• flat roof
• Flat Roof Repair

Flat roof looking worse for wear? Wondering if you should look at flat roof repair or go for a full replacement? How do you even know when your roof is in need of attention?

As far as roofing goes, flat roofs are effective and long-lasting, but like all things, they eventually become victims of old father time. Common problems can occur with leaks, moss and weathering; if ignored or unnoticed, you can end up with a far more significant problem.

Knowing whether your problem requires repairing or replacing your flat roof can be difficult. But a little knowledge can go a long way, so we’ve written this blog to give you everything you need to know about flat roof repair so that you can make an informed decision.

Types Of Flat Roof

First things first, what type of roof do you have? 

To find out whether you need flat roof repair, you need to know what kind of roof you’re dealing with. Your roof structure can impact a few factors when it comes to repairing or replacing, like risk, cost and difficulty. 

Take a look at the three types of flat roofing and see which one sounds most like yours.

BUR

A BUR is a Built-Up-Roof. This is a roofing system that uses layering to create a strong and durable roof. Various materials are built on top of each other in a method that’s been used for over 100 years. It’s a tried and tested system, though we’ll admit the materials used have been updated over the years for a longer-lasting result.

MBR

A Modified Bitumen Roof – or MBR – is a commonly used alternative to traditional built-up roof styles. To get its flexible quality it’s made of asphalt lined in a mineral topcoat. Usually, it’s part of a two or three-layer system to make sure it stays watertight for longer. 

EPDM

Used worldwide, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer, quite the mouthful we know) has grown in popularity recently. It’s an extremely secure and reliable solution for flat roofing, because of its easy and quick installation and durable finish. 

Now you know what type of roof you have, you’re armed with the knowledge you need to prepare for that looming repair or replace decision. 

But hold on – how can you tell if your flat roof is even in need of repair to start with? Well, your roof will certainly let you know when some noticeable problems start appearing.

Common Flat Roof Repair Problems

Of course, if your roof is falling in and you stay drier outside than in, you’d know it was time for a new roof. But the signs that you need some flat roof repair help can be a bit harder to spot, especially since you probably don’t go up a ladder to inspect your roof every week.

The most common culprits for roof damage and wear are also the clearest indicators that you should think about repairing sooner than later. 

Leaks

Leaking is most often the result of damage to the membrane layer of your flat roof. The damage level can vary in severity but the more leaks you see, the more damage is likely. Some tears are easily repaired or patched but bigger areas might be more cost-effective to replace.

Pooling/Ponding Water

Water pooling is a result of an uneven flat roof surface. In most cases this defect can be repaired, but if left too long bigger problems can rear their head, which might be more expensive and end up requiring a full replacement.

Moss, Algae and Plant Growth

The growth of all things green or gooey is the result of dampness. This is a bad problem to have because it encourages bugs, pests and birds to come up and nest or feed. This growth holds water so it can add weight on your roof, but maintenance can keep it at bay altogether.

Alligatoring

Cracking of your top membrane layer is usually the result of weathering after constant UV rays and extreme temperatures. It can lead to water ingress, leaks, and further damage of your flat roof structure. Repair is your best choice if the area is small, but replace if it’s big.

What’s The Cost Of Flat Roof Repair?

As you might expect, flat roof repair is cheaper than replacement, but depending on the scale of damage you’re dealing with, it can be more cost-effective to replace.

Factors to consider when you’re choosing between flat roof repair or replacement are…

• The size of the problem – big and small problems both require quick action, to prevent the situation from worsening and taking the choice out of your hands.
• Type of repair – there are lots of options to fix a flat roof including EPDM, PVC, mastic asphalt and more, and each method has its own costs, difficulty and results.
• Cost – a lot goes into the cost of your repair, like scaffolding if required, materials, labour, insurance – and not forgetting that quality work is worth a higher investment.

While replacement can set you back considerably more, the price of flat roof repair also has a lot of dependent factors. From the size of your roof, to the material of your roof and the method being used to fix it, there’s a lot that goes into the cost. 

Now, we can’t give you an exact price (unless you get in touch for an accurate flat roof repair quote), but generally speaking, you can pay anywhere from £800 – £1400 for your flat roof problems to be solved. 

Should You Repair Or Replace Your Flat Roof?

It’s the big question. Repair or replace? Replacing your flat roof is likely to cost you more, and repairing an issue before it gets worse is always the ideal solution. In most cases, common problems can be resolved through repair and ongoing maintenance. 

While you might be tempted to DIY your repairs, it’s worth getting a price from our flat roofing experts, and getting the job done right the first time.

• flat roof
• Flat Roof Repair

If you’re looking into repairing a flat roof, you probably have a few questions about it. The usual queries we get at GI Sykes are things like: ‘how long does flat roof repair take?’ and: ‘how do I know if I need to repair my flat roof?’. But the question we’re asked the most is ‘is repairing a flat roof expensive?’

Well, how long is a piece of string?

We’re joking, of course – but the reality is, estimating the cost of a flat roof repair means understanding just what the problem is and the extent of the work that needs to be done. It also depends on what you consider expensive – for some businesses, a couple of thousand pounds is a small amount to find; for others, it’s going to be tight. 

So, while we can’t give you a specific answer in this blog, we can outline the factors we use when pricing a roof repair. That way, you can a) understand our quote when we send it to you and b) make sure any other quotes you get includes everything to avoid any nasty ‘hidden’ extras.

Let’s get to it!

Flat Roofing Repairs: An Overview

Repairing a flat roof can mean anything from a quick patching job to a whole roof coating – and obviously, these carry very different costs. Below you’ll find a rundown of the common issues we carry out roof repairs on.

Alligatoring

Alligatoring is a term used to describe one of the most common problems experienced with flat roofing. It’s when the asphalt used to coat your roof’s membrane starts to age. Over time, the asphalt loses its elasticity and starts to dry out, and as it does so, it begins to resemble the skin of an alligator. And while this might be a fashion statement on a handbag, it spells big trouble for your roof.

You see, asphalt is what keeps your roof watertight, so once that’s compromised, you are more likely to find other problems arise, like leaks.

Leaks & Water Ingress

You probably don’t need a blog to tell you that if water is coming through your roof, you need to get it repaired. So we won’t. But we will explain why it’s happening and what it means if you delay sorting it. 

Leaks happen because your roof coating has been jeopardised. That may be because of a tear, it may be because of total coating failure, or you might have a missing flashing. Whatever the reason, fixing the cause means you don’t risk more substantial problems with the structure of your roof or the ceiling below. Water seeping in can cause the wooden beams to rot, the plaster to come away and mould to form – all things you want to avoid.

Blistering

Bubbles or blisters in your flat roof mean that air has become trapped between the layers of the membrane. These blisters don’t pose an immediate threat, but the coating can crack over time, allowing water in. If you only have a few small blisters, you can keep an eye on their development and delay your flat roof repair for a short time; however, if there are lots of bubbles or they’re large, you should address the issue promptly.

Ponding & Pooling Water

If your roof has puddles that take a while to dry up following rain, you might have what’s known as ponding. It means that your flat roof is no longer completely flat but has areas where it has sunk. Water collects here rather than running off and, depending on how deep they are, can take a long time to dry out. 

Standing water on your flat roof can affect the integrity of the coating, add to the weight load of your roof, it can freeze and cause splits.

So, What Makes Repairing A Flat Roof Cost So Much?

Once the issue (or issues) has been identified, we will look at what we need to do to repair your roof. There are some things we’ll require for all jobs, and some are more specific. The factors we include for all flat roof repairs are;

Scaffolding

Most roofing work needs safe access and platforms for contractors to work from. Scaffolding adds to the cost of your project, but it also adds to its safety. 

Materials

It’s no secret that construction materials have been subjected to some rather eye-watering price increases over the last couple of years. Low stock, supply chain disruptions and increases in shipping, energy costs and fuel have meant that some products have gone up by 20% since 2020. 

Your flat roof repair cost will depend heavily on what materials we need. However, thankfully, a lot of the materials we use for roofing have started to drop in price, but things like timber are still fluctuating.

Quality

One factor that makes repairing a flat roof a costly venture is the quality of the contractor you use. You can probably find someone willing to carry out the work for a lesser price, but with so many rogue traders cashing in on people’s desire to cut costs, there’s a chance you end up with a roof repair that won’t last – or worse still, that never happens.

We all know the horror stories of customers handing over hefty deposits for work that doesn’t get done. And it’s sadly all too common. 

GI Sykes has been around for half a decade – we’re certainly not going anywhere! We employ all of our staff rather than use sub-contractors; each is highly experienced and trained in their trade. We wholeheartedly stand by the quality of our workmanship and guarantee it, so you know that your roof repair is an investment that will see you right for years to come.

Plant & Equipment

Like our people, we only use the most effective and reliable machinery, which is regularly serviced and maintained. It ensures the safety of the operatives, the safety of your building and delivers a better job. 

Insurance

If you own a company, you’ll know that commercial insurance is an essential cost of business. We carry the highest levels of insurance, which protects you just as much as us when we’re working on your premises. 

Flat Roof Repair: Expensive, But Cheaper Than Flat Roof Replacement!

So there you have it, some of the reasons why repairing a flat roof costs what it does. But before you dismiss your roofing issue as one you can ignore, have a quick Google for the cost of roof replacement – it’s a whole lot MORE expensive!

If you want to talk to us about any issues you have with your flat roof, please get in touch. We can arrange a no-obligation consultation so you can find out exactly what it’ll cost to have it repaired.