Roofing service
Flat Roof Repairs in London.
Blisters, splits and leaks on flat roofs repaired.
Flat Roof Repairs done properly
Not every flat roof needs replacing. Where the deck is sound, we repair splits, blisters and failed joints, and reseal upstands and flashings to get more life out of the roof.
What's included
- Split and blister repairs
- Resealing joints and upstands
- Lead and flashing repairs
- Honest advice on repair vs replace
How a flat roof repair is carried out
The area around the fault is cleaned back to firm felt, because new material won’t bond to dirt, moss or loose mineral. A split or cut-out blister is then covered with a new piece of felt, lapped well beyond the damage and sealed down at the edges. The patch has to shed water, so it should not create a ridge that holds a puddle.
- Loose chippings and growth cleared from the repair area
- Damaged felt cut back to sound material
- New felt lapped past the damage on every side
- Surrounding joints and upstands checked at the same visit
Finding the leak on a flat roof
Water can travel across a deck or along a joist before it finds a way down, so the drip inside is often a poor guide. Most leaks begin at an edge or a junction rather than in the open field of the roof. That is why we check the details first, then the main area.
- Upstands where the felt meets a wall
- Edge trims and drip details at the gutter
- Lap joints between sheets of felt
- Outlets, and anything that passes through the roof
When a repair is not worth paying for
A repair only makes sense while the deck is sound and the felt around the fault is still flexible. If the felt is brittle all over or the deck has gone soft in several places, each patch simply moves the leak, and a new flat roof becomes better value. The cost of a repair depends on how much is found rather than the visible split.
- Number of faults, and whether they are at edges or in the open roof
- How far the wet or soft area spreads
- Access to the roof, especially at second-floor level
- Soft deck across the roof: see new flat roofs
Signs you need flat roof repairs
- Small leaks after rain
- Visible cracks or splits
- Lifting edges
- Puddles that won’t drain
Spotted any of these? Call 07450 208032 for a free inspection.
Other services
- Roof RepairsLeaks, slipped or broken tiles and storm damage, found and fixed properly.
- New RoofsFull strip and re-roofs in tile or slate, built to last decades.
- uPVC Guttering, Fascias & SoffitsNew uPVC roofline that looks sharp and stops rot and overflow.
- Dry Ridge SystemsMechanically fixed ridge tiles, no more crumbling mortar.
Common questions
Can a flat roof be repaired in wet weather?
A proper felt repair needs a dry surface to bond to, so it normally waits for a dry spell. If water is coming in, a temporary measure may be possible to hold things until the roof can be repaired properly.
Will a tin of bitumen paint stop my flat roof leaking?
It may slow a small leak for a while, but it rarely deals with the cause, and it can hide a split from view. It also makes the surface harder to repair with new felt later, so have the fault found first.
How many patches is too many on a flat roof?
There is no set number. The warning sign is new leaks appearing next to old patches, which suggests the felt itself is failing. At that stage we’ll tell you honestly if another patch is worth paying for.
Why does my flat roof leak a long way from the visible split?
Water gets under the felt and spreads across the deck, then drips at a joint in the boards or the lowest point. The drip shows where the water lands, not where it entered, so the area uphill of the stain needs checking.
Ready for a free, no-obligation quote?
Speak to our team today. London, Essex, Kent, Sussex and the Cotswolds.