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Leaking Flat Roofs are a Common Cause of Property Damage
A leaking flat roof is a nuisance at best and leaving it can lead to significant damage to your property. Over time, water can gradually seep across the flat roofing substrates, from insulation through to structural decking.
Traditional flat roofing systems like bituminous felt and any materials that’s been poorly installed tends to have a short lifetime (under 10 years). Over time, and particularly when exposed to UV light, physical impact and repeated freeze-thaw cycles further accelerate damage.
Whether your garage flat roof is leaking, or you just want a refurbishment, there are several options available that can be tailored to your budget.
Need a quick flat roof repair? Call us on 029 2190 0011 today.
Types of Repairs options for Leaking Flat Roofs
Depending on the condition of your roof, we typically encounter four main scenarios that warrant repairs:
Gutter cleaning: this is one of the biggest causes of a leaking flat roof. Leaves and debris block gutters if they’re not cleaned and maintained. This can cause water to overflow into the adjacent roof – particularly during wet weather. If so, unblocking your gutters with our gutter maintenance service is the cheapest, simplest option.
Leaking lead flashing: lead flashing is another less obvious reason your flat roof is leaking. Designed to protect the interface where the flat roof joins the brick building, leaks can form when the flashing starts peeling away. However, you can make adjustments by following our guidelines on lead flashing repairs
Repair patches: sometimes an older flat roof could have a small tear or a puncture. This is particularly common when physical impact has occurred – like ladder placement or if heavy equipment has been dropped on the roof. However, in these instances it’s quite easy to make a repair using glass fibre (GRP) or polyurethane materials.
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Overlays: if the outer layer has been damaged, but surveys reveal underlying substrates (insulation, decking, etc) to be intact, then we’d recommend an overlay. Here, the outer membrane is scaled back, and a new waterproofing membrane material is applied on top, creating a new flat roofing system. This eliminates the need for more expensive repairs and refurbishment and is 50% the cost of a new flat roof.
New roofs: instances where the internal flat roofing structures (wooden decking and insulation) have been damaged by water, then we’d almost always recommend full removal and replacement. New wooden decking, insulation and a flat roofing membrane (glass fibre or single ply) are installed, creating a thermally efficient flat roof with a full range of guarantees.
Contact a Flat Roof Repair Specialist
To find out more about how we can help you repair your flat roof as quickly as possible, contact our team on 029 2190 0011 or send us an email.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Flat Roof Repairs:
Q. Where is the leak in my flat roof coming from?
A It could be from blocked gutters and downpipes that cause rainwater to overflow into the adjacent roof, a damaged or weakened flat roofing membrane or an incorrectly installed one.
Q. How much does it cost to repair a leaking flat roof?
A This depends on the size of the flat roof and the extent of the damage. For a domestic property, it could range from £100 (simple repairs) to over £3,000 or more if extensive property damage has occurred and a new flat roof is required.
Q. What is the best material to repair the leak in my flat roof?
A This depends on the type of material used to make the flat roof. However, both GRP (fibreglass) and polyurethane are very versatile repair options. If your flat roof is constructed from single ply, you could also use that.
Q. My flat roof is not leaking, but I want an upgrade before it leaks
A full flat roof replacement is expensive. You can preserve your flat roof with an overlay system before it does leak, particularly if the outer membrane is ageing. Overlays involve capping the outer membrane with a new one. They retain the same underlying insulation and save on cost. Fibreglass GRP, polyurethane and single ply can all be used as overlays.
Q. How can I claim on insurance to repair a leak in my flat roof?
A According to MoreThan home insurance, 20% of claims are roof related. If your flat roof was installed by a reliable flat roofer, you should be covered by a range of flat roof guarantees protecting it. We recommend you contact your previous roofer or, if property damage has occurred, contact your home insurer.
Q. Do I need to replace my insulation if my flat roof has leaked?
A Insulation may need to be replaced if 25% or more has been damaged by water ingress from a leak according to UK bulding regulations. If the remaining 75% of your flat roof is unaffected and in good condition, you could avoid this.
