Flat Roofs & EPDM Rubber Roofing
Single-ply EPDM for extensions, garages, dormers, bay tops and the purpose-built flat-roofed homes around Lawrence Weston.
Flat roofs we cover
Rear extensions and kitchens
The most common flat roof in the area. Old felt usually fails at the edges and where it meets the house wall first.
Garages and outbuildings
Often the cheapest roof on the property and the most neglected. EPDM is a sensible replacement for tired felt or asbestos-free sheeting.
Dormers and bay tops
Small areas with lots of edges and upstands. The detailing matters more than the membrane.
Flat-roofed houses
Lawrence Weston includes a house type designed with flat roofs so that pitched roofs would not interrupt views to Kings Weston House. These are main roofs, not add-ons, and we treat them that way.
How we lay an EPDM roof
Strip and check the deck
Old coverings come off and we check the boards. Soft or rotten decking is replaced by agreement, because a membrane is only as good as what it sits on.
Insulation where it is needed
Where building regulations apply or you want a warmer room below, we discuss adding insulation before the new deck goes down.
One-piece membrane
EPDM goes down as a single sheet wherever the roof size allows, bonded to the deck, so there are no field seams to fail.
Edges, upstands and outlets
Drip trims, upstands to walls, lead or EPDM flashings and properly sized outlets finish the job. Then the written guarantee.
Getting a flat roof right
Falls matter
A “flat” roof should still fall towards its outlet. Ponding water shortens the life of any covering, so we correct the falls when we replace the deck.
Drainage is the weak point
Rainfall projections for Bristol point to wetter winters. We check that outlets, gutters and downpipes can cope with a heavy downpour, not just average rain.
Not every flat roof needs replacing
A sound deck with a local failure can often be repaired. We will tell you which you have.
Flat roof questions
Is EPDM better than felt?
For most domestic flat roofs we prefer EPDM: a single sheet, no flame needed to lay it, and it stays flexible. Felt still has its place, and we will explain the choice for your roof.
Can you convert a flat roof to pitched?
Sometimes, subject to planning. On houses deliberately designed with flat roofs — like those in parts of Lawrence Weston — planning may well resist it; it is worth checking with the council first.
How long does it take?
A typical extension roof is usually a short job once the materials are on site, weather permitting. We give you a realistic timeframe with the quote.
Sources: Kings Weston Action Group: building Lawrence Weston, Met Office UKCP factsheet for Bristol.
Get your free, no-obligation roofing quote
Tell us what is happening with your roof. We will come out, look properly, and put a written price in your hands before any work starts.