Roofing
Flat Roofs Done
Properly Across
Nottinghamshire
Watertight GRP, EPDM and felt systems with the detailing right at the upstands, drains and trims — because that's where flat roofs actually fail.
Honest inspection, written quote usually within 48 hours, where possible, up to 20-year manufacturer warranty on the system installed.
Service overview
Flat Roofs in Nottinghamshire — what you actually get.
What it is
Flat roof renewal and repair across single-ply rubber (EPDM), fibreglass (GRP), and high-performance polymer-modified felt. Includes upstands, drips, drains, vents, skylights and abutment detailing — the parts of a flat roof that decide whether it lasts 5 years or 25.
Who it's for
Anyone with a flat-roof extension, garage, dormer, porch, bay or outbuilding that's leaking, bubbling, ponding, or simply past its design life. Also clients planning a new extension who want the roof specified properly from day one.
When you need it
When water is tracking through ceilings, when the existing covering is cracked, blistered or holding standing water 48+ hours after rain, or when the felt has gone brittle and chalky. Acting early often avoids a full strip-and-recover later on.
Why it matters
Flat roofs don't fail in the middle — they fail at the edges, upstands and penetrations. Most leaks we're called to repair were cheap installs where the detailing was rushed. A proper flat roof is mostly preparation, careful trim work, and a system installed exactly as the manufacturer specifies — not 'near enough'.
What happens if you wait
The real cost of leaving it.
A failing flat roof leaks straight into ceilings — there's no loft buffer underneath. By the time you see a stain, the deck has usually been wet for weeks.
Risks of leaving it
- Plasterboard ceilings sag and collapse without much warning.
- Insulation under the deck becomes saturated and useless — usually unseen.
- Timber deck rots through, turning a straightforward recover into a full structural rebuild.
- Damp tracks into wall heads and electrical sockets below — a fire-safety issue, not just cosmetic.
- Garage and extension contents are written off in a single overnight leak.
Common mistakes we see
- Painting over blistered felt with a 'roof seal' product — buys weeks, not years.
- Re-felting over a wet or rotten deck — guarantees the new covering fails early.
- Using one-coat GRP without the right primer/topcoat schedule — peels within seasons.
- Ignoring ponding — sitting water shortens every flat-roof system's life dramatically.
Our process
How we deliver — step by step.
- 1
Site Inspection
We lift a small area to check deck condition, measure falls, and identify exactly why the roof's failing — not just where.
- 2
Written Specification & Quote
You receive the system spec, manufacturer details, manufacturer guarantee length and itemised pricing.
- 3
Deck Repair & Preparation
Wet or rotten boards are replaced with 18mm WBP ply or OSB3. New falls are formed where ponding has been an issue. Substrate is primed correctly for the chosen system.
- 4
System Installation
GRP laid wet-on-wet in a single day; EPDM bonded as one continuous sheet; high-performance felt torched in three layers with proper laps and detailing. Trims and upstands dressed precisely.
- 5
Sign-Off, Guarantee & Clean-Up
We walk the finished roof with you, hand over the manufacturer guarantees, and remove all waste. Site left as we found it.
What you get
The benefits — in plain English.
Up to 20-year design life
Properly specified EPDM and GRP systems comfortably outlast traditional 3-layer felt.
Seamless waterproofing
EPDM is installed as a single sheet on most domestic roofs — no joins, no seams, no failure points.
Fast install, minimal disruption
Most domestic flat roofs are stripped and recovered in 1-3 days. We're in and out without dragging things over weekends.
Walk-on and skylight ready
Systems specified for occasional foot traffic and detailed properly around rooflights, vents and pipes.
Cold-weather friendly
EPDM and modern felt systems install in temperatures down to ~5°C — we don't lose weeks waiting for summer.
Insurance-recognised paperwork
Manufacturer warranties insurers accept without argument.
The detail that matters
Flat Roofs: materials, methods & specifications.
Three systems dominate domestic flat roofing. Each has the right place — and the wrong place. Here's how we choose:
EPDM rubber (e.g. Firestone RubberCover)
A single continuous sheet of vulcanised rubber, bonded to the deck. Best for roofs without too many penetrations. Up to 20-year manufacturer warranty, low maintenance, excellent in cold weather.
GRP fibreglass
A fully bonded fibreglass laminate finished with a coloured topcoat. Walk-on rated, excellent around complex detailing (multiple skylights, vents, parapets). Requires dry conditions and warm temperatures to lay properly.
High-performance felt
Modern SBS-modified polymer felts (e.g. IKO, Bauder) torched in three layers. A great-value option for budget-led recovers, garages and outbuildings where the roof is rarely seen. 15-year life when installed correctly.
Falls & drainage
Flat roofs aren't flat — they need a minimum 1:80 fall to a working outlet. We re-form falls with tapered insulation or firring strips during recover, not after a leak.
Warm vs cold deck construction
Warm-deck (insulation above the structural deck) is current best practice for habitable rooms beneath. We can convert cold decks to warm during a recover where headroom allows.
Upstands, trims & abutments
Where 90% of flat roofs fail. We use the manufacturer's matched trims, dress upstands to a minimum 150mm above finished roof level, and detail abutments with proper cover flashings — not silicone.
Rooflights & green roofs
We install Velux, Glazing Vision and equivalent rooflights, and we've fitted sedum green-roof systems on garden offices and extensions.
Whether it's a leaking garage in Mansfield, a Victorian bay roof in Nottingham, or a modern flat-roof extension in Newark — we'll specify the system that suits the roof, not the system we have the most of in the van.
We cover Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham, Newark-on-Trent, Worksop, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Hucknall, Retford — see our full service areas or jump back to home.
Recent work
A selection of recent work completed across Nottinghamshire.
FAQ
Honest answers, before you call.
How much does a flat roof replacement cost?
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Every job is priced individually and quoted in writing after a free inspection — get in touch for a quote.
Which is better — EPDM, GRP or felt?
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EPDM wins on simple roofs and longevity. GRP wins on complex detailing and walk-on use. Modern felt wins on budget. We recommend per-job, not per-preference.
How long does a flat roof installation take?
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Most domestic flat roofs (extensions, garages, dormers) are completed in 1-3 days. Larger commercial-sized roofs take a week or two.
Can you repair my flat roof instead of replacing it?
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Sometimes — if the deck is sound and the issue is localised (a failed upstand, a single split, a flashing). We'll always tell you honestly whether a repair is worth it or just delaying the inevitable.
What guarantee comes with a flat roof?
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EPDM and GRP installs are covered by the manufacturer's material warranty (up to 20 years). High-performance felt typically carries a 15-year material warranty.
Do you handle insurance claims for storm damage?
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Yes — we provide the written scope, photographs and itemised costs insurers and loss adjusters need.
Will you put the new roof straight over the old one?
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Only when the existing deck is sound, dry, and adds no failure risk — and we'll tell you straight if it isn't. Most jobs are a full strip-and-recover.
Do you work on commercial flat roofs too?
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We do — small commercial units, shop extensions, and outbuildings up to a few hundred square metres. Larger industrial roofs we'll honestly refer to specialist contractors.
Ready when you are
Get a written quote for your flat roofs — usually within 48 hours, where possible.
No pressure, no obligation. A senior roofer comes out, looks properly, and gives you an honest written price.
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