A flat roof in Soham that is properly looked after between professional visits will last significantly longer and cost you far less over its lifetime.
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A pitched roof sheds water quickly by gravity. A flat roof moves water more slowly, and anything that interrupts that movement - debris, blocked outlets, standing water - creates the conditions for membrane deterioration and eventual leaks. That does not make flat roofs a bad choice, but it does mean they reward straightforward, regular attention in a way that a tiled pitched roof simply does not need.
The good news is that most of the maintenance tasks that extend a flat roof's life are straightforward to carry out safely from ground level or from a secure ladder, without going onto the roof surface itself.
Keeping the outlet or outlets clear is the most valuable thing a homeowner can do. On a garage or extension roof there is typically one or two outlets leading to a downpipe, or a drip edge feeding into a gutter. Leaves, moss, and windblown debris collect at these points and, if left, can cause water to pond across the whole roof surface rather than draining away.
Ponding water does not necessarily cause immediate harm if the membrane is sound, but sustained ponding accelerates the breakdown of felt surfaces, particularly older single-ply felt. It also adds weight to the structure and, in prolonged cold weather, can cause ice to form at the outlet, backing water under the membrane edge. Check outlets and gutters at least twice a year, and after any period of heavy wind that brings down leaves or small branches.
Moss builds up on flat roofs, particularly on north-facing sections or anywhere that stays damp for long periods. On a felt surface, moss roots can work their way into surface cracks and accelerate deterioration. On EPDM rubber, moss does not cause the same structural harm but it does block drainage and makes the surface harder to inspect properly.
A moss-killing treatment applied carefully, following the product instructions, will deal with established growth. Allow it to die back and then brush or blow the dead material clear rather than scraping at the membrane surface. Do not use a pressure washer on a flat roof membrane - the force can lift laps, dislodge surface chippings on felt roofs, and force water into any existing small separations.
You do not need to walk on the roof to carry out a useful inspection. From the top of a ladder at the eaves, or from a window above if you have one, look for the following:
If you spot any of these, the next step is to have a roofer take a proper look before the problem develops further. Small defects caught early are almost always cheaper to address than the same defects found after water has been getting into the deck for months.
Flat roof leaks do not always show up as an obvious drip. Water entering at the membrane can travel along the deck and into the ceiling void before it becomes visible internally, which means the stain on your ceiling is often not directly below the point of entry. If you notice a damp patch on a ceiling beneath a flat-roofed garage, extension, or outbuilding, treat it as an early warning rather than waiting to see if it gets worse.
Similarly, a musty smell in a room with a flat roof above it can indicate moisture in the roof build-up before any visible staining appears. If the smell develops after wet weather, it is worth having the roof checked.
After a new flat roof or a significant repair, there are a few things worth doing to protect the work and to catch any minor issues before they become serious ones.
In the first winter after a new EPDM installation, check that the membrane has not lifted at any edge or outlet point after frost. EPDM is highly resistant to cold, but the adhesive bonding it to upstands can be affected if the installation was carried out in very cold conditions and the surface was not properly prepared. Any lifting edge should be reported to the contractor promptly.
After a felt repair, look at the repaired area after the first significant rainfall. The new material should be flat and well-bonded. Any lifting or pooling around the repair area is a sign that the bond did not take properly and needs attention.
Clearing a gutter or applying a biocide treatment to moss is reasonable DIY territory. Attempting to apply a liquid sealant or roofing paint to a leaking flat roof yourself is usually not. Sealant products sold in DIY stores are rarely a permanent fix for anything other than the smallest pinhole defect, and applying them over a failing membrane can actually mask the problem and make a proper repair harder and more expensive when a roofer eventually has to deal with it.
If you are unsure whether something you can see on the roof is a problem or not, it is better to call and describe it than to attempt a fix that may complicate matters.
Mildenhall Roofers carries out flat roofing installations and repairs across Soham and the surrounding area, including Mildenhall and other towns and villages in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. We work on garages, extensions, and outbuildings using EPDM rubber and felt systems. If you want a roof check or have spotted something that concerns you, call us and we will arrange to take a look.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
