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Flat roof - how much to replace?
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Does anyone know how much it would cost to replace a flat roof. Its on top of a dorma(sp?) window in the attic bedroom of my house and its about (W)2.5m X (D)1.75m.
It's leaking quite a lot, I tried having it patched a couple of months ago which stopped it for a while but its back, worse than before. To be fair the bloke who tried to patch it said he wasn't confident it would hold as it had split quite badly
A ball park figure would be really helpful as I am trying to come up with a way of finding the cash!!
Thanks!
It's leaking quite a lot, I tried having it patched a couple of months ago which stopped it for a while but its back, worse than before. To be fair the bloke who tried to patch it said he wasn't confident it would hold as it had split quite badly
A ball park figure would be really helpful as I am trying to come up with a way of finding the cash!!
Thanks!
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Really does depend on if you want the whole roof replaced including the wood or just strip back the old felt and that.
I would go for the wood and everything.
You would be looking at needing 2 boards of ply wood (8' x 6') they will come in at around £18 each.
Then the appropriate felt and bitumen coatings. For that 1 roll of the felt, I wont price that as it varies on what you use plus I'm not a roofer.
I would say in total including labour about £200. As really it isn't that much of a job.
The only thing is the height it is up as a scaffold may be needed and they can be expensive.
I was told that as it is probably going to require scaffolding by the builder who did the patching job - although he was happy to do it without. I am expecting that to bump up the costs quite a bit unfortunately.
Getting the whole thing redone is the only way to get it properly sorted to last for hopefully a good number of years. Patching with those expensive paint-on stuff is useless & a false economy (& looks horrible).
Don't use felt or asphalt to replace your flat roof.
What you suggesting mate? Our roofer up here is still on the bitumen and that glass fibre covering stuff (forgot the actual name of it).
It seems really good stuff. Just done a large garage roof with it.
Oh well I still call it felt, it looks all the same to me.
I'm happy to replace the wood and that on roofs.
Hi thanks all for your replies!!
Seacam - could you just explain to someone who knows nothing about roofing matters - what is glass fibre/GRP gorilla?
Also when I get some quotes what should I look for - I'm having a look on yell.com and asking around for recomendations at the moment.
NB if anyone can recommend a good roofing firm in the Notts area that would be great!
"Gorilla" is the name of the previous poster!!
GRP = glass-reinforced plastic.
Yours has so cheered me up, I've just has a real tough meeting with planning officers and your confusion made me laugh and smile.
And my punctuation leave a lot to be desired.
For the record there is such things as Gorilla bars, ( no, not in the zoo but kinda flat or crow bars ).
It will take a while to get rid of Gorilla's installing flat roofs out of my head.
Anyways, as Paul has suggested, goggle GRP roofs or one of us here can advise you, truly don't go for felt, go for GRP.
The only draw back, for a while some GRP roofs can creak like the bottom of a boat,
that can be a little disconcerting but is perfectly normal and will go away over time.
A flat GRP roof will last you 20 -25-30 years, can't say that for felt.
And yes, if done correctly you can use the flat roof as a patio area, ( no barbi' ), with no ill affects to the roof.
Make sure any 10 year warranty you get is insurances backed and not just free.
That goes for any kind of roof btw.
You know - people seem to think I have a brain. Sometimes I find it hard to agree!!
They used EPDM rubber,life span 50 years plus
If you use the above materials your house insurance will cover you if you have any problems in the future
It does cost a bit more but well worth it in the end
They didn't use scaffolding only ladders and a tower,It depends on how high the roof is
We can install flat roofs very well
About the topic GPR is superb stuff, As I said I can't tell the difference between that and standard felt but, according to the roofer I know it is excellent.
shame you are a bit far away , you could have done my garage roof
Now I've got over my embarassment I've read the rest of your post! Glad I managed to make you smile!
I have googled it and they look very good - I don't mind the creaking noises. Don't think I'll go for the walking on it bit though - bit high up on a dormer!!
Thanks all for the help!
As it's a flat roof dormer, if no one has to walk on roof to say service communal water tanks, then do consider an EPDM as Penalty has had.
We/I have installed both, both have their merits and downsides but if there is any chance of walking upon, GRP is the way to go.
Unless I'm reading your posts wrong, it's not a GRP felt that's being recommended although I agree with you, that is so much better then old mineral type felt.
This is glass fibre matting laid on top of decking, then a hardener/catalyst applied on top for each application, and it's a cold application.
You can have color added to GRP and leave it to a very smooth finish or grit it while tacky to give the roof area a grip/surface.
Any idea what the price premium for GRP is over tar and felt ??
Cheers -- Paul
Hello seacam me DS mucker how are you diddling
What i did with my flat roof i stripped the old felt and boards and replaced with new
Then a friend of friend came and did EPDM for me
It didn't take him long
It realy sturdy to walk on,as i get up there every summer to clean the conservatory that is next to it.
You probably knew that but i thought i would mention it :)
Sometimes i have thought about jumping off it what with the credit crunch :D
I was joking :D
Average, about 20%.
But smaller roofs the price is almost negligible.
Yes both systems are excellent.
The main advantage of EPDM over GRP is movement.
An EPDM roof will move with the building/roof that fact is actually used as a selling point but IMO it's a little misleading as roof/buildings have all ways expanded and contracted, much less so now that all roofs are vented.
And if a building/roof is moving as much as EPDM allows, you have problems anyway.
You can walk on them OK, it's any constant walking/use on such a roof that may cause problems, they can be punctured and it's a dickens to find the leak with such a system.
An another advantage of an EPDM system over GRP is you can see how thick the roof covering is, the chance of such a roof leaking, first time around is very small but not unknown.
IMO EPDM is exceptionaly suited for very large flat roof areas so long as it's not trouped upon.
Also, in very hot weather, I can smell it.
The dis-advantage of GRP is it's only as good as the person who lays it, if it's laid uniformly.
Get that right, and that's down to experience and workmanship, you have a roof that's extremely hardy in all weathers and will give years and years of service and out last felt many times over.
GRP is very much lighter then an EPDM or felt system and for many flat roof areas that's a good thing.
And in people use, it's more forgiving.
As with everthing, it's the preparation and working methodically with GRP, all decking should be screwed.
And no don't jump, you want to be around and see how long your EPDM roof will last, which will be a hell of a long time. but then so will GRP.