twice: once to do it the wrong way and then again to hire a professional to fix the inevitable mistakes.
Felt Roof
A professional felt flat roof installation or repair will involve blowtorching the top layers of felt.
The hazardous nature of working with naked flames at high temperatures on a flammable, wooden substrate means it is wise to hire in professional help.
As a flat roof specialist, we offer a wide range of flat roofing services from a simple flat roof repair, or a flat roof replacement to a complete new flat roof construction – we cover it all.
The layers
The process of covering a flat roof is more complex than it appears when you look at the finished job.
At LC Joinery, Roofing and Building Work, when we cover a flat roof, we use a three-layer system:
- Layer 1 is the base membrane, usually referred to as 3b felt. It is a flexible glass fibre felt, which makes it extremely strong, and is bituminised for waterproofing. It is sanded both sides to protect the bitumen from abrasion. We nail (or tack) this onto the roof. This forms the ideal substrate for Layer 2, as nailing allows the membrane to flex a little to account for contraction and expansion due to temperature fluctuations, or even for people walking on top of it.
- Layer 2 is known as an underlay felt. Again, this is a completely waterproof membrane. As we now have a bituminous base membrane, we can use a blowtorch to torch on (or torch down) this layer to the roof. (You must never apply a blowtorch directly to any bare timber surface). This has the effect of basically welding Layer 2 to the base layer, which means that now not only the coverings are waterproof, but the seams are, too.
- We can now turn our attention to Layer 3, which again is a completely waterproof bituminous membrane. We will torch on this felt to form the finishing layer. The mineral chippings embedded into the felt make the roof extremely weather resistant. As well as being waterproof, flexible and resistant to freezing temperatures, it can reflect sunlight so that there is no danger of it melting on a hot day.
Assessment: Repair or Replace
When we get that first call to ask if we can carry out a flat roof repair job, we will assess whether a repair is the most cost effective option or whether we would advise to completely renew the roof itself, as damage to the woodwork underneath flat roofs could lead to more cost in the long run.
Felt Roof Faults That Cause Leaks
- Felt not being bonded correctly or storm damage
- Holes in the roof
- Cowboy workmen (bad workmanship)
- Wear and tear
When is a flat roof not a flat roof?
Ironically, a flat roof should not actually be flat, as then you will get ‘ponding’, where pools of water persist after rain and don’t run away.
With even the best sealed roof, this will eventually lead to water penetration through seams of felt and leakage into the structure below.
In fact, Building Regulations in Scotland completely prohibit flat roofs for this reason, and they stipulate precise ‘falls’ or pitches depending on roofing materials used.
If you are having problems with water ponding on your flat roof, we can re-construct your roof and fit timber declivities to give your flat roof the necessary run, allowing water to flow away as required.
What Is the Life Expectancy of a Flat Roof?
The average life expectancy of a typical flat roof is about 15-20 years, however this depends on the material used, and we always advise our customers on the best material for your specific roofing requirements.
Newer Flat Roofing Options
The roofing industry keeps developing newer and more innovative techniques relating to the composition and application of felt flat roofs.
Based on what your job requires, our specialists will have a choice of techniques at their disposal. As a rule, the size of your roof will dictate the best approach.
Other Flat Roof Services:
Rubber Roof
Are you planning a home improvement and considering a rubber (EDPM – Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) roof?
The standard features of our service include:
- Full Site Survey by experienced personnel
- Complete Report including expected residual lifetime of roof and necessary details
- Recommendations for new or remedial works and the appropriate installation system
- Quotation based on experienced estimation, survey, report and recommendation
- Site Safety Planning is included, including conformance to all relevant Health and Safety Regulations
Full details upon request.
Glass Fibre Roofs
LC Joinery & Roofing makes an excellent waterproof coating for flat and inclined roofs.
With a lifespan of over 20 years, the cost-effectiveness of fibreglass roofing is amazing.
Complete with a 25-year manufacturer’s guarantee when properly installed to manufacturer’s specifications.
Have you considered glass fibre roofs? Please contact us, we will be happy to discuss our products and services with you personally.
Please contact us, we will be happy to discuss our products and services with you personally.
Contact Us
If you would like more information or a free estimate, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Fife: phone 01592 747 047 Email: [email protected]
Edinburgh: phone 0131 300 0494 Email: [email protected]
