EPDM rubber roofing
EPDM is a synthetic rubber membrane supplied in large single sheets, bonded to the prepared deck. On most domestic roofs the entire field is covered by one piece with no joints at all, which eliminates the failure mode that defines felt roofing.
It stays flexible in cold weather, tolerates the freeze-thaw cycling we get in the west of Scotland, and handles the deck movement that comes with timber. It is quick to install with no naked flame on the roof, and it's forgiving of awkward shapes.
- Single-piece membrane, no field seams
- Stays flexible through freeze-thaw cycles
- No hot works or naked flame during installation
- Well suited to garages, extensions and simple rectangular roofs
GRP fibreglass roofing
GRP is laid wet: chopped strand matting saturated with resin, cured in place into a rigid, seamless laminate, then finished with a coloured topcoat. It bonds to purpose-made trims to form continuous edges and upstands.
It gives a hard, walkable, very neat finish, which makes it the better choice for balconies, terraces and roofs that are seen from windows above. It needs dry conditions and correct temperatures to cure, so installation is weather-dependent, one reason DIY kits fail so often here.
- Seamless, rigid laminate finished with a coloured topcoat
- Walkable, suits balconies and terraces
- Integrated GRP trims form continuous edges and upstands
- Neat, uniform appearance when overlooked from above
Repairing an existing flat roof
Replacement isn't always necessary. Where a felt, EPDM, GRP or asphalt roof has a localised failure and the deck underneath is dry and sound, a targeted repair is far cheaper and can add years.
The deciding factor is the deck. If it's soft underfoot, if the ceiling below is stained across a wide area, or if the covering has degraded uniformly rather than failing at one point, repair is a short-term measure and we'll say so.
Where flat roofs are used
Flat roofing turns up in more places than people expect, and each has its own detailing requirements.
- Kitchen and single-storey rear extensions
- Dormer roofs and dormer cheeks
- Detached and integral garages
- Porches and bay-window tops
- Balconies and walk-on terraces (GRP)
- Outbuildings, workshops and garden rooms
- Small commercial units and flat-roofed shop rears
Insulation, ventilation and build-up
A flat roof over a habitable room needs the right build-up as well as the right covering. Warm-deck construction puts insulation above the deck and beneath the membrane, keeping the structure warm and avoiding interstitial condensation. Cold-deck construction puts insulation between joists and requires ventilation above it.
Getting this wrong produces water on the underside of the deck that looks exactly like a leak but isn't. Where the roof covers a heated room, we'll discuss the build-up rather than just re-covering what's there.
Residential and commercial flat roofing
Domestic flat roofs are typically small, awkward and detail-heavy, lots of upstands and abutments relative to their area. Commercial flat roofs are usually larger, simpler in the field, and driven by drainage capacity and access for plant.
We work on both. On commercial jobs the priority is usually completing without disrupting the business below, which affects sequencing rather than specification.
