Service
Flat roof repairs and replacements
Short answer
A flat roof needs repair when it holds water, splits or leaks at the wall joint. A patch can fix a small fault. A soft deck or many faults mean a new roof. Replacing the waterproof layer counts as renovation under Building Regulations. Compare the local firms that list flat roof work.
Firms found on a trade register first, then A to Z.
| Firm | Based in | Does | Checks | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotswold Period RoofingLtd company 06708480 | Badsey WR11 | Roof repairs, Chimneys, Flat roofs, Leadwork, +4 | 0800 955 8059Website | |
| Empire Roofing Services (Oxford) LtdLtd company 12402998 | Witney OX29 | Flat roofs, Slate, Stone slate, Tiled roofs, +8 | 01993 259226Website | |
| W J Morley & Son (Roofing) LtdLtd company 00664487 | Gloucester GL2 | Roof repairs, Flat roofs, Slate, Tiled roofs, +2 | 01452 526680Website | |
| Woodstock RoofingLtd company 00854062 | Chipping Norton OX7 | Flat roofs, Slate, Tiled roofs, Stone slate, +4 | 01608 644 644Website | |
| Always Roofing And Home Improvements | Chipping Norton OX7 | Roof repairs, Re-roofing, Flat roofs, Chimneys, +2 | Trading, no register found | 07473 151 362Website |
| Cole Roofing | Pershore WR10 | Roof repairs, Re-roofing, Flat roofs, Guttering and roofline | Trading, no register found | 07586 407635Website |
| Cotswold Countryside RoofingLtd company 15518792 | Cheltenham GL51 | Re-roofing, Emergency repairs, Flat roofs, Leadwork, +7 | Trading, no register found | 01452 458131Website |
| Cotswold Roof Co. | Tewkesbury GL20 | Slate, Tiled roofs, Stone slate, Listed and heritage, +4 | Trading, no register found | 01242 805149Website |
| Heritage Roofing Company (Oxford) LtdLtd company 05206830 | Bampton OX18 | Stone slate, Slate, Flat roofs, Leadwork, +4 | Trading, no register found | 01993 705874Website |
| Hopper RoofingLtd company 13128590 | Cirencester GL7 | Flat roofs, Leadwork, Roof repairs, Re-roofing, +1 | Trading, no register found | 07510338881Website |
| JM Roofing Contractors | Bourton-on-the-Water GL54 | Stone slate, Tiled roofs, Re-roofing, Roof repairs, +3 | Trading, no register found | 07867 425 844Website |
| Kents Roofing | Cirencester GL7 | Stone slate, Flat roofs, Leadwork, Roof repairs | Trading, no register found | 01285 659126Website |
| Morse Roofing & ScaffoldingLtd company 10281135 | Down Ampney GL7 | Stone slate, Slate, Tiled roofs, Leadwork, +4 | Trading, no register found | 01285 713 779Website |
| MT & Sons RoofingLtd company 13001423 | Witney OX28 | Roof repairs, Re-roofing, Flat roofs, Slate, +5 | Trading, no register found | 07842 085106Website |
| P. L. Allard Building & Roofing LtdLtd company 10700255 | Painswick GL6 | Roof repairs, Re-roofing, Slate, Tiled roofs, +4 | Trading, no register found | 01242 383279Website |
| WDV Roofing & Property MaintenanceLtd company 16585335 | Stroud | Slate, Tiled roofs, Stone slate, Flat roofs, +3 | Trading, no register found | 07591 564096Website |
| WN Roofing | Cheltenham GL50 | Re-roofing, Tiled roofs, Slate, Leadwork, +5 | Trading, no register found | 01242 373557Website |
| Wychwood RoofingLtd company 14800523 | Milton-under-Wychwood OX7 | Stone slate, Slate, Tiled roofs, Leadwork, +3 | Trading, no register found | 01993 831944Website |
No firms match. Clear a filter to see more.
What flat roof work involves
Flat roof work is either a patch repair or a new covering. For a new covering, the roofer strips the old layers, checks the deck, and lays a new waterproof layer.
Common coverings are reinforced bitumen felt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass, liquid coatings and lead. Each has its own method and guarantee. Ask the roofer why they suggest one over another.
A new roof is the right time to add insulation and to fix the falls, so that water runs off.
Local Cotswold factors
In the Cotswolds, flat roofs are mostly on rear extensions, dormers, bay windows and garages. Many sit next to stone walls and stone slate roofs.
The joint between a flat roof and a stone wall is a common leak point. Older lead details often need care. On a listed building or in a conservation area, the council may want lead or another traditional finish where people can see it.
Signs you need flat roof work
You need work when water stays on the roof or gets through it. Check after rain.
- Puddles that stay for more than a day or two.
- Blisters, splits or cracks in the surface.
- Moss or plants in the joints or at the edges.
- Damp patches on the ceiling below.
- A deck that feels soft or bouncy. Do not walk on a roof to test it.
What to ask a flat roofer
Ask about the system, the deck and the guarantee. Get each answer in the written quote.
- Which covering do you suggest, and why?
- Will you check the deck and replace soft boards?
- Will you add insulation, and will you deal with building control?
- What guarantee do you give, and what does the maker give?
- Has the maker of the system trained or registered you? Ask to see proof.
The rules for flat roofs
A small patch needs no building control. A new covering on most or all of the roof usually does. GOV.UK lists replacing roof coverings on flat roofs as work that can need approval.
Part L guidance names replacing the waterproof membrane on a flat roof as renovation. If more than half of the roof is renovated, the whole roof should meet the insulation standard where this is practical.
A roofer in the NFRC Competent Person Scheme can self-certify this work. The scheme says a garage roof with no fixed heating does not need to be notified.
Adding a roof terrace, a balcony or a roof light can need planning permission. On a listed building, a change of material can need listed building consent.
Questions
How long does a flat roof last?
It depends on the material, the work and the weather. Ask the roofer for the expected life and the guarantee for the system they suggest.
Can a flat roof be repaired in winter?
Some work can go ahead in dry, mild spells. Some systems need dry, warmer weather to bond. A roofer can put on a temporary cover until then.
Do I need building control for a new flat roof?
Usually, yes, if you replace most of it. A Competent Person Scheme roofer can self-certify. A garage with no fixed heating is an exception.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Building regulations approval, when you need approval
- GOV.UK: Conservation of fuel and power, Part L guidance documents
- NFRC Competent Person Scheme: What the scheme covers
- NFRC Competent Person Scheme: Questions from property owners
- GOV.UK: Use a competent person scheme
- Cotswold District Council: Listed buildings